Calls for government support package for older people
We'll be hearing from Rishi Sunak on the spring statement today that's going to include the ÂŁ9.1 billion energy bills rebate
Last updated 23rd Mar 2022
There are calls for the government to bring out a support package at the spring budget today for older people living on lower incomes.
It's as figures from Age UK show 21% of older households won't receive the ÂŁ150 council tax rebate because their home is not in band A to D
It's been said that older people rely on electricity especially heating to live.
Maureen Wright attends a lunch club at Age UK in Grimsby, she said
"When you've got a bungalow, you usually have the lighting on in the hallway all of the time. You can keep switching lights on and off.
One man said he couldn't manage without the help of his niece, he said "I would be struggling on my own, with the cost of living it's ridiculous.
Age UK said it was "deeply concerned" that the support package announced by the Government last month fell "badly short of what is needed to protect older people on low and modest incomes from unaffordable energy bills and other rising prices".
It is calling for a targeted package of support which mitigates the whole 54% price cap rise this April for lower income households, direct payments of up to Ă‚ÂŁ500 to people who are eligible for the cold weather payment and a doubling of the discretionary fund to Ă‚ÂŁ288 million to support those missing out on the council tax rebate.