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A household is defined as living in fuel poverty if it would have to spend more than 10 per cent of its disposable income on maintaining a decent level of warmth at home. Over a million fuel-poor households (more than half the UK total) contain older people.

Help the Aged believes that fuel poverty is a significant contributing factor to between 20,000 and 50,000 'excess' winter deaths that occur in the older population every year. We want action to be taken to tackle fuel poverty and to address the problem of older people living in cold, damp homes.

In this section you will find material related to our campaigning work to end fuel poverty and to reduce the number of avoidable deaths which occur every winter.

More information on general housing issues can be found in the housing section.

Excess Winter Deaths and Fuel Poverty (August 2007)

Every winter between 20,000 and 50,000 older people die from cold-related illnesses. The scientific evidence shows that many of these winter deaths are largely avoidable and can have three main causes: fuel poverty, poor housing and not taking sufficient care in cold weather. This policy statement highlights the main issues around the deaths and their causes and to the experience suffered by those living in fuel poverty who cannot afford to heat their homes.

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Older and Colder (March 2004)

A briefing on the policy implications and issues raised by the Help the Aged research report 'Older and Colder'.

Ofgem call for evidence on the energy supply markets (April 2008)

The Help the Aged response on older people and the energy supply markets including older people's experiences and our suggested strategy for tackling market failings for older people.

Older and Colder (2004)

The full Help the Aged research report on the difficulties facing older people trying to keep warm in winter.

Older and colder (March 2005)

This presentation outlines the key facts, evidence found and factors affecting fuel poverty among older households in the Help the Aged 'Older and colder' report.

Proposal to stop disconnections (June 2004)

Policy update article about proposals to avoid gas and electricity disconnections.