Commissioner’s response to latest figures on projected fuel poverty

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

“Reports that around 90% of older couples and 75% of single older people could find themselves in fuel poverty by January are deeply concerning and demonstrate the clear need for further financial support for older people as we face the cost-of-living crisis.

“The lack of further action from the government in Westminster in response to rapidly increasing energy price projections, which indicate that average household energy costs could soon reach over £5,000 a year, will leave many older people feeling that they been abandoned as they face costs and bills that it will be impossible for them to pay.

“And it’s important that we recognise what this will mean in reality: a failure to take further action will put the health and well-being of older people at significant risk due to illness or physical conditions caused by cold housing and/or poor nutrition, or the stress and anxiety created by financial concerns.

“This, in turn, will mean older people requiring care and support that could otherwise have been delayed or avoided, in addition to leading to unnecessary hospital admissions and preventable deaths.

“That’s why delivering immediate further support for older people, together with longer-term structural change to ensure that the State Pension and other financial entitlements provide a sufficient level of income for older people in future years, is crucial as we face another difficult Winter.”