Save elderly residents from winter fuel payment wipe out says Lloyd (Eastbourne and Willingdon Liberal Democrats)

Eastbourne and Willingdon Liberal Democrats <office@eastbournelibdems.org.uk>

Save elderly residents from winter fuel payment wipe out says Lloyd

January 22, 2008 12:00 AM

Lib Dem parliamentary campaigner Stephen Lloyd is calling on the Government to protect pensioners in Eastbourne & Willingdon from energy price rises. This call comes after figures revealed that recent sharp increases in the cost of electricity and gas are set to wipe out pensioners' winter fuel payments.

Figures received by the Liberal Democrats from the House of Commons Library show that since 2004/5, and taking into account recently announced price rises:

• For a typical pensioner household aged 65-74 with gas central heating, gas bills have gone up by £260pa and electricity by £160pa - a total of £420 extra each year.

• For a typical pensioner household aged over 75 gas bills are up £200pa and electricity bills up £150pa - a total of £350.

• The value of the Winter Fuel Payment per household for those aged 60-79 is £200, and £300 for those aged over 80. Leaving pensioners having to find the missing money just to cover the rise in fuel costs.

"Elderly and disabled people are hardest hit by the fuel price hikes, which more than wipe out the value of their Winter Fuel Payment," said Stephen Lloyd. "This will leave many of Eastbourne & Willingdon residents in a financially difficult position.

"The Government must do far more to combat fuel poverty. The top priority should be to end the scandal where pensioners are paying a fortune to heat draughty houses where a lot of the heat is simply wasted. Many older people are currently paying to heat the great outdoors in addition to their own home!

"This is a waste of scarce cash and also makes no sense for the environment.

"In many other European countries with much colder weather, household energy bills are lower because homes are better insulated and heating is more energy-efficient.

"The Government needs to get its act together and make sure that our pensioners don't have to make a choice between heating and eating during these cold winter days."