Three in four pensioners are cold in their own homes this winter

An estimated 9.1million pensioners felt cold while at home some, most of or all of the time in January, new research reveals.

Three in four people aged 66 and over are struggling to keep warm during winter weather, according to the study by Age UK.

Around one in three older people who are either private renters or on an income of £20,000 said their home was cold most or all of the time, the charity found.

Age UK is campaigning against the Government’s decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment, and today will deliver a petition signed by 649,800 people to Number 10 Downing Street.

The payments, worth from £100 to £300 a year, were withdrawn from pensioners who don’t qualify for pension credit this winter.

> Claiming pension credit: Find out how to top up your weekly income

Winter Fuel Payment: Withdrawn from pensioners who don’t qualify for pension credit

In its latest poll of people aged 66-plus, Age UK found 41 per cent had cut back on heating or powering their home, and 48 per cent were worried about being able to heat their home when they wanted.

Some 44 per cent were worried about the impact of energy prices on their health, up from 33 per cent when the same question was put to older people last year.

In another previous poll, Age UK found that before the change in the rules three quarters of pensioners spent their Winter Fuel Payment on costs like heating, hot water and running household appliances.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director, says: ‘This is the first January since the Government decided to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment and it is a national scandal that so many older people are saying they are cold in their own homes, some, most or all of the time.

‘Rising energy prices are an important reason for this, but there’s no doubt that the changes to eligibility for Winter Fuel Payment are also contributing, both directly and also through sapping the confidence of many older people to run their heating when it’s bitterly cold, for fear of an unaffordable bill.

‘We hope the Government will listen and commit to further action so we don’t see a repeat of this fiasco next year.’

She says there are several ways to do this, such as re-instating the Winter Fuel Payment for older people who receive a wider range of benefits than just pension credit, like Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, Attendance Allowance and Carer’s Allowance.

Abrahams says other options are reforming and significantly extending eligibility for the Warm Home Discount, or bringing in a social tariff to give people on low incomes or with disabilities a guaranteed discounted energy deal, or a combination of the above measures.

Nearly 2,600 people aged 66 and over, weighted to be representative of age, gender and region, were polled by Age UK about keeping warm at home in early to mid-Janaury this year.

The results were scaled up to official mid-year population estimates for 2023 to to give estimates of how many pensioners were likely to be affected in total.

The Government was asked for comment but did not respond in time for publication.

What do elderly people say about cold weather?

Age UK reports some of the comments older people have made to its staff about their situation this winter.

Jay, 85: ‘I am constantly cold at home unless I am in bed. This way of living is restrictive and unhealthy too.’

Amanda, 69: ‘It’ll be a case of sitting in my dressing gown with my duvet over me. My monthly gas payment covers my gas cooker, I can’t afford to run my cooker and my heating.’

Burton, 72: ‘So far this winter I have been freezing cold in my own home. I sit indoors wearing two coats, a hat, scarf, gloves and a rug over my legs. 

I have severe rheumatoid arthritis and living in cold conditions has made it much worse.’

Rosemary, 74: ‘My house was built in 1911 and it does not have cavity walls so it’s cold and slightly damp. The short notice did not give me any time to plan so I stay out during the day and go to warm places I can sit in.

‘I only heat rooms for a limited period in the evening to between 18c and 19c. I also sit wrapped in a rug.’

Sally, 79: ‘I’ve had to cut down on the food that I buy – usually just have one hot meal a week.’

What does the Government say? 

A spokesperson says: ‘We do not want to see anyone suffering this winter, which is why we have continued the Warm Home Discount and extended the Household Support Fund which will help with the cost of food, heating and bills.

‘We are committed to supporting pensioners – with millions set to see their state pension rise by up to £1,900 this parliament through our commitment to the triple ock.

‘And last year Energy UK, in collaboration with the Government, published a Winter 2024 Commitment which promises £500million of industry support to billpayers this winter.’