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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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
News
Simon Wood announces gutting closure of Manchester restaurant after seven years
Danny Jones
Celebrity chef and Manchester local Simon Wood has announced that his self-titled WOOD Restaurant has sadly closed its doors.
The Oldham-born chef-owner who won MasterChef back in 2015, revealed the unfortunate news on Wednesday, 2 October, confirming that the First Street site will be closing immediately. Truly gutting.
Wood has remained one of Greater Manchester’s most-renowned chefs for the past decade, not to mention a huge advocate for supporting the hospitality industry, especially post-Covid and during the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Sharing an emotional post on Instagram, he wrote: “It is with much regret that I have to inform you that I must close the doors here at WOOD for good, with immediate effect.”
“We have had 7 years as part of the Manchester city dining scene and I’m very proud of what the team and I have achieved”, the 48-year-old continued.
“Sadly with COVID rent arrears now being demanded by our landlord and an increasingly difficult marketplace, energy increases, ingredient costs and soon-to-be spiralling business rates we just cannot make this work.”
“I’d like to thank everyone for your support and patronage over the years. Thank you, Simon.”
It was only at the start of the week that Wood shared a frustrated post about a group of no-show customers over the weekend that failed to even pre-warn that they would no longer be attending one of his most exclusive and costly experiences.
We’re starting to lose count of how many local businesses are unfortunately struggling in the face of the rising business rates and energy bills that all independents are facing at the minute.
It was only last month that we saw Almous Famous had to call it a day with their Withington location and beloved sandwich spot Micky’s sadly suffer the same fate. Even cult favourite Cafe Marhaba looks to have gone up for sale. So tough to swallow.
We’re genuinely gutted for everyone involved with the brand. All the best, Si – we know you’ll be back stronger than ever one of these days.
Featured Images — The Manc Group
News
No trams to run through major Manchester city centre station this weekend
Emily Sergeant
Arguably Manchester city centre’s most important tram stop is set to be out of action this weekend, with no services running through it.
In what is another part of Transport for Greater Manchester‘s (TfGM) ongoing programme of works intended to “maintain and improve” the Metrolink system and ensure tram journeys in Greater Manchester remain “safe, reliable, and accessible”, it’s been confirmed that no trams will run through Cornbrook this weekend.
Due to this, there will be a change to operating patterns across the majority of the Metrolink network on both Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 October.
As is often the case in instances like these, disruption to passengers is expected.
On Saturday and Sunday [5 and 6 October], no trams will operate through Cornbrook.
There will be a change to operating patterns and replacement bus services will be in operation.
On Saturday (5 October), the tram service pattern will change to Altrincham – Old Trafford, Bury – Ashton-under-Lyne, East Didsbury – Firswood, Etihad Campus – Bury (peak time only) / Victoria (after peak only), Manchester Airport – Firswood, Rochdale Town Centre – Deansgate-Castlefield (via Exchange Square), and The Trafford Centre – Wharfside.
Similarly, on Sunday (6 October), the only difference to the above service pattern is that the Etihad Campus tram will only run to Victoria, not Bury.
Services will operate every 12 minutes, except for on the Eccles line, where no trams will run at all.
TfGM is also warning that there may be changes to the first and last tram times during these works, but, in bid to help people still get to their destinations, three bus replacement services will operate from Firswood to Victoria, Old Trafford to Piccadilly, and Eccles to Piccadilly.
No trams will run through major Manchester city centre station Cornbrook this weekend / Credit: TfGM
The Old Trafford to Piccadilly bus service will run through Wharfside, while the Eccles to Piccadilly will travel via MediaCity.
“These works are a vitally important part of maintaining a safe and reliable network for all our customers,” explained
Ian Davies, who is TfGM’s Interim Network Director for Metrolink, said these works are “a vitally important part” of maintaining the Metrolink, and that work has been scheduled by TfGM to “minimise disruption to passengers and residents as much as possible”.
Emily Sergeant -
2nd October 2024 
