Campaigners including Highland Senior Citizens Network warn outlook 'bleak' as energy, fuel and food costs soar
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Campaigners for older people have issued a stark warning amid soaring energy, fuel and food costs.
One Highland organisation feared the situation could ultimately cost lives of those on low incomes unless solutions are found while the charity Age Scotland said many older people are facing tough choices as this month’s 3.1 per cent rise in the state pension was well short of rising prices.
It said it was “shocking” they were having to live in a cold home or go hungry as they could not afford escalating costs.
Dr Ian McNamara, chairman of the Highland Senior Citizens Network, added his concerns about how those those on the lowest incomes and the basic state pension would cope especially as there had been warnings energy prices could rise again in October.
“I just don’t think it has really hit home how things are going to be,” he said.
“If very old people are not eating adequately, or not heating their homes adequately, we have to be realistic – there could be consequences which cost lives.
“I hope we don’t have nasty headlines in mid-winter or next year that people are in such a position that their health is deteriorating dramatically.”
Age Scotland has called for more immediate one-off payments to be made available to pensioners on the lowest incomes to support them through the cost of living crisis which has seen prices rise at their fastest rate in 30 years.
It also says the stigma of claiming benefits needs to be removed.
Adam Stachura, the organisation’s head of policy and communications, said this month’s state pension increase was dwarfed by the rising costs of bills and left hundreds of thousands of older people in Scotland facing tough times.
“The UK government’s decision to scrap the triple lock on pensions, which guaranteed a real cost of living increase, has made day-to-day living for many older people very bleak indeed,” he said.
“There needs to be more one-off payments for older people on the lowest incomes as a matter of urgency to avoid a grim situation becoming worse.
“Older people must be made aware of the benefits they are entitled to claim to help them through this challenging time – and the stigma of claiming benefits needs to be removed so that older people can get the financial support they are entitled to.
“This cost of living crisis is forcing older people to make impossible choices, between heating their homes and food shopping.
“Energy and food are necessities, not privileges, and it is shocking to think of older people in Scotland today having to live in a cold home or go hungry because they can’t afford to pay escalating bills.”
The Age Scotland helpline is on 0800 12 44 222.
The Inverness Courier is running a campaign, End The Chill, to highlight the issues of fuel poverty
As part of the campaign, we have launched a petition calling on the UK government to
End unfair electricity charges in the Highlands and Islands.
Although the region generates more renewable electricity than it needs, consumers across the north of Scotland are charged the highest unit price in the UK because of outdated calculations.
Rising energy prices could see 47 per cent of Highland households pushed into fuel poverty
