The Chancellor used the Autumn Statement to reinstate the triple lock, uprate benefits in line with inflation, allocate more funding towards pensioners, disabled people and benefit recipients through Cost of Living payments, introduce an Energy Efficiency Taskforce and extend the Energy Price Guarantee for an additional 12 months, according to Age UK1. The charity, which campaigns on behalf of older people, set out the outcome of its 2022 campaigning in a review published on 29 December 20221.
Age UK states that the triple lock ensures the State Pension rises in line with either earnings, inflation or by 2.5%, whichever is higher1. It says more than half of its campaigners told the charity that protecting the triple lock was their top priority for the Government, and that more than 150,000 campaign actions were taken to make the priorities of older people clear to MPs1. The charity adds that turnover and instability in Downing Street put previous commitments to the triple lock and a benefits rise in line with inflation under threat, and that its campaign shifted to urging the Government to raise both the State Pension and benefits such as Attendance Allowance and Pension Credit in line with inflation in the Autumn Statement1.
On energy bills, Age UK says the Government announced the Energy Bill Support Scheme, described as a £400 discount off bills, Cost of Living Payments, described as one-off financial support, and the Energy Price Guarantee, described as a freeze on the cost of a kilowatt hour of energy1. The charity states that the Energy Price Guarantee was extended for an additional 12 months at a higher price1. The precise level of the higher price and the rates that apply in each nation have not been reported1.
"A huge effort from campaigners resulted in the Chancellor not only reinstating the triple lock, but also: uprating benefits in line with inflation; allocating more funding towards pensioners, disabled people and benefit recipients through Cost of Living payments; introducing an Energy Efficiency Taskforce; and extending the Energy Price Guarantee (set at a higher price) for an additional 12 months."
Age UK also reports the pressures that prompted the campaign, saying older people told the charity they were eating less, unable to go out and engage in social activities, and taking on more caring responsibilities, with some cutting back on medication and care1. One campaigner is quoted as saying: "I am constantly worried about whether I will be able to heat my house this winter."1
Why it matters for households
The measures described by Age UK affect two separate parts of a household budget. The first is income: the triple lock governs how the State Pension is uprated, and the uprating of benefits in line with inflation affects working-age and disability payments as well as pensioner benefits such as Attendance Allowance and Pension Credit1. The second is the unit cost of energy: the Energy Price Guarantee is described as a freeze on the cost of a kilowatt hour of energy, which sets the price paid per unit rather than the total bill, so a household's bill still depends on how much gas and electricity it uses1. The £400 Energy Bill Support Scheme discount and the one-off Cost of Living Payments are separate from that per-unit price1.
For a home's energy independence, the significance lies in the balance between price support and consumption. A per-unit freeze limits what a household pays for each kilowatt hour but does not reduce the number of kilowatt hours needed to keep a home warm, and the extension applies at a higher price than before1. The Energy Efficiency Taskforce is the element of the package that speaks to reducing demand itself, though Age UK does not set out its membership, remit or timetable1. Age UK states that it is working alongside other charities to push for a new discounted energy deal for those on low incomes, with a long-term condition and carers, and for more action to insulate homes1. The Energy Price Cap: How the Default Tariff Cap Is Set explains how the default tariff cap is calculated, and the regulation-policy hub covers related policy. Energy efficiency standards for privately rented homes in Scotland are set out in What are the new energy efficiency standards for privately rented homes in Scotland?.
What happens next
Age UK says its work is far from over, that it will keep pushing for older people to get the support they need this winter, and that it wants to stop older people being in this position again1. It states that it is working alongside other charities to push for a new discounted energy deal for those on low incomes, with a long-term condition and carers, and that it wants to see much more action to insulate homes1. No dates for those aims are given1.