warm places for the elderly to go to because they are not getting the winter fuel payment

I an sorry Lilyslass. At the risk of being intrusive and/or tactless, does this mean that you and your friends all budgeted for your additional fuel costs in Dec to March to be covered solely by WFA? I hope nobody is saving their money in the bank to leave an inheritance, rather than taking what is seriously only about an additional £3-4 per day to keep warm.

The loss of the WFA has made a big difference to me and my friends this year. Last night it was Minus 10 in this glen and it has not risen above freezing all day. Local weather bulletins tell us it would have been worse without the snow-laden clouds, and the skies will be clear tonight so it could be down to Minus 20. None of us is eligible for Pension Credit, but just by a few pounds. We manage, but in rural areas, a lot of the help described above is not available. I am not asking anyone for help or advice, just asking fellow Gransnetters to consider, when posting, that not all pensioners (including those of us who worked and paid tax/NI all our lives) are able to access/choose cheap fuel, or to do anything about a limited income. We don’t lack common sense, but it would have made more sense to give the WFA this year and give the plan a year to bed in and for an impact assessment, which surely could have been done in the ten years since the Chancellor first stated her intention to stop it.

FlitterMouse

^Before she goes out in the morning she turns the heating off. ^

There’s no evidence that the woman wasn’t about to turn it on again when the neighbour called round apparently soon after the woman got home at 5:00pm. OP posted just after 6:00pm by which time her friend had already reported to her that they had been around to see the neighbour.

I don’t leave my heating on if I am going to be out all day. I worry about the cost of heating just like everybody else (just as this woman does) but that doesn’t mean I can’t afford it. If it’s cold when I get home, I switch it on and by the time I’ve make a cuppa and got myself sorted out, shopping put away or whatever, the house is warming up nicely. I am not knocking those who prefer to leave the heating on all day as a low temperature. It's just how I prefer to do things.

While I applaud the neighbours for their care and concern, we don’t know the whole story and neither do they - whether this woman is in genuine fuel poverty or is just trying to be economical. I imagine that quite a lot of us grew up in cold houses and liked the outdoors. I am used to cold, prefer it to heat and find constantly heated rooms and buildings uncomfortable, sometimes suffocating but I accept that we are all different and that health conditions can necessitate using more domestic energy - but there’s no mention of that here.

I also have what some might regard as an ancient boiler as it’s almost 40 years old but the engineer who services it annually says it works efficiently and there’s no need to change it.

Similar to what Franbern has said, someone living on their own should have income of £218.15 pw. A 20W boiler burning gas all the time - which it won’t be once the thermostat temperature is reached - costs around £1 an hour.

This from Octopus OctoAssist talking about the economy of using electric blankets but mentioning the cost of heating the whole house per day.

One of our boffins realised that some customers were paying to heat their entire homes, even if they lived alone. He did some calculations and found out that where heating a whole home costs around £4 a day, an energy-efficient electric blanket can heat a person for just 2-4p an hour.

So £4 a day, £28 a week which would still leave someone with minimum income £190 a week for everything else. That number accords neatly with my own January bill which covers three weeks of December and one of January. Total gas charges were £110 including standing charge and VAT so just over £25 a week.

I agree. I think the press hysterical reporting about the WFA has caused many to panic. I know there are some with no savings, but surely most pensioners have a little bit of money in the bank for emergencies? The Octopus info is interesting and useful. At the risk of a pile on, surely just a small overpayment during the other 9 or 10 months is possible? Enough to cover the winter which does come every year.

That's the case with all benefits.
The dreaded cut off point.

If only some very needy older people were entitled to claim pension credit …

If anyone's looking for a heated blanket, just spotted that Aldi are doing one in their Specialbuys section from Thursday, January 16th - £29.99.

rowyn

Funny, isn't it. The seemingly delighted Left wingers, who have taken up much space to glorify Starmer and co, after the election, seem to have gone rather quiet.

I've not gone quiet.
I keep pointing out that it's £4 a week, telling people to claim pension credit, and pip or attendance allowance if they have medical needs.

I'll go a step further, and say that sooner than posting about it, I would take someone into my home, if they had been worried to the point of not using their heating.

Smart meters and the associated consumption display monitors are worrying for many elderly consumers especially those that only have a single income. It's not just the loss of the winter fuel allowance, the energy price cap has also been increased so the average daily energy amount for heating coming hot water, lighting appliances and the daily standing charges is £4.76 per day across the year. Or looking at it seasonally, say, approximately £6.00 per day for 130 days and £4.20 for both other 235 days. Obviously consumption levels depend on size and type of accommodation, insulation, etc but for many it's not affordable to run heating 24/7 in cold weather if you only have just over the state pension level.of income.

I hate to think of very elderly people suffering like this. I have thrown caution to the wind re the heating. I live in the North East of England and it's really cold here !
After having covid a couple of years ago I find it very hard to keep my body warm even at the best of times, so I will have to worry about the bills in the future.

hulahoop

I keep my heating on I have asthma and all the extra clothing etc is good but the temperature of the air as to be warm as well. I put a scarf around my mouth when out so I breath in moist warm air if not I cough and get breathless.

This. The temperature of the air breathed in is very important for older people, whether or not you have a respiratory condition. Just using warm clothes, heated throws and hot water bottles doesn’t increase the air temperature.

62Granny

It is good that your neighbour goes to a local warm hub, there will be company and a hot meal, but why while they are there why isn't someone giving them advise on putting the heating on timer and showing them how to use their heating efficiently and making sure they are on the correct tarrifs and their homes are sufficiently insulated and also they are on the correct benefits. I think a lot of people are being led to believe that it can't be turned on at all because of the cost. But if you use it correctly instead of turning it on " when you need it" then the house takes ages to warm it is much more efficient.

There are people giving this advice, but, it’s on a voluntary basis. There isn’t the money to have someone from SS or someone from the DWP. Age concern don’t have enough advisers.

Lathyrus3
I was 40 when I went into hypothermia. Nothing to do with old age 😂

I keep my heating on I have asthma and all the extra clothing etc is good but the temperature of the air as to be warm as well. I put a scarf around my mouth when out so I breath in moist warm air if not I cough and get breathless.

It is good that your neighbour goes to a local warm hub, there will be company and a hot meal, but why while they are there why isn't someone giving them advise on putting the heating on timer and showing them how to use their heating efficiently and making sure they are on the correct tarrifs and their homes are sufficiently insulated and also they are on the correct benefits. I think a lot of people are being led to believe that it can't be turned on at all because of the cost. But if you use it correctly instead of turning it on " when you need it" then the house takes ages to warm it is much more efficient.

I am pleased that this lady’s situation will soon be solved.

The sale of her house will also give her a more than comfortable buffer for any future plans.

MissAdventure

It's always depended where you live, surely?

Scotland is famous for it's cold weather.

Well yes, clearly - but I'm just pointing out that those who think it's not been a cold winter are very lucky.

pascal30

Lathyrus3

For the first time, yesterday, I had a taste of the difference that being older makes.

I went for a walk, a bit further than was wise and got chilled. I couldn’t get warm all day. I had the heating on at 20. I sat with the electric throw. I even had a hot water bottle on my lap.

My body would just not respond. It really made me think about the physiological changes that happen as you age and how maybe “putting the heating on” isn’t always the answer if you’ve let yourself get cold before.

I wonder if a hot bath might have warmed you up more quickly Lathyrus

Thank you for the thought but I don’t have a bath. I never even thought of getting in the shower.🤔🙂

Funny, isn't it. The seemingly delighted Left wingers, who have taken up much space to glorify Starmer and co, after the election, seem to have gone rather quiet.

Alliance, cost of fuel gas actually hone up again. There are many many people who won't put the heating on because of the cost. Shame on this government. How many deaths will there be???

I am going to a very warm place at the end of this month, Western Australia! I was in credit with BG during the summer to the tune of over £900 so I reduced my direct debit
, which BG had almost doubled, back down to previous level and took £500 of the credit balance. Have just had my bill to end of December and I am still in credit, so I am having my heating on as normal as I just cannot bear to be cold. I really feel sorry for my younger brother and sil, they are all electric with very inefficient night storage heaters which are completely useless. They have turned them off mainly and have a couple of convection heaters but it is absolutely freezing in their tiny bungalow. They have to wear layers of thermal clothing and hats and wrap themselves in fleece blankets with hot water bottles for the evening and it is still costing them an astronomical amount! My brother has a private pension fortunately so they don’t qualify for any benefits but really did find the WFA a Godsend and are one of the ones who will really miss it!

Lathyrus3

For the first time, yesterday, I had a taste of the difference that being older makes.

I went for a walk, a bit further than was wise and got chilled. I couldn’t get warm all day. I had the heating on at 20. I sat with the electric throw. I even had a hot water bottle on my lap.

My body would just not respond. It really made me think about the physiological changes that happen as you age and how maybe “putting the heating on” isn’t always the answer if you’ve let yourself get cold before.

I wonder if a hot bath might have warmed you up more quickly Lathyrus

Susieq62

Warm spaces have been available for over three years now as I volunteer in the library and we offer it! WFA is not the issue but high fuel costs across the board regardless of age or income! Yes if you are above a certain financial threshold you can put on your heating but not everybody is in that position! Children are not at school this week due to closures, families must be struggling as well
Layers, warm drinks hot water bottles, throws, hats, thermals are all necessary! Blowvthe fashion look and keep moving if possible !

Agree

surfingsal

Some good news , the elderly lady has admitted that everything is getting too much for her and was very upset , I think she has been quite stubborn over the last couple of years , she has a daughter who has wanted her mother to move in with them but she refused to and she also has a sister who also wants her to move in with her as she is lonely and they have always been close, so she has agreed to move in with her sister for a trial run , if it works out she will sell her house and invest the money in case she ever needs a care home. My friend still cannot understand how none of the family never realised how cold the house is and the fact there is no double glazing , the daughter does live about 200 miles away but even so she must have has some idea !

A good result, thank you for letting us know.

It's always depended where you live, surely?

Scotland is famous for it's cold weather.

Must depend where you live then, because it's absolutely Baltic up here in Scotland! Weatherman was saying it could go to minus 20 in some of the sheltered glens tonight. We can't even get the back gates to our garden open because they've frozen completely shut.