Fuel poverty levels increasing

Helen Drew
The Politics Show
South East

Elderly people struggle to pay theating bills.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change recently released figures that show fuel poverty is increasing.

And in parts of the south east region it has leapt up.

A household is defined as fuel poor if it needs to spend more than 10% of its income to maintain a satisfactory heating level.

Around 21 degrees for the main living area and 18 degrees for other rooms.

Figures show fuel poverty in the region is increasing

In East Sussex in 2006, Brighton and Hove had the largest number of fuel poor households with nearly 14,000 (13,706) which is 11.7% of the total number of homes in the city.

That is an increase of more than 80% over three years.

In Kent, Thanet comes off the worst, with 6,500 houses, or 11.3%, struggling with proper heating.

The lowest in the whole of our region is Crawley with only 4% in the fuel poverty trap.

Heating and eating

There are schemes designed to help, such as the Warm Front Scheme, which can fund insulation and heating improvements.

For seniors there is also the Winter Fuel Allowance, which is currently £250 if you are over 60 and live alone, or £125 each if you live with another person over 60.

83 year old Francis Tonks, from Brighton and Hove Older People's Council, says this is not enough.

He wants the Winter Fuel Allowance raised to £500. He says people have to choose between heating and eating.

David Kidney MP admits meeting the 2016 target will be difficult

And it is not just older people who are fuel poor.

In fact, according to the Citizens Advice Bureaux , elderly people are only some of the people who struggle to pay their heating bills.

This year the CAB has already seen a huge increase in the number of clients with fuel debt and 80% of those are of working age, but earning a low income.

The government has a target to eradicate fuel poverty in all homes in England by 2016 and in vulnerable households - defined as one that contains the elderly, children or someone who is disabled or long term sick- by next year.

David Kidney MP, the energy minister admits meeting the 2016 target will be difficult. And hitting next year's deadline may not be possible at all.

What do you think?

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