Media centre

New figures from the Office for National Statistics today revealed there were 22‚300 excess winter deaths1 of older people last year. With the Met Office predicting a colder winter this year2‚ we are urging older people to claim the benefits‚ such as Pension Credit‚ and help with heating available to help them stay warm and well.

With the average fuel bill having risen over 60% in the last four years‚ and with predictions of further price hikes in the New Year3‚ it is understandable that many older people worry about affording high fuel bills. The average bill has risen from £572 in 2003‚ when the current Winter Fuel Payments were established‚ to £924 today⁴. Yet by not heating their home adequately older people could be putting their health at risk. In the previous six years alone‚ there were almost 150‚000 excess winter deaths of people aged 65 plus5. Cold-related illnesses‚ such as pneumonia‚ contributed to many thousands of these deaths.

The charity is warning that millions of pensioners are missing out on benefits‚ such as Pension Credit‚ which could help to make it easier to pay their bills. Many older people are unaware that in addition they may be able to claim help with energy efficiency‚ insulation and heating improvements. Some men aged 60-65 may also be missing out on the Winter Fuel Payment because it isn’t paid automatically to them as they aren’t yet receiving their State Pension.6

As part of its year-long Your Rights benefits campaign‚ we are urging people to get in touch to find out what they could claim. The charity can provide free advice and information about what money benefits and help with heating they may be entitled to‚ and can help to make claiming simple. To find their nearest Age Concern or for more information older people‚ their friends‚ relatives or carers can call the charity’s free information line on 0800 00 99 66.

Gordon Lishman‚ Director General of Age Concern‚ said:

“We know many older people feel they need to cut back on their heating to reduce their bill‚ yet this could be putting their health at risk. With fuel costs sixty percent higher than four years ago‚ it is no wonder that many pensioners worry about paying expensive bills. Yet millions of older people are missing out on benefits or help with heating costs that could make meeting their bills easier.

“Older people shouldn’t have to worry about health versus wealth. We would urge any older person who is finding it difficult to pay their fuel bills to contact their nearest Age Concern for a free benefits check or phone our information line on 0800 00 99 66  for more information.”

We are also calling on the Government to provide more money for vulnerable older people. The charity wants to see the annual Winter Fuel Payment increased by £100‚ the Basic State Pension raised to at least £119 per week‚ and automatic benefits payments introduced‚ so all pensioners can afford to heat their homes. The charity is also urging energy companies to do everything they can to protect vulnerable customers from price increases.

Factfile:
• Nearly 90 per cent of all excess winter deaths are of people over the age of 65.
• 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 now almost £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.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:

1. There were 23‚900 Excess winter deaths in winter 2006/07. Of these deaths 22‚300 were of older people. Excess Winter Deaths are defined by the Office of National Statistics. They are the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average number of deaths during the preceding autumn (August to November) and the following summer (April to July). Exposure to the cold affects the number of winter deaths‚ but it is very unusual for the cold to kill people directly. In the main these deaths are from respiratory or cardio-vascular ailments. These deaths are often as a result of heart attacks‚ strokes‚ bronchial and other conditions‚ and may occur several days after exposure to the cold.
2. The Met Office says an average temperature of around 4.3° C is likely for winter 07/08. The average temperature in the UK during the winter of 2006/07 was 5.6 °C. The average temperature for the UK in winter between 1971-2000 was 3.7 °C.
3. Energy consultants Catalyst have predicted that fuel bills will rise by 10 per cent in January. 
4. The average fuel bill in 2003 was £572‚ this has risen to £924 in 2007‚ this is a 61.5% increase – Source Energywatch. The £200 Winter Fuel Payment began in Winter 2000/01 with the extra £100 for households with someone aged 80 plus introduced in 2003/04.
5. Source Office for National Statistics excess winter death statistics for the winter of 2000/01 to 2005/06
6. The Winter Fuel payment is paid automatically to those receiving the Basic State Pension. However men aged 60 and over are also entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment but as they don’t receive their State Pension until they reach 65 they won’t receive the payment unless they claim it.

• Through its year-long Your Rights campaign Age Concern aims to put an extra £100 million of money benefits in the pockets of older people by April 2008. 
• Case studies may be available on request. Please contact Emma Hayes on 020 8765 7515 or emma.hayes@ace.org.uk
• Age Concern produces a free leaflet entitled ‘More money in your pocket’ with details of what benefits and help with heating are available‚ who is eligible and how they can claim. The charity also produces a leaflet called ‘Winter wrapped up’ with tips on how to stay warm and well this winter. Both leaflets are available from the charity’s freephone information line on 0800 00 99 66.
• Age Concern’s bestselling book ‘Your Rights 2007-08’ is written by Age Concern’s income expert Sally West and is a clear guide to all the main money benefits. Priced at £5.99 plus £1.99 p&p it can be ordered from Age Concern Books on 0870 44 22 120. Some copies are available for reader or listener giveaways/ discount offers – for further information‚ please contact Emma Hayes on 020 8765 7515 or emma.hayes@ace.org.uk.
  

For general enquiries please contact us.

Journalists contact:

Media contact:
Emma Hayes
Telephone:
020 8765 7515
Out of office hours:
07071 243 243
Email:
Media@ace.org.uk