Where Rising Energy Costs Affect Older People in the UK By Region

Demographics by Region and County: Where Older Citizens Are Most Vulnerable

Some parts of the UK have more older citizens than others. These counties are most vulnerable to rising energy costs due to cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment.

Counties with Larger Proportions of Older People

Many counties have a high population of those over 65. The deterrent to qualifying for Winter Fuel Payments will be much stronger here.

The top three areas are:

• Dorset: 29.6% of Dorset's population is aged 65 or older. That's 97,701 pensioners who may be affected by cuts to support for heating their homes.
• Isle of Wight: An estimated 35,757 pensioners, 29.27% of the population, will suffer from rising energy costs. They have much less money to support themselves.
• East Sussex: About 123,975 pensioners, 26.11% of the population, may lose their Winter Fuel Payment eligibility.

Other counties with many older adults include Devon, at 25.80%, and Cornwall, at 25.28%. These retirees will be greatly affected by changes, especially in counties with high winter energy costs.

Areas with High Numbers of Pensioners

Smaller authorities like Powys in Wales and Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland also have high elderly populations. In Powys, about 32,190 pensioners live there, making up one in four residents over 65. Meanwhile, Dumfries and Galloway tops this with around 34,452 pensioners. Other areas like Conwy and Argyll and Bute show similar proportions. These regions will likely be the hardest hit. Many elderly residents in these areas rely on benefits to cover energy bills in winter.

Areas With Highest Percentage Of Population Of Retirement Age

To see specific areas of the UK with more retired people as a percentage of the population, use the interactive map:

Large Fuel Poverty Rates and Regional Disparities

High fuel poverty and regional differences pose major challenges for older people. These households spend more on energy. In areas with high fuel poverty, heating homes is a struggle. So, new criteria for Winter Fuel Payment might make things worse.

Fuel poverty is defined as when a household needs to spend more than 10 per cent of its income on fuel to maintain an adequate standard of warmth. We focused on regional and county-level data to highlight areas where older people are more likely to experience fuel poverty.

This map shows the areas most affected with a greater percentage of the population in fuel poverty:

Regions Already Bearing Heavy Loads of Fuel Poverty

• West Midlands: This region suffers the most in the UK, with fuel poverty standing at 19.2%. An average fuel poverty gap of £305 means many pensioners will struggle further.
• Yorkshire and The Humber: This region has a high energy burden. 15.9% of households are fuel poor.. The average fuel poverty gap in this region is £305.
• North West: Here, the most households are in fuel poverty. The average fuel cost shortfall is £442. This is the gap between what people can afford and what they have to pay.

These areas have many households struggling to afford adequate heating. Most pensioners lack the Winter Fuel Payment, worsening fuel poverty for those on fixed incomes.

Fuel Poverty Gaps

The South West, despite having low fuel poverty rates, faces a high average gap of £521. This region, including Cornwall and Devon, highlights a big difference. It shows what households can afford for energy versus what they need to stay warm. Even for those eligible for assistance, the gap is significant. This suggests that extra financial support might be necessary.

Key Findings: Top 10 Counties Most Affected by Rising Energy Costs

Based on the data, the following counties are identified as the most vulnerable to rising energy costs, ranked by the highest concentration of older populations and the size of fuel poverty gaps:

1. Dorset: With 29.58% of the population aged 65 and over, approximately 97,701 pensioners are highly vulnerable to rising energy costs, especially with reduced Winter Fuel Payment eligibility.
2. Isle of Wight: 29.27% of the population, or around 35,757 pensioners, are at significant risk of facing financial difficulties due to increasing energy bills and limited government support.
3. Powys: In this Welsh county, 27.78% of the population is aged 65 and over, leaving around 32,190 pensioners exposed to the challenges of rising heating costs.
4. Conwy: With 27.35% of the population aged 65 and over, approximately 27,318 pensioners in Conwy face a tough winter due to energy price increases.
5. Dumfries and Galloway: 27.14% of the population, or 34,452 pensioners, are at risk of fuel poverty in this Scottish county.
6. East Sussex: Around 123,975 pensioners, representing 26.11% of the population, could struggle to meet rising energy costs, particularly with reduced Winter Fuel Payment support.
7. East Riding of Yorkshire: With 26.45% of the population aged 65 and over, or about 78,735 pensioners, this county faces significant risks from rising energy costs.
8. Devon: 25.80% of the population, or 182,178 pensioners, are vulnerable to high winter heating costs, especially given the substantial fuel poverty gap in the South West.
9. Cornwall: Similarly, 25.28% of Cornwall’s population, or 125,454 pensioners, could struggle with energy bills, facing the highest fuel poverty gap in the UK at £521.
10. Norfolk: 24.44% of the population aged 65 and over, representing around 194,793 pensioners, could be affected by the increasing cost of energy this winter.

Winter Fuel Payment: What's Changing and Who's Affected?

New eligibility rules for Winter Fuel Payment affect millions of UK pensioners. Previously, all pensioners qualified. Now, only those on benefits like Pension Credit or Universal Credit are eligible. This change leaves many pensioners without support.

Payment Rates This Year

There are two rates of Winter Fuel Payment for those eligible:

• £200 - If you were born between 23 September 1944 and 22 September 1958 and you live alone.
• £300 - If you were born before 23 September 1944 and you live alone.

If living with a partner who also claims eligible benefits, the payment will be:

• £200 - if both partners were born between 23 September 1944 and 22 September 1958.
• £300 - if one or both partners were born before 23 September 1944.

The payment acts as a subsidy. However, in areas with high fuel poverty, it might be insufficient. For instance, in the South West, the average fuel poverty gap is £521. Here, the maximum Winter Fuel Payment is £300. This leaves many pensioners unable to cover their heating bills.

Sources and Methodology

Demographic data was collected from the 2021 census for England and Wales:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/census 

For Scotland, it was taken from Scottish Census estimates for 2022:

https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/2022-results/scotland-s-census-2022-rounded-population-estimates/

For Northern Ireland, it was taken from NISRA:

https://www.nisra.gov.uk/statistics/census/2021-census

Data on fuel poverty was taken from https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/annual-fuel-poverty-statistics-report-2023