U.K.: Fear of Winter Bills Causing Older People To Risk Their Health

LONDON, England (Age Concern), November 28, 2007: New figures from the Office for National Statistics today revealed there were 22,300 excess winter deaths of older people last year. With the Met Office predicting a colder winter this year, 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, says Age Concern. With the average fuel bill having risen over 60% in the last four years, and with predictions of further price hikes in the New Year, 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 today. 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 plus. 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. As part of its year-long Your Rights benefits campaign, Age Concern is 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. Age Concern is 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.