Independent Age Chief Executive Joanna Elson, CBE said:
“Today’s price cap announcement will be extremely concerning to older people living in financial hardship. We now know that energy bills will rise yet again in January by 1% from an average of £1,717 to £1,738. Earlier this year, it was predicted that energy bills would start to fall from January 2025, so this will be a hard pill to swallow for those in later life worried that their budgets were already stretched to breaking point. Now they will need to find extra money to cover their rising bills.
“This bill increase will arrive right in the middle of winter, a period we anticipate will be very tough for millions of older people. That’s because the latest figures show that almost one million eligible older people do not receive Pension Credit, meaning they will no longer qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment despite living on a low income. We are also worried about the older people that live just above the Pension Credit threshold, sometimes by just a few pounds. They will now lose a vital lifeline during a period of increased energy costs.
“We are running out of time, but it’s not too late for the UK Government to reconsider its plan to means test the Winter Fuel Payment. It’s misguided and will see far too many older people fall through the cracks. If there isn’t a course correction, we are looking at a winter of drastic cutbacks and ill health. The older people we speak to are worried that losing the extra money will negatively impact their physical health, as they will be forced to cut down on their heating and eating.
“High energy prices have been a part of life for several years now. The UK Government should address this issue and bring in policies that provide long-term financial security for all older people. Introducing a single energy social tariff will help protect those living on low incomes from future spikes in energy costs. Nobody should be left out in the cold.”
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