Winter Fuel

Thousands of older people die each year from cold-related illnesses in the winter months. In only six years more than 150,000 over 65s died. Exposure to the cold is not the main cause of death but the health problems are the main cause i.e respiratory or cardio-vascular ailments, heart attacks, strokes, bronchial and other conditions, and may often occur several days after exposure to the cold.

Spending too long in the cold will lower the body temperature which can often aggravate circulatory diseases, which can lead to strokes and heart attacks or respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis or pneumonia.

Excess winter deaths - facts and stats

• In the last five years, more than 130,000 people over 65 have died from cold related illnesses during the winter months in Britain.
• In the winter of 2004/2005, 31,250 people over 65 died from cold-related illnesses in England and Wales. That's ten pensioners per hour.
• The UK has a higher number of winter deaths than in colder European countries. EU countries that experience more severe winters than the UK, such as

Finland, Denmark and Austria, all have much lower levels of winter deaths. Pensioners are entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment every year and this is paid in November 2006 to help people aged over 60 with the costs of keeping warm this winter.

If you are know of a pensioner aged 60 to 79 they are entitled to receive a Winter Fuel Payment, they will get either £100 or £200, depending on their circumstances in the qualifying week (18-24 September 2006). If they are aged 80 or over they are entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment, and will get an extra £50 or £100, up to £300, depending on their circumstances in the qualifying week. No tax is paid on Winter Fuel Payments. For more information look at:

http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/winterfuel