The British Gas Help the Aged Partnership
The British Gas Help the Aged Partnership works to ensure that vulnerable older people are protected from the effects of fuel poverty. Over the past nine years, the Partnership has worked together to address the three main contributing factors to fuel poverty – rising costs of energy, low incomes and poor housing stock.
Since the British Gas Help the Aged Partnership began campaigning on the issue of fuel poverty, the Government has made some progress in tackling the underlying issues. There has been a promise to increase investment in schemes such as Warm Front by £300 million over three years, the possibility of automatic payment of benefits.
In 2003, the Partnership set up a Benefits Advice Programme, which now runs in 26 locations throughout the UK, helping older people on low incomes or in poor health access their benefits. Over the last 5 years, the programme has advised over 42,000 older people on their benefit entitlement. Over £18.8 million additional benefits have been received.
During the 2008 campaign, benefits advisers will be providing specific advice on how to maximise incomes and reduce fuel poverty.
