The charity said that the £120 discount available through the scheme to the most vulnerable pensioners should also be available to families in fuel poverty so that their children are not put at risk.
The call echoes similar warnings from watchdog Consumer Focus that the scheme would risk skewing support towards pensioners while leaving families in the cold.
The watchdog has said vulnerable households – such as those with children, the disabled and older people – were already recognised by the government under the supplier-led Cert energy efficiency scheme as “super priority”. Consumer Focus said that status should be extended to the Warm Home Discount scheme or it would leave 1.5 million households ineligible for discounts.
“Cold weather payments should be made to those who need support,” Consumer Focus spokesperson Jonathan Stearn told Utility Week. “We need joined-up policy and must not skew payments… to pensioners.”
Around six million people in the UK are currently estimated to be at risk of fuel poverty.
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