Category Archives: fuel poverty
Families face choice between food and heating, warn charities
By Gabriella Jozwiak, Thursday 06 December 2012
Families on benefits could be forced to choose between paying for food and heating, as a result of measures announced in the autumn statement, children’s charities have warned.
Children and young people’s organisations warned that families would be hit by the real-terms cuts to working-age benefits and tax credits.
Jobseeker’s Allowance, income support and child tax credit are among the working-age benefits that will increase by just one per cent over the next three years, equating to a real-terms cut, given that inflation is currently running at more than two per cent.
The Children’s Society suggested the one per cent cap would mean an unemployed, lone parent with one child and no other income will only receive about £4 more each month after housing costs in 2015.
Cold, lonely winter may cost 25,000 old people their lives
“Small things and a friendly face make all the difference to a family carer.”
Older people in the West Country are becoming increasingly isolated as neighbours fail to take notice of their basic needs.
According to a new report from the charity Age UK, one in four people aged 65 or more in the South West are not getting any help, support or companionship from people on their doorstep.
“It is a sad fact of life,” said Tom Williams, chairman of a Pensioners and 50-Plus Action Group in the region. “Times have changed and this has been happening more and more over the years. People are busy with their own lives and they don’t pop into each others houses any more.
He added: “We all know individuals who have children who live abroad, in America and Australia, and the chances are they aren’t coming back. These people are all right when they are living as a couple, but when one dies the survivor tends to get very lonely. It’s a real problem, but it’s hard to know what to do.”
Mr Williams, who is a keen advocate of over-50s getting more involved in their community, said older people were sometimes guilty of apathy themselves.
“It goes both ways. Older people need to get out more and be more vocal as well.”
Ministers to face MPs over energy tariff plan
Ministers will be forced to explain to MPs a pledge by the prime minister to make gas and electricity suppliers to offer customers their lowest tariffs.
The statement, expected at 10:30BST, follows an urgent question by Labour, who have been critical of the policy.
David Cameron told MPs that legislation would be brought before Parliament, amid concern over rising energy bills.
But later the Department for Energy said it was looking “at all options” to help customers get the best tariff.
BBC industry correspondent John Moylan says that on the face of it Mr Cameron’s announcement on Wednesday amounts to a major change in energy policy – instead of consumers having to seek out the best deals, firms would have to give customers the lowest tariff.
But there is still little detail on how this would actually work, our correspondent says.
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