Age UK and E.ON make winter warmer for over 60s

Age UK and energy company E.ON have announced the re-launch of our Winter Warmth Programme.

For the third year running a grant from E.ON will enable a number of Age UKs across the country to offer help to older people to maximise income, reduce energy consumption and spend less on energy bills during colder winter months.

People in later life in parts of the Midlands, North West, East Anglia and Wales can benefit from free energy efficiency help provided by local Age UK handyperson services.

Handypeople will carry out ‘energy fit' checks to assess the energy efficiency of a person's home, give top tips on how to save energy and where appropriate install simple and practical energy efficiency measures, such as draught proofing.

Free benefit advice checks

In 60 local areas older people will also be able to take advantage of free benefit advice checks with qualified advisors, who will assess eligibility of benefits and provide support to claim what they are entitled to.

Advice is free, impartial and confidential, and Age UK can refer additional services and support if needed.

Last winter E.ON's support allowed Age UKs to install energy efficiency measures in 2,380 households, helping 3,423 older people reduce their energy bills and keep warm and well in winter.

The partnership also helped 4,852 people access £12m of unclaimed welfare benefits - an average of £2,512 in extra benefits per person per year.

David Terrace, Programme Manager at Age UK, said: 'The grants from E.ON have already helped thousands of vulnerable older people, addressing two of the biggest issues that impact on older people's ability to stay warm and well in winter: the cost of living and heating homes efficiently.

With 721,000 households aged 60+ in fuel poverty in England and up to £5.5 billion of means-tested benefits going unclaimed by people in later life every year, these issues are top of our agenda.'

Sarah Walker, Warm Home Discount Manager at E.ON, said: 'Increasing household warmth and income can make a huge difference to vulnerable people and the free benefits advice and energy efficiency checks on offer are a simple way in which we can help.

'We're very pleased to be supporting Age UK with this scheme again and urge anyone that thinks they might need a check to contact their local branch.'

Advice guides

For more information and keeping warm this winter download Age UK's  Winter Wrapped Up advice guide (PDF 620KB), and for more information on saving money on your energy bills download  Save Energy Pay Less (PDF 1MB).

Try Age UK's benefits calculator to see if you can put more money in your pocket call Age UK Advice on 0800 169 6565.

See what local Age UK Winter Warmth services are available in your local area