MORE than 100,000 Sussex households will fall below the fuel poverty line this winter.

Sussex's death rate could jump at least 20% as temperatures plummet and hard-up pensioners struggle to pay their bills.

Elderly and vulnerable people will suffer worst from hikes in energy prices and cuts to their winter fuel allowance.

Charities and local authorities are appealing for those in trouble to come forward for help before winter sets in.

Rural and isolated communities will be hit hardest, as people living in poor insulation struggle to heat their homes.

A household is in fuel poverty when they cannot afford to keep adequately warm at reasonable cost, given their income.

This year more than 100,000 will have to make a choice between buying food and heating their homes.

Figures from 2009 revealed that 90,000 Sussex households were officially living in fuel poverty, a rise of 14,000 from the previous year.

In Brighton and Hove, 14,381 households - 12.2% of the population - are living in fuel poverty, up almost 1,000 from the previous year.

Every year as many as 215 people die from the cold in Brighton every year.

Figures suggest Hollingbury and Bevendean in Brighton are the city's most affected areas.

The Office of National Statistics claims Brighton and Hove's death rate jumps by 20% in winter.

This year the Government slashed winter fuel allowances by 25% to £200, leaving many pensioners struggling to pay for their energy bills.

The Sussex Community Foundation is organising a campaign urging people to donate their Winter Fuel Payments to help those struggling to pay their heating bills.

Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, said planned Government cuts may make the problem of fuel poverty even worse.

"The failure of successive governments to tackle the national shame of increasing fuel poverty, which will affect over 5,000 households in Brighton Pavilion alone in the freezing winter months, is completely unacceptable,” she said.

“Although the Coalition has said it plans to wipe out fuel poverty by 2016, next year will be the first time in three decades that there has been no Treasury funded scheme for those struggling to heat their homes.

“If it is really serious about tackling fuel poverty and reducing excess winter deaths, which increased by 38% during the cold snap last December, the Government must take far more ambitious steps to insulate all homes through the Green Deal scheme, curb the power of the big energy companies to charge what they like, and put in place emergency measures to help fuel-poor households.”

When energy prices increased in November this year, gas went up by 18-21% and electricity went by 11%.

Nationally, for every 1% increase in fuel prices, 40,000 more households slip into fuel poverty, studies show.

Michelle Cheeseman, fuel poverty co-ordinator for West Sussex County Council, blamed energy prices for the rise in fuel poverty.

She said: “In November they put the energy prices up. But as a local authority there's nothing we can do about it.”

“Part of the problem is that buildings are not insulated properly.

“We need to improve people's awareness of insulation. Cavity wall insulation saves around £150 a year on average while loft insulation saves around £120 a year on average.

“But we have thousands of hard to treat homes in Sussex, especially in rural areas where many homes do not have wall cavities.”

Next year, as part of the Government's Green Deal proposals, funding that currently allows elderly people to receive a grant to insulate their homes will be cut.

Instead, people will need to apply for a means-tested loan with the cost to be repaid.

Local authorities are urging elderly people to get their homes insulated this year under the grant system before the cuts take effect.

But Brighton and Hove City Councillor Dawn Barnett said elderly people in her ward were finding it harder every year just to pay for their energy, let alone new insulation.

“I think fuel poverty is getting worse because the energy price rises are exorbitant,” she said.

“It's going to affect a lot of people, but especially elderly people. They are worst affected because young people can move about.

“I don't see why old people should have to live in one room for all the winter.”

If you are worried by fuel poverty, contact the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 33 66 99 to get expert advice on staying warm this winter.

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