An ice sculpture of an older person on a low income sitting in a cold home has been unveiled outside the Tate Modern today (Wednesday 12 February), to represent all the people in later life living in financial hardship that cannot afford to heat their homes.
The activity is being led by later life financial hardship charity Independent Age to tackle the stereotype that all older people are enjoying a comfortable retirement and to highlight the actions that are needed to better support older people on a low income.
Ahead of the winter, research by Independent Age found that 23% of older people in England who are losing their Winter Fuel Payment will not turn on their heating1 this winter. Last year, the charity saw a 302% increase in calls to its helpline following the change to the Winter Fuel Payment.
The ice sculpture is based on Rob Trewhella, 68, from Cornwall. He said:
“I live on a low income and heating my home has been a struggle this winter. And to make matters worse, I miss out on Pension Credit by just £2.80, so I lost my Winter Fuel Payment. I had to quit my job as a taxi driver due to health reasons, so I only have my State Pension which isn’t enough money to live well. This isn’t how I pictured retirement. I hope the images of the ice sculpture prompt the UK Government to rethink the different ways it can support people like me living on a low income.”
Independent Age is urging the UK Government to immediately review the financial threshold of the Winter Fuel Payment to ensure more older people on low incomes receive the support. Longer term, Independent Age says the UK Government needs to ensure everyone in later life gets the money they are entitled to through the social security system and establish a consensus on the adequate income needed in later life to avoid living in financial hardship and create a plan to ensure everyone receives this.
The charity is also asking energy companies to better promote discounts they currently provide to older people in financial hardship, and for the UK Government to introduce a single social tariff for energy to protect those in later life on low incomes from future spikes in costs.
Joanna Elson CBE, Chief Executive of Independent Age, said:
“The ice sculpture of Rob serves as a chilling and powerful reminder that people in later life on a low income across the country cannot afford to heat their homes during the colder months. The older people we speak to are making drastic cutbacks just to get by, from going to bed in hat and coats to limiting themselves to just one meal a day. We’ve been worried about the people we support for a long time, but with the additional removal of the Winter Fuel Payment means many of them will have even less to make ends meet this year.
“There are currently around two million older people living in poverty and another million are precariously on the edge. These numbers are far too high. The UK Government should immediately review the financial threshold for the Winter Fuel Payment and ensure all people in later life receive the financial support they are entitled to.
“We are also calling on the UK Government to work with Ofgem to establish an affordable and well-promoted energy social tariff, and energy companies need to do more to promote the discounts currently available to cut the bills of older people in poverty.
“Longer term, all political parties need to work together to establish a consensus on the adequate income needed in later life to avoid living in financial hardship and a plan to ensure everyone receives this. No one should be left in cold.
“If you are an older person that is worried about their financial situation, please call our free helpline at 0800 319 6789. Our advisors can run a free welfare benefits check and see if there is financial support you are entitled to.”
