§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to extend entitlement to the winter heating allowance to people below retirement age who are unable to work because of disability; and if he will make a statement. [1370]
§ Mr. McCartneyWinter Fuel Payments are made to people aged 60 or over, so disabled people who fall into this age group are already eligible for the payments. There are no plans to extend the scheme to disabled people below age 60.
Disabled people have available disability benefits in recognition of their extra costs. The care and mobility components in Disability Living Allowance are used as broad indicators of all the extra costs of a disabled person. These could include heating, laundry or special diets.