This winter the United Kingdom has faced some of the nastiest weather in recent history. Nearly the entire country was pummeled by heavy snow fall and sub zero temperatures that caused everything from road blockages to school closings. Airports and trains were also stopped due to the weather and many people missed work or school because of roads that were impassable due to the large amounts of snow and ice. Now that the weather has passed in most parts of the United Kingdom people are now assessing the various damage done by the bad weather. Not only work have to be made up in the office, but things like rubbish collection, which fell behind due to the weather, also had to be stepped up. However, there was one effect that not many people thought of until now.
Poorer families and pensioners are usually the ones to suffer most when the weather turns bad as they often lack the financial means to properly keep themselves warm. More than two hundred and sixty million pounds have been given out to pensioners and families who needed the financial support because of the freezing temperatures. When the temperature goes below zero for a week straight then a twenty five pound payment is given out to those in need. Some residents have complained that they did not get their cold weather payment, while others are complaining that they are being forced to pay tax dollars to heat other people’s homes. The amount of cold weather payments given out this year was the most ever given by the UK government.
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