Budget: Commissioner calls on UK Government to continue providing crucial financial support to help with energy bills

Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Heléna Herklots CBE, said:

“The news that the UK Government is freezing the maximum energy costs for a typical household at £2,500, rather than allowing bills to increase to £3,000 from April – an increase of 20% – is welcome.

“However, many older people will still be deeply concerned about their energy bills, due to the planned withdrawal of the Energy Bills Support Scheme, which provided £400 to every household.

“These universal payments provided crucial support to older people on low incomes who do not qualify for targeted financial help – due to being ineligible for Pension Credit, for example – but have seen their energy bills double during the past 18 months.

“Removing this support will drive even more older people into fuel poverty, and force many people to cut back even further on essentials in an effort to save money, something that puts their health at significant risk.

“I am therefore calling on the UK Government to make provision within its budget to enable universal support for energy costs to continue, alongside additional support for those who are most vulnerable.”