York OAPs missing out on fuel help (From York Press)

York OAPs missing out on fuel help

8:08am Wednesday 22nd February 2012 in News

PENSIONERS in York and North Yorkshire are missing out on fuel subsidies because the Government is failing to inform people about the scheme, according to a consumer group.

The Warm Front scheme, which last year was taken up by a total of 334 pensioners in the York Central and York Outer constituencies, only saw 56 elderly residents make applications this winter.

Campaign group Consumer Focus said Government funding for the scheme was cut from £366 million last year to £143 million this year, ahead of the scheme being scrapped altogether in 2013. A Consumer Focus spokeswoman said: “The Government didn’t publicise Warm Front this year because they feared they would be oversubscribed. Many agencies believed it had been wound up already.”

Energy minister Greg Barker, however, urged anyone who was eligible for the grant to “pick up the phone”.

He said: “Getting a new boiler, fixing an old one or even just topping up loft insulation can lead to a warmer home in the future.”

Linda Tester, service manager at York Older people’s Advocacy, said: “I think this winter we have not had anybody show any interest. We certainly had interest last year and in the past but last year was actually a lot colder.”

For details on the scheme, phone 0800 316 6004.