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home to an adequate level, they are below the official poverty line. The official poverty line is considered to be a residual income 60% below the median household income after housing costs. Adequate warmth is considered to be 21 °C (70 °F) in the main living room and 18 °C (64 °F) in other occupied rooms during daytime hours, with lower temperatures at night, following the recommendations of the
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years, and the Office for
National Statistics estimated there were a total of 36,700, an increase of 49% over the previous year, which represents a 23.8% rise in deaths during the winter. Lower totals in subsequent years were followed by a rise back to 31,100 excess deaths in the winter of 2012–2013, of whom 25,600 were aged 75 or older, resulting in the
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bronchial and other conditions‚ and may often occur several days after exposure to the cold. Spending too long in the cold will lower the body temperature which can often aggravate circulatory diseases‚ which can lead to strokes and heart attacks or respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis or pneumonia.
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Exposure to the cold does affect the number of winter deaths‚ but deaths from other cold related causes are very much more common than it is for the cold to kill people directly. In the main these deaths are from respiratory or cardio-vascular ailments. Overall deaths are from heart attacks‚ strokes‚
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According to the
Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, as of 2020 13.2% of households (3.16 million) in England were in fuel poverty. However, due to the energy crisis seen in the UK in 2021 and 2022, the number of households in fuel poverty has doubled as of April 2022 according
101:
A survey of families on
Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit in October 2020 found that 26% are already cutting back on heating and electricity. The survey further found that 60% had gone into debt, and families borrowed over ÂŁ1,700 in the last two months alone. The COVID-19 pandemic had caused 38%
131:
Since 2000, excess winter deaths in
England and Wales remained generally at around 25,000. For the period of 2007–2008 the number of excess winter deaths was 27,480 of which the Hill report estimated that around 10% were caused directly by fuel poverty. The winter of 2008–2009 was the coldest in 10
87:
2008 saw significant price increases of approximately 45% by energy companies on gas and electric. In early 2009 the companies declared they were to drop their prices, but only a 10% reduction was seen across the board and this did not happen, with the exception of
British Gas, until 31 March, once
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Sharp rises in fuel prices could lead to more excess deaths because vulnerable households cannot afford sufficient heating. Simon
Francis of the 'End Fuel Poverty Coalition' said in December 2022 that people must choose "between heating and dying". Francis said that if people have no heating, they
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to lead a review of the fuel poverty definition and target. The interim report of this independent review was published on 19 October 2011. On page 19 of the interim report, Hill suggests redefining a fuel-poor household as one that has required fuel costs that are above the median level, and were
44:
redefined fuel poverty to only include households if they were below the official poverty line and spent more than average on energy. This redefinition lifted 6% of UK households out of fuel poverty, and was criticised at the time by the cross-party
Commons environmental audit committee for moving
32:
In
England the definition of fuel poverty was redefined in 2014, and is now measured using the Low Income Low Energy Efficiency (LILLE) indicator. A household is considered to be fuel poor if they are living in a property with an energy efficiency rating of band D or below, and after heating their
23:
if they are living in a property with an energy efficiency rating of band D or below, and if after heating their home to an adequate level, they fall below the official poverty line. In
Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, the definition of fuel poverty is whether a household needs to spend more
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stated there was an increase in the number of desperate calls to its help line. Caroline
Abrahams of Age UK said that energy prices would lead to almost a third of older households, roughly 3 million homes getting into fuel poverty. Age UK fear more people will die due to cold. Abrahams urged the
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Although the phenomenon of excess winter deaths is not unique to the United Kingdom, the incidence is markedly higher than for countries with similar climates and living standards. England has an 18% rise in deaths during the winter, on average, whereas Finland has a 10% increase, Germany and the
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said in December 2022 that people were struggling to survive this winter, some could afford neither heating nor eating. Erika Radford, of 'Asthma + Lung UK' stated winter is life threatening for people with lung illnesses and the organisation does not want "more people being rushed to hospital
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press release on 8 August 2022, a report by York academics predicted that over three-quarters of UK households, or 53 million people, will be in fuel poverty by January 2023. The York report was written before the government announced a raft of measures on top of the ÂŁ400 to be deducted from
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stated in December 2022 that people were contacting them desperately worried about staying warm. Despite freezing weather many people were frightened to turn heating on because they do not want to get further into debt despite a risk to their physical or mental health. Smith also said: "The
24:
than 10% of their income on energy bills to heat their home to an adequate level of warmth.To be considered adequate, the main living room needs to be 21 °C (70 °F), and other occupied rooms 18 °C (64 °F) during the daytime, with lower temperatures allowed at night.
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everyone's energy bill, including payments of ÂŁ650 to more than 8 million low-income households, and ÂŁ900 payments more for some groups from April 2023, ÂŁ300 for pensioner households and ÂŁ150 for people on certain disability benefits, designed to help with fuel costs.
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Grants for free home insulation regardless of who owns the property and no means testing for the over 70s. Absolute right for them to receive free cavity wall and loft insulation or free top-ups to modern standards. Same help to all households in receipt of
48:
Previously, and still used in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, the definition of fuel poverty was based on whether a household needed to spend more than 10% of their income on energy bills to heat their home to an adequate level of warmth.
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as the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average number of deaths during the preceding autumn (August to November) and the following summer (April to July).
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Access to the Priority Service Register, with free annual gas appliance safety checks, passwords for official gas and electricity-related callers. Third party, Braille, large print and talking billing
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The Home Heat Helpline was available during 2005 – 2016 to provide assistance to vulnerable groups and responded to 400,000 telephone calls. It provided information about:
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that there were around 4.4 million households in fuel poverty in the UK, with just over 3 million in England alone. This was more than double the number in 2003.
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survey indicated that the number of households in fuel poverty had risen to 6.3 million households, representing approximately 24% of all households in the UK.
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they to spend that amount, would be left with a residual income below the official poverty line. This new definition has been in use since January 2014.
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the worst of the winter was over. Research from NEA showed that as of March 2009 over 5 million households across the UK were living in fuel poverty.
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the Government is obliged to report annual progress in cutting the number of households in which one or more persons are living in fuel poverty.
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The UK Parliamentary Select Committee on Energy and Climate Change recently launched an inquiry on home energy efficiency in September 2015.
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The UK Government's 2015 Fuel Poverty Report showed that 4.5 million households, or 17% of UK households, were in fuel poverty.
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In the United Kingdom, there are different definitions of fuel poverty. In England, a household is considered to be in
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government must ensure everyone can access the support they are entitled to." Matt Richards of the fairness campaign
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fighting for breath" due to cold. They want the government to give targeted support to people with lung conditions.
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60:, first published in 1991, although fuel poverty has been the focus of political action since the early 1970s.
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to the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, and is expected to rise to 8.5 million by the end of 2022. According to a
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Please try to keep recent events in historical perspective and add more content related to non-recent events.
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698:"More than three-quarters of UK households to be in fuel poverty by the new year, according to new report"
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266:), Single Parent Allowance or households with young children with an annual income of less than ÂŁ14,600.
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Office for National Statistics, Excess winter mortality in England and Wales: 2008/09 (provisional).
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Watts, Joseph; Lydall, Ross (26 November 2013). "31,000 people died needlessly in winter cold".
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government to make sure vulnerable older people are confident about turning on their heating.
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B. Boardman, Fuel poverty: from cold homes to affordable warmth, Belhaven Press, London 1991
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A disconnection safety net, ensuring no vulnerable customer will be knowingly disconnected
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Chapter 1 the causes and effects of fuel poverty, The UK Fuel Poverty Strategy (2001), DTI
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The previous definition of fuel poverty is essentially that first established by
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being criticised for not exercising tighter control over UK energy companies.
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Excess deaths could rise as vulnerable skimp on heating, UK charities warn
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announced on 14 March 2011 that he had asked Professor John Hills of the
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Department of Health, 2009 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER.
717:"When are the second cost-of-living payments and additional ÂŁ900 due?"
841:"Home energy efficiency and demand reduction inquiry - UK Parliament"
429:"Government accused of redefining fuel poverty to bring down figures"
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637:"Six in 10 families on benefits pushed into debt in last two months"
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663:"Annual Fuel Poverty Statistics in England, 2022 (2020 data)"
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National Energy Action: Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency
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The redefinition of fuel poverty in the UK came after the
744:"How can you tell whether your household is fuel poor?"
565:"Fury as fuel poverty soars close to a 10-year record"
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The UK's main programme targeting fuel poverty is the
816:"Home Heat Helpline closes after a decade of service"
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Flexible payment options for customers in fuel debt
45:the goal posts instead of alleviating the problem.
134:Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government
321:2021–present United Kingdom cost-of-living crisis
243:Advice on social tariffs – typically a 20% saving
65:Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
145:Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006
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563:Tim Webb (The Observer) (20 January 2008).
193:Learn how and when to remove this message
119:Excess winter deaths are defined by the
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621:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
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548:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
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427:Association, Press (2 December 2013).
42:UK Cameron-Clegg coalition government
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389:"Poverty definitions and thresholds"
341:Energy efficiency in British housing
715:Peachey, Kevin (21 November 2022).
102:of families worse off than before.
462:Kennard, Harry (7 December 2016).
80:In early 2008 it was estimated by
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464:"A short history of fuel poverty"
16:UK policy around domestic heating
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260:Employment and Support Allowance
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121:Office for National Statistics
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900:Poverty in the United Kingdom
890:Housing in the United Kingdom
331:Poverty in the United Kingdom
172:slanted towards recent events
895:Energy in the United Kingdom
407:"Energy and Thermal Comfort"
336:Energy in the United Kingdom
206:will need the NHS or worse.
256:Disability Living Allowance
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684:End Fuel Poverty Coalition
76:Households in fuel poverty
69:London School of Economics
641:PeterboroughMatters.co.uk
414:World Health Organization
371:"Fuel poverty statistics"
346:Committee on Fuel Poverty
234:Energy Company Obligation
35:World Health Organization
781:London Evening Standard
216:National Energy Action
128:Netherlands have 11%.
299:United Kingdom portal
277:Parliamentary inquiry
151:Opinions of charities
56:in her book entitled
40:In January 2014, the
680:"About fuel poverty"
252:Attendance Allowance
115:Excess winter deaths
847:. 15 September 2015
805:. 12 December 2022
702:University of York
530:on 27 October 2011
264:Incapacity Benefit
108:University of York
28:Definition history
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825:21 November
607:18 February
82:Energywatch
884:Categories
851:8 December
754:8 December
647:16 October
534:5 December
357:References
221:38 Degrees
143:Under the
820:Energy UK
721:BBC News
617:cite web
571:. London
544:cite web
498:cite web
438:14 April
285:See also
488:11 July
326:Poverty
375:Gov.UK
208:Age UK
93:YouGov
666:(PDF)
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575:9 May
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853:2016
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490:2011
440:2024
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