The Government will again be making
Winter Fuel Payments to most people aged 60 or over for Winter 2008/09.

A Winter Fuel Payment is an annual payment to help people aged 60 and over with the costs of keeping warm this Winter.

If you are aged 60 to 79 and you are entitled to receive a Winter Fuel Payment, this year you will get either £125 or £250, depending on your circumstances,* in the qualifying week (15 to 21 September 2008).

If you are aged 80 or over and you are entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment, this year you will either get £200 or £400, depending on your circumstances in the qualifying week.

You do not pay tax on Winter Fuel Payments.

If you need to make a claim for a payment for Winter 2008/09, you should return your claim form on or before 30 March 2009.

The Helpline is open from 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. Calls are charged at local rates .
*For full details of eligibility please phone the above number.

It’s here again! We are celebrating the
International Day of Older People on Monday 6th October at St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck, Leeds.

Why not come along and celebrate with us?

There’s lots to see and do. A variety of stands including:

Fuel Savers
Healthy Eating
Arts & Crafts
Welfare Benefit enquires
Telecare & Care Ring
Credit Union
Mobility Aids
and much, much more!

Plus a FREE BUFFET LUNCH!
Tombola, Raffle prizes etc.

In Memmorium A Tribute to Alderman Christiana Myers from Holbeck Elderly Aid

At HEA we were all deeply saddened to hear of the death of Alderman Chris Myers. She was Vice-Chair of HEA from 1994 until her passing away, and she helped our local charity to develop into the thriving service provider it is today.

She was a fair but firm person who always had time to listen to the views of local older people, staff and volunteers, in order to understand how delivery of local services could be improved by the Council. She often
intervened as Ward Councillor to ensure common sense prevailed and that the views of older people were heard at local Council level. Nothing was too much trouble for her, and she was always only a phone call away.

On the 4th April 2007, Chris received a “Lifetime Achievement Award” when we opened our new offices at 123 Holbeck Towers. We are ever grateful for all her hard work to help bring our charity to the level to which it has grown today.

Gone but never forgotten, and always in our hearts and minds. Thank you Chris for
everything you did for us all.

Sonny Garewal – Chief Executive – HEA At HEA we were all deeply saddened to hear of the death of Alderman Chris Myers. She was Vice-Chair of HEA from 1994 until her passing away, and she helped our local charity to develop into the thriving service provider it is today.

She was a fair but firm person who always had time to listen to the views of local older people, staff and volunteers, in order to understand how delivery of local services could be improved by the Council. She often
intervened as Ward Councillor to ensure common sense prevailed and that the views of older people were heard at local Council level. Nothing was too much trouble for her, and she was always only a phone call away.

On the 4th April 2007, Chris received a “Lifetime Achievement Award” when we opened our new offices at 123 Holbeck Towers. We are ever grateful for all her hard work to help bring our charity to the level to which it has grown today.

Gone but never forgotten, and always in our hearts and minds. Thank you Chris for
everything you did for us all.

Sonny Garewal – Chief Executive – HEA

The new Tesco Express store on Dewsbury Road, celebrated its launch on Wednesday 2nd September with a donation to Holbeck Elderly Aid. Chairman, Terry Jacques and Chief Executive, Sonny Garewal, from Holbeck Elderly Aid were the guests of honour when the new store celebrated its opening. Terry and Sonny were invited to cut the ribbon to declare the new store officially open at 10:30am.

As part of the opening celebrations, the store manager Ian Bates and his staff presented Holbeck Elderly Aid with a cheque for £500. The store chose to donate to HEA as part of Tesco’s ongoing commitment to helping local communities.

Chairman, Terry Jacques said: “We are delighted that Holbeck Elderly Aid will benefit from the opening of the new store and we would like to thank Tesco for their support. The money will be used to fund the publication of our quarterly Newsletter. The Newsletter keeps isolated older people in touch with what’s going on in the local community.”

Tesco Express store manager Ian Bates said: “We are delighted to be able to support Holbeck Elderly Aid as they do such great work in the local area. We are really glad that Terry and Sonny have opened the new store and joined in the celebrations with us”

Ian added: “My staff and I are looking forward to welcoming our customers into the new store and we hope that Tesco will become a key part of the local community.” The new Tesco Express on Dewsbury Road will be open from 6am to 11pm, 7 days a week and has the added convenience of a bakery, a free cash machine, beers, wines and spirits and two self service tills.

If you are aged 60 to 79 and you are entitled to receive a Winter Fuel Payment, this year you will get either £125 or £250, depending on your circumstances in the qualifying week (21 to 27 September 2009).

If you are aged 80 or over and you are entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment, this year you will get either £200, £275 or £400, depending on your circumstances in the above qualifying week. You do not pay tax on Winter Fuel Payments. The Government will make automatic payments over a number of weeks from early November 2009 until Christmas 2009.

If you have not received your automatic payment by Christmas 2009 you should call the office that pays your benefit or call the Winter Fuel Payment Helpline on 08459 15 15 15 (Text phone 0845 601 5613). The Helpline is open from 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, and calls are charged at local rates.

If you need to make a claim for a payment for winter 2009/10, you should return your claim form on or before 30 March 2010. In line with changes to State Pension age for women, the qualifying age for Winter Fuel Payments will rise gradually between 2010 and 2020, from 60 to 65. This means that from winter 2010/11 onwards, both men and women will need to have reached women’s State Pension age by the end of the September qualifying week.
Pick up our leaflet; Or Visit our website: www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/winterfuel

email:libraryathome@leeds.gov.uk

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GARY EVANS

(0113)3952330