Older people in Wales ‘left out in the cold’ after UK Budget announced

Following the UK’s new Budget, Age Cymru have expressed their disappointment in the Chancellor and the consequences the new Budget will have on older people in Wales.

A spokseperson for Age Cymru said: “Older people in Wales have been left out in the cold after the UK Budget. We’re hugely disappointed by the Chancellor’s lack of mitigating measures or financial support for the thousands of older people in Wales who will no longer receive the Winter Fuel Payment.  

 “We will continue to campaign for more UK and Welsh Government financial support for those older people missing out and cannot afford to do so. We will also campaign to widen the benefits to be eligible for Winter Fuel Payments to include Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, and Carer’s Allowance. This expanded entitlement would still leave some of those who need the payment missing out, so UK Government should further explore how data matching could be used to identify people on low incomes and extend the Winter Fuel Payment to them automatically.

“We welcome the extra funding for the Household Support Fund and look forward to seeing how this translates in support for older people in Wales.”