Tag Archives: fuel poverty

Cold snap poses ‘significant health risks’ to elderly

Cold snap poses ‘significant health risks’ to elderly, says Health Department

Severe cold weather and snow forecast for this weekend could cause ‘significant health risks’ for the elderly, the Department of Health warned, as they advised families to keep check on vulnerable relatives.

Elderly woman keeping warm in winter

British expats aged over 60 in Europe will be entitled to a winter fuel allowance Photo: REX FEATURES

3:53PM GMT 10 Jan 2013

In the next two to three days there is a high chance of severe cold weather, icy conditions and heavy snow across large swathes of the country, according to the Health Department.

It said cold weather can be “dangerous”, particularly for the very young and very old, and that the conditions could give rise to “signficant health risks.”

The Met Office this morning issued a cold weather level two alert, the third most severe warning, with forecasters warning temperatures could reach as low as -9C in the early part of next week.

Families were advised to keep a close eye on elderly relatives as well as young children, who are particularly vulnerable in cold patches.

The Met Office said the weather “could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services”.

‘Target winter fuel benefit to pay for elderly care’

By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News

Social care is in need of reform, many experts say

Generic image of a pensionerWinter fuel payments should be means-tested to help pay for care of the elderly, a former minister says.

A report by Lib Dem MP Paul Burstow and the Centre Forum think-tank, said targeting the allowance would help pay for a fairer social care system.

The report said it could fund most of the £1.7bn cost of implementing reforms of elderly care in England proposed by the independent Dilnot Commission.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said a funding model was yet to be decided.

The Dilnot Commission, which was set up by the government, recommended that the cap on the amount individuals have to pay towards their social care be set at £35,000 over a lifetime.

The commission argued that such a move would protect people from catastrophic care costs that result in them having to sell their homes.

As things stand, older people in England have to contribute to their care costs if they have savings of more than around £23,000.

Families face choice between food and heating, warn charities

By Gabriella Jozwiak, Thursday 06 December 2012

Families on benefits could be forced to choose between paying for food and heating, as a result of measures announced in the autumn statement, children’s charities have warned.

Children and young people’s organisations warned that families would be hit by the real-terms cuts to working-age benefits and tax credits.

Jobseeker’s Allowance, income support and child tax credit are among the working-age benefits that will increase by just one per cent over the next three years, equating to a real-terms cut, given that inflation is currently running at more than two per cent.

The Children’s Society suggested the one per cent cap would mean an unemployed, lone parent with one child and no other income will only receive about £4 more each month after housing costs in 2015.