Elderly ‘will die without help to pay energy bills’
OLDER people could die in their homes of cold in “unprecedented numbers” this winter without government help to pay spiralling energy bills, a charity has warned.
Age UK today urges Tory leadership rivals Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak to commit to firm action as pensioner issues have been absent from their election pitches.
Both have been told: “Knowing you are on their side would mean a great deal to our older population.”
It comes just two days after the Daily Express launched its Give Them A Voice crusade. The campaign demands pensioners are properly represented at the top table of government with the Cabinet appointment of an Older People’s Minister.
There are now some 13 million UK retirees. A poll of 14,021 over65s for Age UK showed the restoration of the pension triple lock and assistance with rising bills are priorities for 57 per cent. A further 25 per cent said action on the NHS and social care was their main concern.
Age UK charity director Caroline Abrahams warned: “Substantial numbers are struggling financially already, but if the economic forecasts are accurate, many more pensioners will be plunged into serious trouble come the autumn and winter, including some who until very recently believed their position to be totally secure.
“Older people know that this is an extraordinary situation. They tell us that they expect the government of the day to take it with the same seriousness they do, and to bring forward measures to protect them.”
She added: “If this doesn’t happen, our sincere belief is that we could see unprecedented numbers of older people dying of cold in their own homes, something we would never say lightly. That is incredibly shocking in the 21st century.”
Age UK has urged each candidate – former chancellor Mr Sunak, who suspended the triple lock, and Foreign Secretary Ms Truss – to make a “clear and unequivocal public statement” about their commitment to restoring the safeguard.
The triple lock raises the basic state pension by a minimum of 2.5 per cent, inflation or average earnings growth, whichever is greatest.
Dangerous
The charity also wants emergency energy bills support to see those on low incomes through winter.
Gas and electric costs for a typical household could hit £4,266 next year. This equates to 45 per cent of the state pension, which at £185.15 a week is the lowest in Europe. However, it is the main source of income for most older people.
Former pensions minister Baroness Altmann, who has backed the Express crusade, said: “If the energy price cap rise goes ahead as forecast for October then many pensioners will be unable to afford winter heating.
“This is a threat to their lives, since being too cold is dangerous.
“Government assistance focused only on those claiming means-tested help will mean millions of pensioners with incomes slightly above the threshold – or those too proud to apply for benefits – will end up losing out and at risk.”