Shocking levels of fuel poverty among older people

Age Scotland has commented on latest figures from the Scottish House Condition Survey, which show a rising number of older households in fuel poverty and extreme fuel poverty.

The Scottish Government's report showed that in 2023, 37% of older households were in fuel poverty and 25% were living in extreme fuel poverty. Older households are the group most impacted by fuel poverty in Scotland.

Katherine Crawford, Chief Executive at Age Scotland, said:

“It’s absolutely shocking that a quarter of older households are living in extreme fuel poverty, even more so when you consider this was measured when the universal Winter Fuel Payment was still in place. 

“Year on year, older people have emerged as the group most impacted by fuel poverty, but there has been little to no activity from government to address this. 

“With no financial support in place this winter for the majority of these older people and the energy price cap rising regularly, we have huge concerns about what these figures might look like next year. Older people are also more likely to live in older, less energy efficient homes, further exacerbating fuel poverty and highlighting the need to increase and speed up access to support schemes. 

“The Scottish Government must redouble efforts to tackle fuel poverty and accelerate efforts to improve energy efficient homes, with a real focus on older households now that they have more control over key social security payments. 

“Next winter will see the return of a universal Pension Age Winter Heating Payment but, at £100, it is impossible to think this will be enough for those on low and modest incomes who narrowly fall short of Pension Credit criteria when we are already seeing this scale of fuel poverty.

“As hard as it will be, the Scottish Government need to think about uprating this payment to something more reasonable or risk leaving an increasing number of older people in the cold.”