FM has her fingers in her ears
Many pensioners face the risk of falling into fuel poverty, especially in the winter:
Industry and government interventionEnergy UK’s Emma Pinchbeck has called for intervention and a partnership between government and industry to help with energy bills. Octopus Energy and Good Energy have also called for long-term investment in renewables and a social tariff.
Winter Fuel PaymentMany pensioners will lose their Winter Fuel Payment this winter, as only 300,000 of those who receive Pension Credit will keep it.
Energy billsThe average energy bill for winter 2023/24 was £1,834, but households that received the full Winter Fuel Payment would have paid £1,534. For winter 2024/25, the average energy bill is forecast to be £1,762, which is a 14.68% increase for those who received the full Winter Fuel Payment in 2023/24.
Fuel poverty statistics According to Policy and Insight, 42% of households that spend more than 10% of their income on energy have a householder over 65.
Fuel poverty impact Fuel poverty can have a negative impact on the elderly, affecting their immune systems, mental health, and pre-existing conditions.
Responding to the First Minister’s comments ahead of Wales’ budget, Andrew RT Davies MS, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives said:
“The First Minister has clearly had her fingers in her ears during her so-called ‘listening tour’.
“Keir Starmer’s Labour has made the political decision to push pensioners into fuel poverty by cutting the Winter Fuel Payment, yet Baroness Morgan has failed to challenge this decision.
“Instead of prioritising the creation of more Senedd politicians, Baroness Morgan should be focussed on keeping Welsh pensioners warm this winter.”
Labour Demand Tories Scrap Plan To End Winter Fuel Payments For Richer Pensioners
