The National Pensioners’ Convention backs fresh calls for urgent government action after Age UK revealed three in four older people were too cold in their own homes this January.
As we brace ourselves for yet another rise in the price cap on energy prices next week, research by the older person’s charity estimates around 9.1 million 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 on February 18.
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.
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 the 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 five per cent 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 one in three (35 per cent) saying their home was too cold most or all of the time.
A similar proportion of older private renters, one in three (34 per cent), also said their home was cold most or all of the time. Two in five (41 per cent) of pensioners, equivalent to five million, said that they had recently had to cut back on heating or energy.
Nearly half (48 per cent) of people aged 66 and over revealed they were worried about being able to heat their homes when they wanted to, and 44 per cent said they are worried about the impact of energy prices on their health, noticeably higher than last year (January 2024) when one in three (33 per cent) said this was a worry.
Ms 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:
lExtending eligibility for the winter fuel payment to other benefits, including housing benefit, Council Tax support, attendance allowance and other disability benefits and carer’s allowance.
lAdopting a strategic approach to tackling the low take-up of Pension Credit and other pensioner benefits.
lImplementing an energy social tariff providing discounts to those with low incomes, disabilities and for carers.
lBringing forward the Warm Homes Plan as soon as possible, and ensuring those living in cold, damp homes are prioritised for support.
This latest update is shocking proof that the winter fuel payment cuts are causing misery for three in four older people in 2025.
Rodney Sadd
Crowland
