Fuel cutback plans 'scaring OAPs' - Currie

A BALLYMENA councillor says he believes that government proposals to change winter fuel payments have caused unnecessary upset among the elderly throughout the borough and far beyond.

Ulster Unionist Cllr. James Currie said the plans were “penny-pinching” and could, in the long run, cost the public purse more money than they had the potential to save.

Mr Currie said: “It is totally unfair because the majority of the elderly have no other way of increasing their income or decreasing their overheads. They are actually trapped.

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“It must be extremely worrying for the many of them who are banking on that money. It seems to be just the Government penny-pinching. - There are other ways that money could be saved, ie, greater efficiency in public service.

“If we get a very severe winter we could see elderly people being taken to hospital suffering from hypothermia and when it’s all counted up it will have cost more to save these people than it would have to give them a winter fuel supplement”.

Cllr Currie added: “This is a very short-sighted policy and whoever thought of it should have a careful rethink and go out incognito and talk to older people and hear their comments”.

The Chief Executive of Age NI (the new charity combining Age Concern NI and Help the Aged in Northern Ireland) described the government plans as “short-sighted and irresponsible” but issued a reassurance to older people in the community that there will be NO change to their payment this year.

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Anne O’Reilly, Chief Executive said: “At a time when older people are beginning to think about dealing with cold winter days, these plans will have increased fear and anxiety among a group of very vulnerable people throughout Northern Ireland.

“While we appreciate benefits may need to change to reflect the times ahead, this should not happen without careful and considered planning, and a watertight guarantee that there will not be a detrimental impact on older people who rely on the state for their income.

“70% of older people have told Age NI that staying warm in winter is their main worry. With energy prices also set to soar next year, these figures cannot be over-looked. Older people should not have to choose between heating their home or going without other essentials.

“By 2029 the number of over 60s in Northern Ireland will increase to 600,000. Potential changes, such as those to winter fuel payments, are both short sighted and irresponsible and will simply result in the storing up of problems for the future at a much higher cost to the public purse. The Government must invest to save,” she said.

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