Government urged to reverse cuts to fuel for pensioners

Age Action, the campaign group for older people, has urged the Government to reverse cuts to the free gas and electricity units for pensioners.

Failure to do so would impose “severe hardship” on “the most vulnerable of older people” this winter, it claimed.

The cuts to the household benefits package and the fuel allowance, which came into effect last month, will reduce payments to pensioners and other social welfare recipients by almost €20 a month and up to €35.29 during the winter months.

Age Action launched an appeal for the public to support its petition. “This is literally a life and death issue for hundreds of older people . . .” spokesman Eamon Timmins said.