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Gordon Lishman, Director General of Age Concern, said:

"Pensioners will be gritting their teeth in expectation of price hikes from the rest of the major suppliers. These price increases will not only put extra pressure on pensioners already struggling to make ends meet, but will also push many thousands more older people into fuel poverty.

"The government must work harder to abolish fuel poverty and do much more to get vital benefits cash to those who need it so that people can afford to heat their homes. The government and energy companies must work together to address the problem of the huge pressure expensive fuel bills place on vulnerable groups. We would also urge energy suppliers to put off the increases until after the winter quarter as this is when older people worry most about fuel bills.

"Our advice to older people considering switching supplier is to wait until all the price increases have been announced before shopping around for the best deal.  We would also urge all older people who are worried about their escalating bills to contact their local Age Concern for advice on benefits they may be missing out on. To find their nearest Age Concern people should call 0800 00 99 66."

 

ENDS

 

Factfile: 

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.

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