Tag Archives: ukcuts

Carers fear the fuel bills

December 1, 2011   Carers, fuel poverty

Fuel poverty affects a quarter of UK’s households as bills soar and pay freezes

Exclusive: Figure rises from a fifth of homes last year, meaning coalition will fail to meet its legal duty to end fuel poverty by 2016

 

Fuel poverty is defined as when a household spends 10% or more of its income on gas and electricity bills.

A quarter of all households in England and Wales have now fallen into fuel poverty following an autumn of steep increases in energy bills and stagnating incomes, the Guardian can reveal.

The dramatic increase in fuel poverty – up from nearly one in five households last year to one in four now – will be highly embarrassing to the government, which has a statutory obligation to eliminate fuel poverty by 2016. It now looks certain to fail to meet its legal duty.

Previous government projections forecast that this year would see 4.1m households in fuel poverty, which is defined as those who have to spend 10% or more of their income to achieve adequate warmth and light.

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‘Eat or Heat’ a campaign to help carers in the grip of fuel poverty

November 29, 2011   Carers, ukcuts

Carers and those they look after are often the hardest hit by rising energy costs

 

29/11/2011

A HARROGATE charity has “switched on” its new campaign offering a lifeline to the growing number of unpaid carers in the grip of fuel poverty – as new figures reveal that as many as 80 lives may be lost across the district as a result.

The initiative launched by Carers’ Resource has a stark message – “Eat or Heat”. But the hard-hitting theme is designed to highlight how spiralling gas and electric bills are adding to the plight of those looking after loved ones across the district.

Latest research reveals that around one-in-five households in the Harrogate district suffer from fuel poverty – when at least 10 per cent of income is spent on fuel.

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Norwich Carers Forum event for Carers Rights Day

November 29, 2011   Carers, Norfolk

NORWICH EVENT TO HELP CARERS WITH MONEY MATTERS

 

Carers Rights Day, 2nd December 2011

 

Thousands of people living in Norfolk look after sick and disabled relatives at home, and may be missing out on vital benefits and support.

Carers can find out more by attending a special Carers Rights Day event organised by Norwich and District Carers Forum on Friday 2nd December at The Charing Cross Centre in Norwich from 1.30-3.30pm.

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