An imminent cold snap could put the elderly at risk of death, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned as a charity criticised the Government’s decision to limit winter fuel payments.
Weather warnings are in place across the UK from Thursday. Two yellow warnings for ice are in place in Northern Ireland through until 10am on Friday, January 3.
It has been warned that temperatures could fall as low as -8C on Thursday night in rural southern Scotland and northern England, the Met Office said. It will also be cold in rural Wales and the south west of England with -6C expected.
Age UK director Caroline Abrahams said the Government’s decision to limit the winter fuel allowance to only the poorest pensioners will be put “into sharp relief” by the cold snap.
Ms Abrahams said the charity had already been contacted by older people “worrying about what to do when this moment arrived”.
From this winter, only people on pension credit or certain other benefits will receive the winter fuel payments while more than nine million others are set to be stripped of the allowance.
“We urge older people to do everything they can to stay warm, even if that means risking spending more on their heating than they feel they can afford,” the charity director said.
“The energy companies are under an obligation to help if you are struggling and there may be support available from your local council too.”
Meanwhile, fresh weather warnings have been issued by the Met Office for ice ahead of a blast of snow over the weekend.
The yellow warning indicates there could be icy surfaces in northern and western Scotland, the north west of England and Northern Ireland.
It will remain in place from 5pm on Thursday until 10am on Friday morning, and could make for difficult travelling conditions, the forecaster warned.
A snow and ice warning is also in place covering parts of northern Scotland between 4pm on Thursday and 10am on Friday.
Scattered wintry showers will be replaced by a longer spell of rain and sleet on Thursday night, particularly across western Scotland and Northern Ireland.
As temperatures dip below freezing, this will lead to a risk of ice on untreated surfaces, the forecaster said.
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
English (United States) ·