Keeping warm in winter is important as we get older as cold weather and winter bugs can affect us more than they used to. Winter weather can also stop us from getting out and about sometimes.
But there are things you can do to stay warm and well and prepare yourself and your home for the winter period:
Unions and equality campaigners have today condemned escalating attacks on flexible working.
A joint statement released yesterday – signed by organisations and campaigners including the TUC, Age UK, the Fawcett Society, Anna Whitehouse (founder of Flex Appeal) and Pregnant Then Screwed – warns of a “witch-hunt” against workers being able to work more flexibly.
The intervention comes as the government prepares to publish its Employment Rights Bill which is expected to enhance existing rights to flexible working.
Highlighting the ongoing briefing against flexible working, the organisations say:
“It’s time to stop the witch-hunt against flexible working. In recent weeks, we have seen relentless scaremongering about how new legislation on flexible working will harm UK businesses and productivity.
“These warnings couldn’t be further from the truth.”
Pointing to the recruitment and retention problems facing employers the organisations say:
“There are 800,000 fewer people in the workforce than before the pandemic, and one of the biggest issues facing employers is recruiting and retaining skilled staff.
“Look at our public services. In the midst of a staffing crisis, health, education and social care workers are leaving due to a lack of flexibility.
“This is not an isolated example. Research published by the Charter Institute of Professional Development last year found that an estimated four million people have changed careers due to a lack of flexibility at work.
“Flexible working can bring more people back into the labour market and keep them there.”
Criticising the bad faith nature of the attacks on flexible working, the organisations say:
“Some have tried to claim flexible working is just about working from home.
“But there are there are many different forms of flexible working.
“For some people it means stable and predictable shift patterns so they can do the school run. For others it means compressed hours to allow for an extra day at home to care for loved ones. And for some it’s a job share to allow time for study alongside work.
“This is about developing patterns of work needed for a modern economy and a modern workforce.
“Flexible working is good for workers, good for employers and good for growth.”
Commenting on the joint statement, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “Flexible working – and in particular working from home – is being misrepresented to attack the government’s wider plan to Make Work Pay. It’s time we called it out.
“Improving access to flexible working will benefit workers and businesses, whether it’s through increasing staff productivity or higher retention. And the same is true of improving workers’ rights across the piece.
“When people feel secure and respected at work, they have happier, healthier lives and perform better in their jobs.”
Jemima Olchawski,Fawcett Society Chief Executive, said: “We have to ask who benefits from parroting the fallacy that flexible working and flexible workers are bad for business – it’s just nonsense.
“What really holds growth back is rigid, outdated work practices that exclude women, older workers, and those managing health conditions.
“Offering flexible working options increases the talent pool and enables more people to work.
“While that may threaten those who are happy to maintain the status quo, it can only be good for our economy. We need to see all jobs advertised as flexible by default.”
Victoria Benson, Chief Executive of Gingerbread, said: “Too many single parents are locked out of the workforce or stuck in jobs beneath their skill level because of old fashioned, inflexible working patterns.
“Employers who don’t offer flexible working are missing out on an untapped pool of talent and single parents are missing out on jobs.
“We need to see single parents supported to thrive at work – not just because it’s good for them and their children but because it’s good for employers and our economy, too.”
The full statement reads:
It’s time to stop the witch-hunt against flexible working.
In recent weeks, we have seen relentless scare-mongering about how new legislation on flexible working will harm UK businesses and productivity.
These warnings couldn’t be further from the truth.
There are 800,000 fewer people in the workforce than before the pandemic, and one of the biggest issues facing employers is recruiting and retaining skilled staff.
Look at our public services. In the midst of a staffing crisis, health, education and social care workers are leaving due to a lack of flexibility.
This is not an isolated example. Research published by the Chartered Institute of Professional Development last year found that an estimated four million people have changed careers due to a lack of flexibility at work.
Flexible working can bring more people back into the labour market and keep them there.
Many businesses already recognise the benefits flexible working can bring to their workforces and companies, whether it’s through increasing staff productivity or higher retention.
There are clear mutual benefits from allowing people to balance their professional and personal commitments – let’s not lose sight of them.
Some have tried to claim flexible working is just about working from home.
But there are there are many different forms of flexible working.
For some people it means stable and predictable shift patterns so they can do the school run. For others it means compressed hours to allow for an extra day at home to care for loved ones. And for some it’s a job share to allow time for study alongside work.
This is about developing patterns of work needed for a modern economy and a modern workforce.
Flexible working is good for workers, good for employers and good for growth.
The government should embrace it, and we support the government’s ambition to make flexible working the default from day one for all workers.
Paul Nowak, General Secretary, TUC
Anna Whitehouse, Founder, Flex Appeal
Jemima Olchawski, Chief Executive, the Fawcett Society
Caroline Abraham, Charity Director, Age UK
Lauren Fabianski, Head of Campaigns and Communications, Pregnant Then Screwed
Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson, Director, Women’s Budget Group
Elliott Rae, Founder, Parenting Out Loud & Music Football Fatherhood
Sarah Lambert, Head of Policy and Campaigns, Gingerbread
Claire Campbell, CEO, Timewise
Claire Reindorp, CEO, Young Women’s Trust
Kathy Jones, CEO, Fatherhood Institute
Judith Dennis, Head of Policy, Maternity Action
Jo Dainow, Trustee, Long Covid Support
Simon Kelleher, Head of Policy and Influencing, Working Families
A Freedom of Information request made by financial journalist, broadcaster, and speaker PAUL LEWIS has revealed the likely impact of cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment.
Mr Lewis says the DWP response (below) that shows the Labour government knew:
* 1.6m disabled pensioners would lose winter fuel payment
* 780,000 of the poorest pensioners who were entitled still would not get it – so ‘protecting the poorest’ was a lie.
In response to the House of Commons voting in favour of cutting the Winter Fuel Payment, Independent Age Chief Executive Joanna Elson, CBE said: “People in later life living in financial hardship will be rightly concerned that, despite mounting public pressure about the impact on older people on the lowest incomes, the UK Government will continue with its plans to means test the Winter Fuel Payment from this year. It’s clear that making this decision now means many people in later life struggling in poverty will be forced to make dangerous cutbacks.
“The Chancellor still has time to reassess. Even with today’s vote, the UK Government can show it is listening to the concerns of older people in poverty, and delay this policy change until more older people start receiving Pension Credit.
“Boosting take-up is complex and will take time, the latest take-up figures show that up to 1.2 million older people could be missing out on this financial entitlement. They will already be living on a low income as they are eligible for Pension Credit, but now they will have even less money to live on this winter.
“We are also concerned about the large group of older people that just miss out on Pension Credit. Many of them are in financial hardship and do not have enough money to live well, but will still have their income cut at an already challenging time of year with energy prices on the rise.
“In the short term we hope the UK Government listens to the evidence being shared, and doesn’t means-test the Winter Fuel Payment now.
“Long-term there must be financial security for all of us as we age.
“We urge the UK Government to lead a review where all major parties come together and agree on what an adequate income in older age is, then ensure that everybody receives it so that no one lives in poverty in later life.”
Caroline Abrahams CBE, Charity Director at Age UK said: “We’re deeply disappointed, but not surprised, that the vote to brutally means-test Winter Fuel Payment was passed today.
“As soon as the Government announced it was instructing its MPs to support it this was the inevitable result, but we would like to thank all those in every party who voted against the policy or abstained.
“There’s been a lot of discussion about the Government’s decision, but at heart Age UK’s critique of their policy is really simple: we just don’t think it’s fair to remove the payment from the 2.5 million pensioners on low incomes who badly need it, and to do it so quickly this winter, at the same time as energy bills are rising by 10%.
“It is crystal clear that there is insufficient time to make any serious impact on the miserably low take-up of Pension Credit before the cold sets in this autumn, and the Government has brought forward no effective measures to support all those whose tiny occupational pensions take them just above the line to claim.
“It’s true they have agreed to extend the Household Support Fund until April and they deserve some credit for that, but the HSF is an all-age fund that you have to apply for, so we know it will only help a small proportion of all the pensioners who will be in need as a result of their policy change.
“The Government has also tried to suggest that the increase in State Pension for older people next year as a result of the Triple Lock means there’s no need to worry about how they will cope now, but that won’t help anyone this winter and most pensioners will not benefit to the extent being suggested – either because they are on the old State Pension which attracts less of an increase, or because they don’t qualify for a full State Pension in the first place.
“The reality is that driving through this policy as the Government is doing will make millions of poor pensioners poorer still and we are baffled as to why some Ministers are asserting that this is the right thing to do.
“We and many others are certain that it is not, and that’s why we will continue to stand with the pensioners who can’t afford to lose their payment and campaign for them to be given more Government support.
“Meanwhile, winter is coming and we fear it will be a deeply challenging one for millions of older people who have previously relied on their Winter Fuel Payment to help pay their energy bills and who have no obvious alternative source of funds on which to draw.
“As a charity we will do everything we can to help them, but with so many in need and no extra support on offer from the Government at the moment it’s looking like an incredibly uphill task.”
ALL Scottish Labour MPs voted with the government, butRebecca Long Bailey was one of more than fifty Labour MPs who refused to vote in favour of the cut. She explained why:
Former Labour Party leader and now independent MP Jeremy Corbyn also voted against the withdrwal of the payment. He said: “I voted against cuts to winter fuel payments. Politics is about choices, and the government has chosen to push pensioners into poverty.
What’s next for means testing? The NHS?
“I will always defend the principle of universalism. That is how we build a fairer society for all.”
Every 3 months we review and set a level for how much an energy supplier can charge for each unit of energy and daily standing charge, under the price cap.
From 1 October to 31 December the price for energy for a typical household who use electricity and gas and pay by Direct Debit will go up to £149 per year. This is an increase of 10% and adds around £12 per month to an average bill.
The new cap is 6% (£117) cheaper compared to the same period last year (£1,834).
You are covered by the energy price cap if you pay for your electricity and gas by either:
standard credit (payment made when you get your electricity and gas bill)
Direct Debit
prepayment meter
Economy 7 (E7) meter
The actual amount you pay will depend on how much energy your household uses, where you live and the type of meter you have.
Energy price cap rates 1 October to 31 December
Electricity rates
If you are on a standard variable tariff (default tariff) and pay for your electricity by Direct Debit, you will pay on average 24.50 pence per kilowatt hour (kWh). The daily standing charge is 60.99 pence per day. This is based on the average across England, Scotland and Wales and includes VAT.
Gas rates
If you are on a standard variable tariff (default tariff) and pay for your gas by Direct Debit, you will pay on average 6.24 pence per kilowatt hour (kWh). The daily standard charge is 31.66 pence per day. This is based on the average across England, Scotland and Wales and includes VAT.
Costs included in the energy price cap
The level of the energy price cap is made up of different costs, for example the wholesale cost of gas and electricity, costs to supply energy on the network and VAT. These costs are split within the energy price cap between the unit rate and the standing charge.
Last year we started a review of standing charges. Our call for input had feedback from more than 30,000 customers, consumer groups, charities and others.
Today we have published an options paper on our ways to reduce standing charges for households, called ‘domestic standing charges’. Standing charges are set by your energy supplier and are also included in the energy price cap. Your supplier will charge you this cost each day, even if you do not use any energy on that day. The charge covers the cost to maintain the energy supply network, take meter readings, and support government social and environmental schemes, like the Warm Home Discount scheme.
The options in the paper could reduce the standing charge by between £20 and £100 per year by transferring parts of these fixed supplier costs to the unit rate (the price paid for every unit of energy used).
We know that if these changes are made it could affect people who cannot safely reduce the amount of energy they use. This could be because of their dependence on life-saving medical equipment or living in a low standard of housing with poor insulation.
We are asking energy suppliers to offer energy tariffs that have no or low standing charges as well as their current tariffs. This will mean that energy efficient households will be able to choose a tariff that rewards them for using less energy. It will also mean that other energy customers can also choose from more tariffs that meet their needs.
You could pay less for your energy by changing your energy tariff. Find out if you can change your tariff and how to switch energy supplier.
The options paper also sets out long-term considerations relating to the assignment of network costs, as a part of a broader review of how electricity and gas system costs are recovered from users.
We would like to hear your views on standing charges. The discussion closes on 20 September 2024. Read our standing charges options paper and feedback your views using our online form.
Support for people with a prepayment meter
We have also extended our initial 12-month allowance to cover increased debt costs associated with additional support credit which we expect to be in place for at least another 6 months. Additional support credit is often issued to people at risk of being cut off from their energy supply because they cannot afford to top up their meter. This decision means that the most vulnerable consumers will continue to be supported and have an energy supply this winter.
Next energy price cap review
We review and set a level on how much an energy supplier can charge for each unit of energy including the standing charge every 3 months. The levels for the period 1 January to 31 March 2025 will be published by 25 November 2024.
Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK said:“Means-testing Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) when fuel prices are rising by 10% spells disaster for pensioners on low and modest incomes or living in vulnerable circumstances due to ill health.
“It means an estimated 2 million older people in all, will face an even steeper mountain to climb in paying their energy bills and staying warm and well when the weather chills. With pensioners also losing the cost-of-living payments they’ve received over the last two years we simply cannot see how some of them will cope.
“This latest bad news about the Energy Price Cap rising quite significantly makes it even more obvious that means testing WFP with virtually no notice & with no protections to safeguard vulnerable groups was the wrong policy choice and one that is potentially hazardous for some older people.”
“There’s scarcely any time to tackle the long-term under-claiming of Pension Credit – for more than a decade a third of pensioners who are entitled to it have consistently missed out. And the million or so older people whose small incomes take them just above the line to claim are horribly exposed – no take-up campaign can help them.”
“Means-testing WFP in these circumstances this winter is reckless and wrong. The Government must think again.”
Age UK urges any older person living on a low income or struggling with their bills to contact Age UK’s free Advice line on 0800 169 65 65 without delay to check they’re receiving all the financial support available to them.
Alternatively, people can visit www.ageuk.org.uk/money or contact their local Age UK for further information and advice.
National Energy Action has responded: Just now, @Ofgem announced that #EnergyBills will rise 9% from October. NEA Chief Executive @adam_scorer says, ‘There is still time for @Ofgem and UK government to act for those at greatest risk, but without support.’
We are taking part in #SilverSunday with Age UK on Sunday 6 October by offering a free tour for elder visitors. We have an option of a tour of the Castle and a step-free option to see the castle digitally.
Join our knowledgeable guide for a FREE tour of Lauriston Castle. Find out about Willian and Margaret Reid, the last owners of Lauriston, and see for yourself the wonderful gift they left the nation.
Silver Sunday is the national day for older people, which is co-ordinated by Age UK. Age UK’s Silver Sunday is a national day where people of all generations can come together by hosting fun and free activities for older people. It is a day where older people can meet new people, visit new places, try new activities and connect with their local communities and the generations around them.
