Older people across the country are planning to drastically cut back on heating their homes this winter due to losing the Winter Fuel Payment.
New polling from national charity Independent Age found that 43% of older people who will lose their Winter Fuel Payment said they were planning to go to bed earlier to avoid heating their home. 14% were already planning to do this but now an additional 29% said they will resort to this measure because of the change.
A worrying 67% said they will turn the heating on less than they would like and 23% said they would not turn the heating on at all.
With the UK Government continuing with their plan to restrict the Winter Fuel Payment to those on means-tested benefits, many older people are facing a tough winter. In response to this mounting crisis, Independent Age has partnered with GoFundMe to raise money for their Helpline to ensure they can provide vital advice and support to older people this winter. A donation of £28 helps an older person needing information and support speak to a Helpline adviser.
One in six older people already live in poverty in the UK, and without the Winter Fuel Payment, the charity says many more will be pushed towards the impossible choice of heating or eating.
The latest UK Government figures estimate that only 65% of eligible older people receive Pension Credit, meaning up to 970,000 eligible people will lose the Winter Fuel Payment this year.
Since the announcement, calls to Independent Age's Helpline about Pension Credit and Winter Fuel Payment worries have more than trebled.
Paula, 75, recently contacted Independent Age Helpline and said:
“That Winter Fuel Payment was vital for me to get through the winter. Without it, I will have to choose, eat or heat. I have to eat to stay alive, so I’ll have to keep the heating off and wear layers of clothes. It’s a pretty grim situation to be in.”
All money raised will go towards making sure Independent Age’s advisers and caseworkers can continue to help older people via their Helpline and webchat.
Fran McSweeney, Head of Services at Independent Age, said:
“With the colder weather already closing in and cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment, we’re getting more and more calls from worried older people facing a very bleak winter. Our advisers and caseworkers are working hard to ensure older people are getting all the financial support they are entitled to, but the demand for our help just keeps growing. Any donation to our Helpline would be hugely appreciated, we want to make sure nobody is left out in the cold this winter.”
You can find out more and donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/en-gb/c/act/independent-age-winter-appeal
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Notes to editor
References
1. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,182 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 8th - 14th October 2024. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 65+).
Video
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About Independent Age
Independent Age is a national charity providing support for older people facing financial hardship. We offer free impartial advice and information and grants for community organisations. We use the knowledge and understanding gained from our frontline services to highlight the issues experienced by older people who are facing financial insecurity and to campaign for change. We believe no one should face financial hardship in later life.
For more information on Independent Age, visit www.independentage.org
Arrange to speak to one of our advisers for free and access confidential advice and information. Freephone 0800 319 6789 or email advice@independentage.org.
To make a donation or find out more about how you can support the work of Independent Age and help older people stay independent, please visit independentage.org/support-us.
About GoFundMe
GoFundMe is the world's leading crowdfunding platform dedicated to helping people help each other. GoFundMe has helped raise over $30bn for people and charities since 2010.
Imagery
At Independent Age, we are passionate about using realistic and positive imagery to represent older people. We want to see an end to the use of images that reinforce stereotypes of later life such as ‘wrinkly hands’ that are frequently used to depict older people.
We have collaborated with The Centre For Ageing Better on their image library which contains more than 400 images that can be used to illustrate your story. Access the collection here: ResourceSpace