A think tank has urged the Government to support vulnerable people who are no longer eligible for winter fuel payments, warning that millions of households are at risk of ‘fuel stress’.
The Resolution Foundation says 7.7 million families suffered fuel stress in England in 2023-24. Fuel stress is defined as needing to spend more than 10% of income after-housing-costs on heating homes.
Around 77% of single parent households and just over half (56%) of couples with children are likely to experience fuel stress this winter, according to the think tank’s research.
Fuel stress affects almost one-in-four pensioner households (24%).
The Resolution Foundation acknowledged that winter fuel payments were ‘poorly targeted’ – working-age families are far more likely to be living in poverty than pensioners.
However, the think tank warned that the withdrawal of the payments from an estimated one million recipients risks creating hardship for some low-income pensioners.
It added that an expanded Cold Weather Payments scheme would be a ‘quick fix’ for protecting vulnerable households this winter.
Commenting on the research, Cllr Pete Marland, chair of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Economy and Resources Board, said the extension of the Household Support Fund would help councils support families.
However, he added that expanding Cold Weather Payments could ‘capture more households most in need of help with rising energy bills, including poorer pensioners as well as families, without adversely impacting on public finances.’
