Freeze out fuel poverty

03/03/2010

One in five cancer patients turn the heating off even though they are cold.

A recent Macmillan survey found that one in five cancer patients turn the heating off even though they are cold, because they're worried about rising fuel bills.

"Im already wearing two pairs of trousers, two jumpers and a woolly hat indoors and the worst of winter is yet to come. Sometimes, I go to bed during the day rather than put the heating on." George, 59

Many people don't realise that cancer patients do not automatically qualify for help. Help us freeze out fuel poverty for cancer patients by signing our pledge online. Simply click the link below, tick the box, fill in your details and click submit. The more people who sign up to support the campaign, the more we can turn up the heat on the government to make the changes needed. http://e-activist.com/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=70&ea.campaign.id=2364

Why is heating an issue?

• Cancer patients face increased costs at a time when their income has often decreased because they have had to stop working during treatment or recovery.

• Spending more time at home means that they have higher energy bills.

• Effects of the treatment or illness such as not being able to be active, not being able to eat properly or hair loss means that patients are not able to keep warm and feel the cold more.

• Cancer patients under 60 do not receive the winter fuel payment which is an annual one off payment of between £100 and £300 for everyone over 60 to help pay their fuel bills. Those under 60 do not qualify for any payment.

• Cancer patients do not automatically qualify for help under government or energy supplier energy efficiency schemes. Many of these schemes focus on long term improvement whereas many cancer patients needs immediate help

What does Macmillan want to see happen?

• We want the winter fuel payment to be extended to cancer patients and the terminally ill

• We believe energy companies should provide specific and explicit help for people with cancer including opening social tariffs to cancer patients.

• Cancer patients are unaware of the help that is available from the government and the energy companies. Both should do more to promote and raise awareness of the help available to cancer patients. We would like to see social tariff information displayed on company homepages.