Sinn Féin Newry Mourne & Down Councillor Aoife Finnegan has welcomed the expansion of the Affordable Warmth Scheme to help cut the cost of energy bills for even more families in a new plan announced by Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey.
The Slieve Gullion area Councillor who recently raised her concerns about the issue of eligibility for this scheme at a meeting of the Council said,
“It’s welcome news that Minister Deirdre Hargey will help cut the cost of energy bills and heating homes by opening up the Affordable Warmth Scheme to even more people.
Recently our Council supported my proposal to write Minister Hargey to change the eligibility criteria so the non means tested benefits like Disability Living Allowance ,Personal Independence Payment and Attendance Allowance were not calculated as income.
Before this change was made it was leaving those most vulnerable and in need of the scheme, disallowed based on their household income exceeding the £20,000 threshold.The Minister has also changed the eligiblity criteria threshold to £23,000”.
The Sinn Féin elected representative continued,
“That means investing in homes to cut costs for people through installation of new heating systems, insulation and window replacements where needed and will help even more workers and families struggling to pay heating and electricity bills while also tackling energy poverty”.
The Councillor concluded,
“Changes to the scheme will start on 1st July and will support thousands of working and low-income families and the most vulnerable in our communities.”
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