THE Government must do more to help those feeling the pinch as a result of soaring energy and food prices, campaigners say.
High fuel bills, coupled with crippling petrol and diesel prices and rises in the cost of food, mean many people are finding their budgets are being squeezed.
Government ministers have revealed proposals to help households to improve their energy efficiency, cut costs and ensure they are on the best value tariffs with their gas and electricity providers.
Among the measures announced is a plan to tell energy companies which people are struggling most with their fuel bills so they can be offered assistance. But many people believe its not enough, and say more money is needed in subsidies like the Winter Fuel Payment.
Currently, pensioners receive £200 a year towards fuel costs but with the average annual energy bills now exceeding £1,000, it does not come close to covering it. Sylvia Wicks, from Age Concern on Canvey, said: "The winter fuel payment is not enough, not with the rate prices are going up. Pensioners need more money to help with the bills. The Government needs to do more."
The National Pensioners' Convention says 16 per cent of the income of a single pensioner is spent on fuel bills.
Fuel poverty is said to occur when a household pays more than 10 per cent of its income on energy bills.
The additional rises in other spending, such as on food and petrol, is also starting to eat into pensions.
Simon Morton, chairman of the Southend Older People's Assembly, said: "This is a challenging time for all senior citizens, particularly in Southend. The increases facing us in our living costs is very daunting and will deplete our resources considerably."
Judy Saunders, 75, of the Westerings, Hockley, said: "Food is going up. You have to start cutting back and think twice before buying some things.
"I'm also trying to shop more locally and walk rather than use the car."
Among the measures to help is a pilot scheme to ensure people applying for Warm Front grants for insulation and heating improvements are referred to their energy supplier for tariff advice.
In addition, £150,000 will be put into the rolling out of watchdog Ofgem's national Citizens Advice Bureau awareness campaign on social assistance for the vulnerable.
Ministers also pledged £3million as part of the low carbon building programme to encourage small scale alternative energy schemes among fuel poor communities.
Kate Jopling, spokeswoman at Help the Aged, said: "While it is welcome news the Government is moving in the right direction on fuel poverty, this initiative does not go far enough to deal with the looming fuel poverty crisis."
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