We welcome today’s Welsh Government draft budget announcement prioritising health and social care, with the allocation of over £400 million in well needed funds, including to address lengthy waiting lists. We also welcome funding to support the bus network and the extra cash injection for local authorities to support social care. We look forward to seeing how all this funding translates into support for older people across Wales.
However, with the UK Government’s decision to means test Winter Fuel Payments, we’re disappointed at the lack of specific financial support from Welsh Government for older people in Wales who will struggle with their energy bills. And whilst we welcome the uplift in funding for the Discretionary Assistance Fund, we would like to see the criteria widened to support more older people that need it.
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