DETAILS of new winter fuel payments to pensioners are now available from St Helens Council's Rights Advice Shop.

The government recently confirmed there will be help with winter fuel bills. Payment should be made between the end of January and the end of March this year ranging from £20 to £50, depending on the type of pension or state benefit received.

Payments will be made automatically and anyone who is getting Income Support or income-based Jobseekers Allowance, which includes a Pensioner Premium for those aged 60 or over, during the week beginning Jan 5, will be entitled to £50.

Anyone who is over state pension age (60 for women and 65 for men) and who receive one of the following benefits, during the week commencing Jan 5, will be entitled to £20. The benefits which qualify are: state retirement pension based on own or husband's contributions; attendance allowance; constant attendance allowance; disability living allowance; graduated retirement pension; incapacity benefit; industrial death benefit; severe disablement allowance; unemployability supplement; war disablement pension; widow's benefit; war widow's benefit.

Councillor Alma Atherton, deputy chair of Housing and Evnironmental Services, said: "We welcome this government initiative which gives much-needed help for many of our older residents. Anyone obtaining their pensions from the Post Office will receive their winter fuel payment when collecting their pensions. Payments will be made directly into your bank account or building society if the pension is normally paid in that way."

Chief Trading Standards Officer Ken Wardale added: "If anyone requires further information they can telephone the Rights Advice Shop on St Helens 456202 and speak to an advice specialist. Alternatively people can ring the Benefits Agency hot-line on 0645 151515."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.