Age NI Charity Director, Mandy Wilson, said: "Age NI believes that measures introduced by the UK Chancellor to support households on low incomes, such as the £100 cost of living payment, support with household electricity bills and heating oil costs, should also be introduced in Northern Ireland to help people manage rising energy and living costs.

Age NI welcomes the new Pension Tax Allowance, which will mean thousands of low-income pensioners in Northern Ireland will pay less tax, or no tax, on their State Pension income.

We also welcome the commitment to end the cliff-edge earnings rule for Carer’s Allowance. However, we would like clarity on how this reform will apply in Northern Ireland and want to see carers here benefit from equivalent protections.

However, there remains a need for targeted, time-limited energy cost support in Northern Ireland to help people manage rising energy prices.

We have heard directly from older people who are worried about affording their bills and who may cut back on heating because they are faced with incredibly difficult choices between heating their homes, buying food and meeting other essential costs. Living in a cold home can have serious consequences for an older person’s health and wellbeing, particularly as we move into the winter months.

The removal of the 4% tariff on kerosene is a welcome step, particularly given that 61% of Northern Ireland households rely on heating oil. However, many people on low incomes, including those with additional energy needs because of ill health or disability, will continue to struggle with the cost of keeping their homes warm."