Age UK launches their Campaign for Warm Homes
25/11/2015
Charity Age UK has discovered evidence that one person (generally elderly) will die every seven minutes from cold related diseases this winter.
The charity has now called on the government to take “urgent action” to protect older people from the potentially deadly consequences of living in cold households with their Campaign for Warm Homes.
Over the last 60 years there have been 2.5 million avoidable deaths among older people in England and Wales because of poorly insulated homes. The problems of cold housing does not just affect pensioners as those suffering from disabilities, poor households and single parent families also at risk.
Current government schemes to help people warm their homes are not proving to be successful. The governments green deal efficiency programme was scrapped in July due to poor take-up and alleged scams surrounding the scheme. The majority of help at the moment comes from the energy companies obligation (ECO). This requires the big energy firms to offer free cavity wall or loft insulation to those on pension credit or who claim various benefits. Local authorities also offer grants to local residents to help them pay for energy efficient measures.
Mark Todd, director of website Energyhelpline, said:
“The help on offer has reduced over the past few years with government cuts to not only energy efficiency schemes, but also to social care with fewer visits to people in their homes, and to benefits. The government has been leaving everyone to fend for themselves, energy prices are still too high, and the funding for these schemes too low.” Abrahams adds: “There is an urgent need for a workable replacement for the green deal and reform of ECOs.”
Need financial advice?
If you have any personal finance questions related to this news article, then please contact our financial advisers. You can get in touch by asking a question online, calling us on 0800 092 1245, or by arranging a visit.
Share this..
Related stories
Buyouts for company pension schemes to hit £10bn
The value of buyouts for company pension schemes will soar to £10 billion this year, as more and more companies turn to the practice, according to a new report. Actuaries Lane Clark and Peacock (LCP) forecast that at least ten FTSE 100 companies as well as a host of non-listed companies will sell off their schemes this year. LCP said: "The market for transferring pension scheme risk to an insuran...
Read MoreWill the UK government reinvigorate the pension fund industry?
There is no doubt that the UK government has a number of specific ideas and tasks in mind for the UK pension fund industry. We have seen George Osborne and David Cameron attempt to tackle the monumental problem of public sector final salary pension schemes as well as various taxation changes with regards to the purchase of annuities and the ability to transfer assets upon death. Will this reinvigo...
Read MoreHow will the ageing UK population impact upon the benefit system?
At this moment in time there around 10,000 UK citizens who are aged over 100 but this figure is set to increase dramatically in the short to medium term. Forecasts suggest that over 280,000 Britons will be aged over 100 by the year 2050 and there will be around 16 million pensioners in the UK, many under the state pension system. So how will this impact upon the UK benefits system? In many ways...
Read MoreGovernment announces changes to pension age
The UK government has today brought forward the increase in state pension age to 66 years from 2020 which is a significant six years earlier than previously indicated. Buried in the back of the comprehensive spending review there are also plans to accelerate the increase to 68 years with an option to increase the pension age above and beyond 68 years. So what will this save the UK government in th...
Read MoreNine out of ten final salary pension schemes to close
A report by PricewaterhouseCoopers has revealed that nine out of ten private sector businesses in the UK are set to close their final salary schemes to existing members. Many of the companies surveyed have already closed their final salary schemes to new members and are set to extend this to existing members. In simple terms, members will be encouraged to transfer to cheaper alternatives with bonu...
Read More