Cold weather, fuel payment cuts and home heat helpline

‘Fuel Poverty is a topic close to my heart, living in a ward which has a high level of elderly and vulnerable low income residents; did you know that in a recent poll, Wales was highlighted as the Fuel Poverty Capital of Britain with 32% of people spending over 10% of their income on fuel’?

Winter Fuel Payments

Winter fuel payments help on average 12 million residents within the UK, this flagship scheme brought in under the last Labour Government has helped offset the average 16% rise in Gas prices within the UK for many of our pensioners during the winter period.

On the eve of the General Election in 2010 PM David Cameron said the following during a speech,

“And let me say very clearly to pensioners if you have a Conservative Government your Winter Fuel Allowance, your bus pass, your Pension Credit, your free TV licence all these things are safe.

You can read my lips, which is a promise from my heart.

Don’t believe the lies you’re being told by the Labour Party”

Now what has the Conservatives and Liberals done to help enhance the Winter Fuel Payments since they came to power to ensure the health and wellbeing of our aging population?

In well hidden small print in the spring Budget, the Chancellor reduced the benefit by up to £100 for pensioner households!

This he said will save the ­Government an ­estimated £600million, but presently the cost to the NHS of people who are treated for the effects of cold homes in the UK is estimated to be £850 million. So is this a real saving to the economy, not in our books.

Michelle Mitchell, charity director of Age UK said: “Too many older people will be dreading their heating bills this winter as energy costs continue to spiral. This will not be helped by the cut in winter fuel payment. Many will have to choose between heating and eating, and sadly it is likely that thousands will die as a result.” (Daily Mirror 7/12/2011)

What a lot of people don’t realise is as the retirement age rises, so will the age to receive this winter allowance, Liberal Democrat ministers, led by Nick Clegg, are even pushing for the qualifying age to go even higher.

If you feel that Fuel Poverty is affecting you then you could get advice by contacting ‘The Home Heat Helpline’ this provides advice on benefits, grants for free home insulation and the services that your energy supplier can provide you with if someone in your home is elderly or has a disability or long-term health condition.

They can also put you straight through to the right person at your energy provider to find out about reduced tariffs and special payment options that may be available to you.

Also Torfaen Council has developed a Keep Well this Winter leaflet| to promote good health and offers energy saving tips to keep your home warm in the winter months, this can be downloaded from their website or by calling into their offices in Pontypool.

You could also visit NEST|, the Welsh Government’s fuel poverty scheme which offers a range of advice through expert partners, as well as a full home energy assessment and home improvements for the most energy inefficient homes – at no cost to the householder.