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Age Concern’s Director General‚ Gordon Lishman‚ said:

“Yet more price hikes will cause misery for thousands of low income pensioners already struggling to pay their household bills. We are very concerned that the fear of unaffordable bills will lead to people risking their health by cutting back on their heating.

“The Government and energy companies must work together to alleviate the huge pressure that high fuel bills place on the poorest. The Government needs to do more to meet its fuel poverty targets for vulnerable households. It must work harder to get vital benefits cash to those who need it and increase the Winter Fuel Payment by at least £100 so that all older people can afford to heat their homes.

"We would urge anyone who is worried about rising bills to contact their local Age Concern for advice on money benefits they may be missing out on."

 

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Notes to editors

• Nearly 90 per cent of all excess winter deaths are of people over the age of 65.
• There were 22‚300 excess winter deaths of older people last year‚ with this winter predicted to be colder than last.
• Almost one in three older people live in homes with inadequate heating or insulation making their homes more difficult to heat and/or keep warm.
• More than 1 in 4 people living in fuel poverty are over 70 years old
• Average annual energy bills are set to exceed £1‚000. This will absorb 16 per cent of the income of a single pensioner dependent on the pension credit minimum guarantee and the £200 Winter Fuel Payment.
• Millions of pensioners are missing out on their share of £4.6billion of unclaimed benefits each year‚ such as Pension Credit‚ which could help to make it easier to pay their bills.