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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Fuel bills 'put elderly at risk' | Fuel bills 'put elderly at risk' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A senior public health official has warned that the lives of thousands of elderly people are at risk because they cannot afford to heat their homes. | A senior public health official has warned that the lives of thousands of elderly people are at risk because they cannot afford to heat their homes. |
| Rod Griffiths of the Faculty of Public Health said there would "a lot more deaths, unnecessary deaths, because people cannot afford the fuel." | Rod Griffiths of the Faculty of Public Health said there would "a lot more deaths, unnecessary deaths, because people cannot afford the fuel." |
| Charity Age Concern wants a £100 rise in the winter fuel payment. | Charity Age Concern wants a £100 rise in the winter fuel payment. |
| Despite rising gas and electricity bills, however, ministers say there will be no rise in the £200 pay-out. | Despite rising gas and electricity bills, however, ministers say there will be no rise in the £200 pay-out. |
| That winter payment now covers less than a fifth of the average energy bill. | That winter payment now covers less than a fifth of the average energy bill. |
| Help the Aged said rising council tax bills meant some pensioners were cutting back on food and heating. | Help the Aged said rising council tax bills meant some pensioners were cutting back on food and heating. |
| 'Less able to cope' | 'Less able to cope' |
| It said more than a third of over 65s living on the lowest household incomes saw 10% of their earnings eaten up paying the bill. | It said more than a third of over 65s living on the lowest household incomes saw 10% of their earnings eaten up paying the bill. |
| 'I just can't afford this' | |
| One quarter said they were left with either no money at the end of the month or having to forego some basics, such as heating. | One quarter said they were left with either no money at the end of the month or having to forego some basics, such as heating. |
| Meanwhile, Brendan Paddy from Age Concern told BBC News 24 it was vital older people were able to keep themselves warm. | Meanwhile, Brendan Paddy from Age Concern told BBC News 24 it was vital older people were able to keep themselves warm. |
| "As we get older our bodies are just less able to cope with extremes of temperature they used to be," he said. | "As we get older our bodies are just less able to cope with extremes of temperature they used to be," he said. |
| "Older people tend to spend a lot more time inactive and in their homes so it's especially important they are able to heat their homes adequately." | "Older people tend to spend a lot more time inactive and in their homes so it's especially important they are able to heat their homes adequately." |
| Hobbies neglected | Hobbies neglected |
| The government has said that pensioners' incomes are "higher than they have ever been". | The government has said that pensioners' incomes are "higher than they have ever been". |
| But in the Help the Aged survey, 5% of those questioned had gone without some food, while 8% said they had cut back on heating. | But in the Help the Aged survey, 5% of those questioned had gone without some food, while 8% said they had cut back on heating. |
| The report also showed that 13% - equivalent to more than a million pensioners - had had to cut back on hobbies and socialising in order to meet council tax payments. | The report also showed that 13% - equivalent to more than a million pensioners - had had to cut back on hobbies and socialising in order to meet council tax payments. |
| Anna Pearson, senior policy officer at Help the Aged, said: "The government must reform council tax so that it better takes account of income and in the short-term the chancellor should immediately return the £200 rebate on council tax bills to pensioners." | Anna Pearson, senior policy officer at Help the Aged, said: "The government must reform council tax so that it better takes account of income and in the short-term the chancellor should immediately return the £200 rebate on council tax bills to pensioners." |
| Discount withdrawn | Discount withdrawn |
| The £200 discount was first made available before the 2005 general election but was later withdrawn. | The £200 discount was first made available before the 2005 general election but was later withdrawn. |
| A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said the government was "proud of its record in tackling pensioner poverty" and as a result of changes since 1997, the average pensioner households were now £1,400 a year better off. | A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said the government was "proud of its record in tackling pensioner poverty" and as a result of changes since 1997, the average pensioner households were now £1,400 a year better off. |
| He added: "Those in receipt of pension credit guarantee are entitled to full council tax benefit, so should not be paying any council tax bills." | He added: "Those in receipt of pension credit guarantee are entitled to full council tax benefit, so should not be paying any council tax bills." |
| Shadow local government secretary Caroline Spelman said: "This research shows the genuine hardship and distress felt by some of the most vulnerable people in society as a result of Gordon Brown's decision to drive council tax up by 84% since 1997." | Shadow local government secretary Caroline Spelman said: "This research shows the genuine hardship and distress felt by some of the most vulnerable people in society as a result of Gordon Brown's decision to drive council tax up by 84% since 1997." |