Report reveals older people in West Wales struggle as energy bills set for biggest rise in four years

Older people’s charity Age Cymru warns that rising fuel and energy costs are leaving people on fixed incomes with nowhere to turn this winter, with many feeling they have to choose between food or energy.

The charity’s latest report, Counting the Cost, delves into the results of its latest nationwide survey of over-50s, where 52% of older people in Wales said they were struggling with the cost of living - up from 46% in 2025 and from just 9% in 2020.

Age Cymru is the national charity for older people in Wales, championing their rights and providing people with support, information and advice.

The new report looks at the most common factors affecting the cost of living, including fuel and energy, water, care and broadband. A common thread was the speed at which costs rise, giving older people little time to plan.

Seventy-five-year-old Julia from Pembrokeshire said she was struggling to plan for the future: “I don't know how I will afford living costs over the next year, because with the current conflict in the Middle East we don't know how much this will increase bills and the cost of food. I am worried.”

Fuel and energy were by far the most reported expense in the 2026 survey. Of those who had changed their lifestyle to save money, 53% had cut their energy use to make ends meet.

Now, CEO of Age Cymru, Victoria Lloyd, is calling on the UK and Welsh Governments to act.

Victoria said: “People have already shown they are struggling with the cost of living crisis. More than a third of older people are spending less on food to try and make ends meet, and we know that over half of older people making lifestyle changes to save money have cut their energy use over the past year.

“With the cost of both food and energy rising, those on a fixed income have very little room to move, and it really does often come down to having to choose between food or heat.

“It's tough for everyone at the moment, but older people are more vulnerable to the health impacts of living in cold or damp homes. With household energy bills expected to see their biggest rise in four years, there is a real risk to the health and wellbeing of older people across Wales.

“Many people navigate costs by switching providers online, but that can be much harder for older people who are far more likely to be digitally excluded, and less able to access comparison tools to easily switch. This means they get caught up in inflated auto-renewal prices that are even greater than the general rise in bills that we are all seeing.

“With so many of these issues affected by wider geopolitical conflicts, it can be easy to feel helpless, or like we have no control. However, there are things we can do. The UK Government's decision to restrict the Winter Fuel Payment in July 2024 left many older people with little time to prepare for the loss of this support.

“Thankfully this was reinstated for most households, but the impact shows how important it is to communicate changes in a timely manner, so older people can make informed decisions about their finances. It’s the sudden changes people tell us are the hardest to navigate.

“We're calling on the UK Government to increase the value of the Warm Home Discount and to widen eligibility beyond those on means-tested benefits to cover households on low incomes.

“Similarly, the Welsh Government should raise the income thresholds so more older people can qualify for help through the Nest Warm Homes scheme and make their homes warmer. Alongside that, it needs to significantly increase investment in the Warm Homes Programme and give more support to advice services.

“Finally, the UK and Welsh Governments should explore options for expanding Wales and UK-based energy production, to ensure long-term energy security.”

Anyone worried about paying their energy bills this winter can get help and guidance by calling Age Cymru Advice on 0300 303 44 98, Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm.

You can read the full report on the Age Cymru website, at www.agecymru.wales, or to find out how to get a paper copy, you can call 0300 303 44 98.

The report looks at four core living costs: fuel, water, care and broadband.

• Fuel was by far the most reported expense in the survey. Around 18% of all respondents had cut their energy use over the last year, and 53% of those who had changed their lifestyle to save money had reduced their energy use. More than a third of older people are spending less on food.

• This year, oil prices caused the most concern, rather than gas. 7.8% of homes in Wales use oil for central heating.

•  The survey opened on 2 March, two days after the first airstrikes on Iran. In the six weeks that followed, the average price of unleaded petrol rose from 132.14p to 158.17p a litre, and diesel from 142.15p to 192.14p. Responses mentioned war 118 times and Iran 51 times.

• 80.3% of respondents were retired. The State Pension rose by 4.8% in April 2026, but this was based on earnings growth in May to July 2025, so it did not take account of the jump in oil prices in March and April 2026.

• There is a precedent: in 2022, after gas prices spiked following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the share of older people struggling with the cost of living jumped from 15% to 35%.

• The report recommends that the Welsh Government raise the income thresholds for the Nest Warm Homes scheme, significantly increase investment in the Warm Homes Programme and give more support to advice services. It calls on the UK Government to increase the Warm Home Discount and widen it to households on low incomes. In the long term, it asks both governments to explore expanding energy production in Wales and the UK, to ensure long-term energy security.

• Water bills were the second most mentioned cost in the survey, and 21% of respondents cut down on water use to save money.

• Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water bills rose by 27% in 2025-26 and 4.8% in 2026-27. Hafren Dyfrdwy bills rose by 19.5% in 2024-25, 14.2% in 2025-26 and 5.8% in 2026-27.

• In July 2026, Age Cymru's Advice line received its first case of an older person targeted by a scammer posing as a water company.

• The report recommends that the UK and Welsh Governments place a duty on water companies to tell older customers about the cheapest way to pay for water and, wherever possible, move them onto it automatically.

• 29% of respondents identified as unpaid carers. Two-thirds of these were women and 77% were aged 65 or over. 57% of carers found caring a challenge, often because of money, but only 5% received Carer's Allowance.

• 16% of respondents sought help from social care in the last year. Of these, 40% had to contribute to the costs, and only 28% found the payment arrangements easy to understand.

• The report recommends that local authority advice services are resourced to reach older people and unpaid carers missing out on support, and that all local authorities apply social care charging fairly and consistently. In the long term, it calls for social care that is free at the point of use.

• Broadband prices have stayed relatively stable, but awareness of social tariffs is low. Independent Age research found that 60% of older people on lower incomes did not know about broadband social tariffs.

• The report recommends that the Welsh Government work with partners to raise awareness of social tariffs and build eligibility checks into benefits advice.