An urgent review of the winter fuel payment is needed to ensure it adequately targets consumers in fuel poverty.

The Consumer Council made the call amid claims that the qualifying age for the payment will rise to 66 - and that the amount may be cut for some consumers.

Director of policy and education at the Consumer Council, Aodhan O’Donnell, said: “A staggering 50 per cent of homes here are believed to be in fuel poverty, the highest level in western Europe.

“We also have the highest number of winter deaths – there were over a 1,000 deaths in 2009. It is for these reasons that the Consumer Council wants a review of the winter fuel payment.”

He said it was essential that the “fuel poor” of all ages - including children and young people, those living in hard-to-heat homes and those with long term illnesses - are given the support they need.

“Many consumers here rely on the winter fuel payment during the cold winter months,” he said. “However, the fact remains that many who don’t need it also get it. If we are serious about tackling fuel poverty in an era of reduced government spending, we need to make sure that the money spent is making the impact it needs to eradicate fuel poverty in households in Northern Ireland.”

Mr O’Donnell said the Consumer Council is set to meet with Alex Attwood, minister for social development, to ask him “to bring his influence to bear in the fight against fuel poverty in Northern Ireland”.

“With crisis levels of fuel poverty and winter deaths here, any cuts to benefits or support for people already in financial hardship will have a much higher impact in Northern Ireland compared to other parts of the UK.”

He said the Consumer Council will continue to work on consumers’ behalf to ensure that the effects of fuel poverty on Ulster consumers are fully understood and considered both locally and by the government in Westminster.

Earlier this week Ann O'Reilly, chief executive of Age NI, described the possibility of cutting back winter fuel payments as “a high risk strategy”.

The charity hit out after the government refused to deny reports that it was planning to slash the benefits.

Source: Newsletter