§ Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will backdate winter fuel payments for 1999 for those who were in temporary respite care over the period 20 to 26 September 1999; [123071]
(2) what plans the Government have to make eligible those people who will be in temporary respite care for 12 weeks or less from the week commencing 18 September 2000 for winter fuel payments. [123054]
§ Angela EagleTo ensure that no-one who enters residential care for a temporary period misses out on receiving a winter fuel payment the eligibility rules have been amended from next winter.
Under the revised regulations, someone who has been in residential care for less than 13 weeks at the end of the qualifying week (week ending 24 September 2000) will be treated as being temporarily in residential care and will be eligible for a winter fuel payment on the basis of their usual home circumstances.
These revisions can apply only to next winter's payments and future payments. They cannot apply to any of the three previous winters.