Age UK statement on the Ofgem Energy Price Cap increasing by 10 per cent

Age UK statement in response to today's announcement by Ofgem that the energy price cap will rise in October to £1717. This is an increase of 10% .

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK said:

"Means-testing Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) when fuel prices are rising by 10% spells disaster for pensioners on low and modest incomes or living in vulnerable circumstances due to ill health. It means an estimated 2 million older people in all, will face an even steeper mountain to climb in paying their energy bills and staying warm and well when the weather chills. With pensioners also losing the cost-of-living payments they've received over the last two years we simply cannot see how some of them will cope. "

"This latest bad news about the Energy Price Cap rising quite significantly makes it even more obvious that means testing WFP with virtually no notice & with no protections to safeguard vulnerable groups was the wrong policy choice and one that is potentially hazardous for some older people."

"There's scarcely any time to tackle the long-term under-claiming of Pension Credit - for more than a decade a third of pensioners who are entitled to it have consistently missed out. And the million or so older people whose small incomes take them just above the line to claim are horribly exposed - no take-up campaign can help them."

"Means-testing WFP in these circumstances this winter is reckless and wrong. The Government must think again."

Age UK urges any older person living on a low income or struggling with their bills to contact Age UK's free Advice line on 0800 169 65 65 without delay to check they're receiving all the financial support available to them. Alternatively, people can visit www.ageuk.org.uk/money or contact their local Age UK for further information and advice.

Cutting the Winter Fuel Payment in the wrong policy decision and will leave millions of older people struggling this winter . Help us fight for it sign our petition today https://campaigns.ageuk.org.uk/page/154268/petition/1?locale=en-GB