Elderly 'can't afford to heat home'

A poll, commissioned by the British Gas Help The Aged partnership, found that up to 2.5 million older people could be inhabiting just part of their house because they cannot afford to heat their entire home.

The survey, which questioned 1,171 adults aged over 60, found that more than 2.2 million people switched off their heating last year in a bid to save money.

Despite Government promises to eradicate fuel poverty among the elderly, and the introduction of fuel subsidies, the survey found that one in three older people were unaware of whom they should contact for help and advice on the issue.

In 2007, £4.5 billion in winter fuel benefits remained unclaimed due to a complicated applications system, causing thousands of unnecessary deaths, according to the partnership.

"Each year over 25,000 older people lose their lives to a preventable cold-related illness," said Anna Pearson, spokeswoman for the British Gas Help the Aged Partnership. "The Government is literally gambling with people's lives by not doing nearly enough to end fuel poverty.

"The Government has a potential jackpot of £4.5 billion waiting for older people, but it dangles this vital cash behind a complex maze of means-tested benefits and as a result, money continually fails to reach those who need it to survive."

The survey, carried out by ICM research, also found that almost two million people wear outdoor clothes such as hats and gloves in the house, and one million elderly people go out to heated public places, such as libraries and shopping centres, to stay warm.

The partnership is campaigning for the Government to introduce automatic payment of benefits and face-to-face advice on the subject for older people.

"Through an ongoing commitment to helping older people in the winter, we have learned that with the right benefits advice and support older people do receive the benefits they are entitled to," said actress June Whitfield, campaign ambassador.