'Urgent concerns’ for older people as first icy blast of winter hits

Age Scotland has warned that the impact of abolishing the universal Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners on low or modest incomes will be felt within days as temperatures across the country are set to plummet and snow is forecast for some areas. 

Scotland’s charity for older people has raised urgent concerns that many low or modest income older people, including the 85% in poverty or on the poverty line who have lost their Winter Fuel Payment, will be reluctant or unable to heat their homes adequately during the cold snap.

Around 270,000 pensioners already living in fuel poverty will no longer receive the payment, worth up to £300, and go into this winter with higher energy bills. Faced with the onset of bitterly cold winter weather, the fear is that many will try to avoid getting into debt by not heating their homes and skipping hot meals, which could have disastrous consequences.

The charity is urging people to check in on older family and neighbours to make sure their homes are warm enough and they are eating hot meals.  

Katherine Crawford, chief executive of Age Scotland, said:

“Sadly, we’re likely to start seeing the real-life impact of taking away the Winter Fuel Payment from so many low and modest income pensioners. We knew this winter would be exceptionally hard for hundreds of thousands of pensioners in Scotland, but it is alarming to think that the fallout from the move could start affecting older people so soon.  

“Our greatest fear is that older people put their health - and lives - at risk by not keeping their homes warm and not eating hot food in a desperate attempt to pay their high energy bills and avoid spiralling debt. Older and vulnerable people trying to survive in cold houses can very easily develop chronic health problems, including respiratory, cardiac and circulatory illnesses.

“Last month we published figures from the Scottish Ambulance Service which showed that almost 900 people over 50 were taken to hospital for hypothermia treatment last December. I really hope we don’t see anything like that again.  

“It’s absolutely shocking that so many older people suffered in this way and it highlights the extreme risks of older people face staying warm at home. Hypothermia is entirely preventable, and yet bitterly cold temperatures paired with soaring energy prices and the loss of the universal Winter Fuel Payment are, to put it bluntly, life-threatening.

“We would urge anyone worried about paying their energy bills to call our free helpline on 0800 12 44 222 to make sure they are receiving all the financial benefits and support they possible can.”