Older people in Wales have been ‘left out in the cold’ after the UK Budget, the organisation Age Cymru has stated.

“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,” remarked Heather Ferguson​​​​Head of Policy and Projects at Age Cymru, after the Labour Government chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered the budget on October 30.

“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,” she continued.

“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.”