Around 7.7 million UK households are likely to struggle with affording to pay their heating bills this winter, a new report has found.
According to new research published by the Resolution Foundation yesterday (1 October), a shocking 37% of all households in England suffered fuel stress within the past 12 months, and that situation was found to be the most stark for single parent households – with it meaning that three in four (77%) are likely to struggle with payments this upcoming winter.
56% of couples with children are also likely to experience fuel stress, the report found, which is more than twice the rate seen among households with pensioners at 24%.
‘Cold Comfort’ examines the extent of fuel stress – which is defined as families needing to spend more than 10% of their income, after housing costs, on heating their homes – across Britain, and looks at how policy can support these households.
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New RF analysis reveals how non-pensioners, especially families with children, are more likely than pensioners to be in fuel stress.
The organisation says the study is particularly relevant in the context of the Government‘s recent decision to end the universal Winter Fuel Payments (WFP) for pensioners.
The decision to scale back on the WFP – which were first introduced back in 1997 – means one million pensioners will be no longer eligible for the payment, and this is therefore expected to create financial hardship for some low-income pensioners, which is why Resolution Foundation’s report is calling on the Chancellor to introduce new support in her upcoming Budget that will look to help all households experiencing fuel stress.
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Under the current scheme, WFP recipients are automatically given a £25 payment when their local temperatures drop below freezing for a week or more.
As these particular payments are not only tied to income via benefit eligibility, but also to energy consumption as a function of being conditional on local temperature, the organisation is suggesting to the Government that this existing scheme could be expanded, both by increasing eligibility and by raising the temperature at which payments are triggered.
New reports finds 7.7 million UK households are expected to struggle with heating bills this winter / Credit: pxhere
Several other measures have also been suggested by the organisation as potential recommendations for the Government.
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Alex Clegg, who is the Economist at the Resolution Foundation, said these stark statistics illustrate how “poorly targeted Winter Fuel Payments are”, and why “alternative support” will be needed this winter.
“Couples with children are more than twice as likely to experience fuel stress as pensioner households,” they explained, “so any new support should not be limited to pensioners.”
“Reforming and expanding Cold Weather Payments offers a viable quick-fix solution to help keep households warm when the mercury drops this winter, but looking beyond this winter, the Government should prioritise developing a social tariff and investing in energy efficiency for our homes.
“This would help to ensure that vulnerable families are insulated from future energy shocks, whatever their age or circumstances.”
Featured Image – Pixabay
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The Council is giving Mancs £2,500 to move into a ‘more manageable’ home
Emily Sergeant
The Council is now offering financial help to support people moving into a smaller and ‘more manageable’ property.
Ever heard of ‘rightsizing? Well, according Manchester City Council it’s a process where a tenant in a larger social rent, Council, or Housing Association property, that may have more rooms than they need or perhaps are struggling to manage a big house as they get older, can be supported into a smaller property that better suits their needs.
The benefits of this process include cheaper bills, lower rents, and overall, just homes that are easier to clean and manage.
The aim of it is also to free up larger Council properties for families who are on the housing register – of which there are said to be around 20,000 of them currently at this time, with larger homes having some of the most significant wait times.
Are you struggling to look after a big Council or housing association home? We can help!
We are offering £2,500 to help people move into a smaller more manageable home, freeing up larger homes for families that need them.
It’s also estimated, according to the Council, that a third of all social rented family homes are thought to ‘underoccupied’.
This is why financial support and grants are now being offered.
Last year alone, 109 households were helped to ‘rightsize’ and were supported in the process by a dedicated team of Council officers, as well as benefitting from the Rightsizing Incentive Scheme – with a further 432 households having expressed interest doing so in the future.
Residents interested in ‘rightsizing’ could get a cash incentive of £2,500, which can be spent on anything they like, along with moving costs.
The Council is giving Mancs £2,500 to move into a ‘more manageable’ home / Credit: Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)
“Rightsizing could be a brilliant option for older people who are renting a Council home who may have spare rooms they don’t need or would benefit from looking after a smaller property,” explained Cllr Gavin White, who is Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Housing and Development.
“Often a barrier to moving is the cost, but the Council will take care of the financial burden to help a resident move into a new home.
“The benefit for the city is that we can free up more larger homes for people who are waiting for a property that properly meets their needs. We think around a third of Council tenants could be under occupying their home, which means they could be paying more than they need to or they could be hit with the bedroom tax.”
Does this sound like you? Are you ready to ‘rightsize’? Find out more and begin the process via Manchester City Council’s website here.
Featured Image – Vitaly Gariev (via Unsplash)
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Trailer released for Netflix’s new Lucy Letby documentary with ‘unprecedented access’
Emily Sergeant
The trailer for Netflix’s new documentary about the investigation of Lucy Letby has been released.
The feature-length film about Lucy Letby – the infamous neonatal nurse who was found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others under her care at the Countess of Chester Hospital – hears for the first time from the police officers who investigated the case that shook the nation.
It features never-before-seen footage of Letby during her arrests and police questioning, and even includes interviews with experts and lawyers on both sides, as well as with the hospital consultants who initially raised the alarm.
Tragically, it also includes an anonymised interview with a mother of one of the victims, who also speaks for the first time about her experience and involvement in Letby’s trial.
Produced as a result of years of research and relationship-building, the film – simply titled The Investigation of Lucy Letby – is described as being the most ‘comprehensive’ look at one of Britain’s most notorious crimes, and traces developments from her arrest to trial in chronological order.
Viewers will be given ‘unparalleled and exclusive access’ to those central to the story.
“This was an exceptional and demanding project, marked by significant creative and ethical responsibility,” commented director, Dominic Sivyer. “Our aim was to craft a powerful, emotionally resonant depiction of the events surrounding the case.”
Caroline Short, Head of Global TV at ITN Productions – who produced the documentary – added: “The access to all our contributors came with a huge responsibility to present everyone’s perspectives with care and understanding.
“We are grateful to all those people who trusted us to tell their story.”
Emily Sergeant -
2nd October 2024 
