ALONE welcomes short-term energy measures, but warns that older people still at risk as temporary energy supports fall short
Temporary relief will not address rising poverty or the health impacts of fuel poverty
ALONE, the national organisation that supports older people to age well at home, has welcomed today’s announcements aimed at easing fuel and energy costs, noting they will provide important immediate relief for people struggling with rising fuel bills. However, the organisation warned that the measures are short-term and modest and will not prevent older people living alone from facing renewed financial hardship next winter.
ALONE stressed that poverty levels among older people living alone were already rising before the most recent increases in fuel and energy prices, highlighting the need for sustained and targeted action rather than temporary measures. The organisation also emphasised that many older people are already cutting back on heating to cope with costs, despite the serious risks this poses to their health.
Recent CSO data shows that 30.3% of older people are now at risk of poverty, with those living alone the most exposed. Even when temporary cost-of-living supports were in place in previous years, older people living alone were the only household group to see their financial situation worsen.
ALONE said it had consistently warned that short-term, broad measures would not be enough, and has repeatedly called for supports to be explicitly targeted at those most in need, particularly older people living alone, who rely on fixed incomes and carry all household costs alone.
“Any additional support is welcome, and it will help people in the immediate term,” CEO of ALONE Sean Moynhian states “But these measures do not address the underlying problem of poverty. Older people living alone have no financial buffer. When temporary supports end, the pressure simply returns and many will find themselves struggling again next winter.”
The organisation said many older people it supports are already cutting back on heating, food and other essentials, and warned that without long-term, targeted solutions, the same cycle of hardship will continue year after year.
ALONE is calling on Government to move beyond short term measures and commit to lasting solutions, including increasing the Living Alone Allowance by €10 per week and permanently reinstating the Fuel Allowance season to 32 weeks, and increasing it in line with fuel price increases. Last year, ALONE suggested that the Fuel Allowance would need to increase to €53.
Older people who need support can contact ALONE’s National Support and Referral Line on 0818 222 024, available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
