The National Pensioners Convention backs fresh calls for urgent government action after Age UK revealed 3 in 4 older people were too cold in their own homes this January.
As we brace for yet another rise in the price cap on energy prices next week, research by the older person’s charity estimates around 9.1million people aged over 66 endured cold homes ‘some, most of or all of the time.’
Age UK published their findings as they delivered a petition signed by 649,827 people – including huge numbers of NPC members - into 10 Downing Street today (Tuesday, 18th).
The ‘Save the Winter Fuel Payment for struggling pensioners’ petition highlights the pressures felt by older people since the government cut the allowance to help with heating bills last year. It calls for a range of measures to alleviate the situation.
Age UK delivers 650k petition backed by NPC members to 10 Downing Street as prices set to rise again!
Jan Shortt, General Secretary of the NPC said: “Age UK’s timely research shows just how deeply the Winter fuel payment cuts are being felt by millions. We hope the government finally heeds the call of NPC, Age UK and other campaigners to take action. This is particularly urgent as analysts Cornwall Insights predict Ofgem is due to announce that the energy price-cap rise will rise by 5% in April, adding another £85 onto the average household bill.”
The Age UK research shows that those older people on low to modest household incomes - £20,000 or less - were worst affected in January, with a one in three (35%) saying their home was too cold most or all of the time.
A similar proportion of older private renters, 1 in 3 (34%), also said their home was cold most or all of the time. Two in five (41%) pensioners - equivalent to 5 million - said that they had recently had to cut back on heating or energy.
Nearly half (48%) of people aged 66+ revealed they were worried about being able to heat their homes when they wanted to, and 44% said they are worried about the impact of energy prices on their health – noticeably higher than last year (January 2024) when 1 in 3 (33%) said this was a worry.
Jan Shortt added: “We thank Age UK for this important research, and we thank our many NPC members who signed and supported the petition. Now we need the government to recognise the strength of feeling by people of all ages on this issue right across the country.”
NPC supports Age UK’s call for a range of actions from the government, including:
• Extending eligibility for the WFP to other benefits, including Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, Attendance Allowance (and other disability benefits) and Carer’s Allowance.
• Adopting a strategic approach to tackling the low take-up of Pension Credit and other pensioner benefits.
• Implementing an energy social tariff providing discounts to those with low-incomes, disabilities and for carers.
• Bringing forward the Warm Homes Plan as soon as possible, and ensuring those living in cold, damp and mouldy homes are prioritised for support.
The full press release from Age UK is below.
Download the NPC press release