Pensioners: Financial Support

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Communities – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:15 pm on 16 September 2024.

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Photo of Gordon Lyons Gordon Lyons DUP 2:15, 16 September 2024

I have certainly raised that with the UK Government. I told them, first of all, about the need to change their minds on the winter fuel payment, and also, if that is not the case, to ensure that we have sufficient support in place for older people, especially those who are most vulnerable. The affordable warmth scheme is, absolutely, a lifeline to many people, and makes long-lasting changes, not just for one year. That is why I will continue to do all that I can to ensure that we can keep that open, and also to ensure that we find a replacement for that scheme under our new Fuel Poverty strategy.

fuel poverty

A household is said to be in fuel poverty when its members cannot afford to keep adequately warm at reasonable cost, given their income.