People in Scotland have received more than £30 million via two Scottish Government benefits to help them deal with increased energy costs this winter, new statistics have shown.
Winter Heating Payment supports households on low incomes, including older people, disabled people and families with children under five.
Child Winter Heating Payment helps families of the most severely disabled children and young people.
The official figures show more than 400,000 Winter Heating Payments of £55.05 were issued between November last year and the end of March. More than 30,000 Child Winter Heating Payments of £235.70 were made in the same spell.
Winter Heating Payment replaced the UK Government’s Cold Weather Payment in 2023. Most people getting it receive more money on average than via Cold Weather Payment.
People receive Winter Heating Payment whatever the weather, unlike Cold Weather Payment when the temperature needs to drop to a specific level.
Child Winter Payment, introduced in 2020, is not available anywhere else in the UK. There is also no cap on the number of children who can get it in the same family.
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville, said: “The £30.2 million paid over the course of winter provides support to those who need it most. It is being paid quickly and effectively to help mitigate the worst of the cost of living crisis.
“Winter Heating Payment guarantees those who qualify will get a payment every year – in contrast to the UK Government approach which needs the weather to be under a certain temperature for a sustained spell.
“Both Winter Heating Payment and Child Winter Heating Payment have recently been increased in line with inflation which means we will be getting more money into people’s pockets in 2024/25. I am pleased that we are getting the vast majority of these payments to people in good time.
“I urge anyone who is struggling during the cost-of-living crisis to visit the Scottish Government’s Cost of Living website for support and advice.”
DWP urges pensioners to act quickly and check if they are eligible for Pension Credit by 5 March 2024
Eligible people who claim by this date could secure additional £299 Cost of Living boost
Claiming the benefit could also open doors to additional help with housing costs, council tax, and heating bills
Hundreds of thousands of pensioners could pocket an extra £299 if they claim Pension Credit in the next 10 days.
Those who successfully apply for Pension Credit by 5 March could also secure a further £299 boost in the form of a Cost of Living payment thanks to backdating rules.
Pension Credit, which averages over £3,900 a year, is there to lend a hand with day-to-day expenses for those who have reached State Pension age and are on a low income.
Minister for Pensions Paul Maynard said: “We are committed to ensuring every pensioner receives the financial support available to them.
“Anyone who is unsure whether they or a loved one is entitled to Pension Credit should quickly check using our online Pension Credit calculator – it’s never been easier.
“Not only could this secure an extra £3,900 every year and unlock a whole host of other support, if successfully claimed by 5 March a further £299 Cost of Living boost is up for grabs.”
While around 1.4 million pensioners are already receiving Pension Credit, there are an estimated 880,000 households eligible for the support who are yet to claim it.
For single pensioners, Pension Credit guarantees a minimum weekly income of £201.05; for couples, it’s £306.85. Additional help is also available for those with disabilities or caring responsibilities.
And even small amounts of Pension Credit could open doors to further financial assistance, covering things like housing costs, council tax, and heating bills, as well as potentially the £299 backdated Cost of Living payment.
You can apply for Pension Credit over the phone, online, or by post. And for anyone unsure about eligibility or how much they might get, the online Pension Credit calculator tool can help.
The State Pension is due to rise by 8.5% in April 2024 – meaning the new full State Pension will be worth £221.20 per week.
For more information visit the Pension Credit GOV.UK page. For extra resources for stakeholders and businesses, the department has also produced a Stakeholder Toolkit.
Energy regulator Ofgem has today (Friday 23 February, 2024) announced a significant reduction of the energy price cap for the second quarter of 2024.
The price cap, which sets a maximum rate per unit that can be charged to customers for their energy use, will fall by 12.3% on the previous quarter from 1 April to 30 June 2024. For an average household paying by direct debit for dual fuel this equates to £1,690, a drop of £238 over the course of a year – saving around £20 a month.
This will see energy prices reach their lowest level since Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine in February 2022 caused a further spike in an already turbulent wholesale energy market, driving up costs for suppliers and ultimately customers.
However, despite reaching this welcome milestone, Ofgem recognises that the cost of living remains high and many customers continue to struggle with their bills as standing charges rise and energy debt reaches a record figure of £3.1 billion.
Therefore, today Ofgem is also announcing:
Confirmation of the levelisation of standing charges to remove the ‘PPM premium’ previously incurred by prepayment customers.
A decision to allow a temporary adjustment to the price cap to address supplier costs related to increased levels of bad debt.
A decision to extend the ban on acquisition-only tariffs (BAT) for up to another 12 months.
Confirmation of the end of the Market Stabilisation Charge (MSC) from April 1.
A decision not to change wholesale cost allowances following a review conducted in late 2023.
Jonathan Brearley, CEO of Ofgem, said:“This is good news to see the price cap drop to its lowest level in more than two years – and to see energy bills for the average household drop by £690 since the peak of the crisis – but there are still big issues that we must tackle head-on to ensure we build a system that’s more resilient for the long term and fairer to customers.
“That’s why we are levelising standing charges to end the inequity of people with prepayment meters, many of whom are vulnerable and struggling, being charged more up-front for their energy than other customers.
“We also need to address the risk posed by stubbornly high levels of debt in the system, so we must introduce a temporary payment to help prevent an unsustainable situation leading to higher bills in the future. We’llbe stepping back to look at issues surrounding debt and affordability across market for struggling consumers, which we’ll be announcing soon.
“These steps highlight the limitations of the current system – we can only move costs around – so we welcome news that the Government is opening the conversation on the future of price regulation, seeking views on how standard energy deals can be made more flexible so customers pay less if using electricity when prices are lower.
“But longer term we need to think about what more can be done for those who simply cannot afford to pay their energy bills even as prices fall. As we return to something closer to normality we have an opportunity to reset and reframe the energy market to make sure it’s ready to protect customers if prices rise again.”
Affordability remains the most significant issue, as people continue to struggle with bills over the last two years, which has led to record levels of energy debt.
To address this challenge in the short-term, Ofgem will allow a temporary additional payment of £28 per year (equivalent to £2.33 per month) to make sure suppliers have sufficient funds to support customers who are struggling.
This will be added to the bills of customers who pay by direct debit or standard credit and is partly offset by the termination of an allowance worth £11 per year that covered debt costs related to the Covid pandemic.
Prepayment meter (PPM) customers will not be impacted by the extra charge, reflecting the fact that many do not build up the same level of debt as credit customers because they top up as they go.
Ofgem also confirmed plans to maintain the equalisation of standing charges across payment methods so that customers are not charged more depending on the payment method they use.
Since October 2022 the so-called ‘PPM premium’ was removed by government support via the Energy Price Guarantee. However, with that support coming to an end on April 1, Ofgem has taken steps to provide a lasting solution, which must be funded by bill payers rather than tax payers, to maintain fairness in the system.
This means PPM customers will save around £49 per year while direct debit customers will pay £10 per year more.
Increasing network costs has also contributed to the rise in standing charges – and in anticipation of this we published a call for input in November 2023 and are currently reviewing more than 40,000 responses.
Today Ofgem is also publishing a decision to extend the ban on acquisition-only tariffs (BAT) for another 12 months, but intends to open a consultation to consider shortening this extension to just six months.
The BAT was introduced in April 2022 to provide more stability at the height of the energy crisis, removing often risky short-term discounted tariffs intended to attract customers from other suppliers.
As competition returns to the market, Ofgem is encouraging rising numbers of customers switching with a number of measures, including shortening the time suppliers are given to complete a customer transfer from 15 days to just five.
Additionally, from 1 April, the Market Stabilisation Charge – introduced in tandem with the BAT – will come to an end, meaning suppliers are no longer required to compensate a new customer’s previous supplier when they switch.
This influenced the regulator’s decision to temporarily extend the BAT rather than remove both safeguards at the same time, ensuring a phased and responsible return towards normality in the market while preventing a return of the risky behaviours which contributed to the high number of supplier failures during the energy crisis.
Ofgem is also publishing a decision following its wholesale adjustment review. Following unusually high volatility in wholesale prices between October 2022 and September 2023, the regulator examined whether suppliers experienced differences between wholesale costs and the allowances they were allowed to recover via the price cap.
However, after careful consideration the regulator has concluded to take no further action as wholesale costs did not systematically differ from allowances.
Citizens Advice Scotland has responded to today’s announcement by Ofgem, setting the energy price cap at £1,690.
The charity is stressing that even though prices are coming down they are still way too high for many households.
CAS Social Justice spokesperson Matthew Lee said:“Today’s announcement has to be seen in the context of peoples’ incomes and how badly households have been battered by the cost-of-living crisis of the past 18 months.
“Even if prices are coming down they are still way too high for many people to be able to afford, particularly the many who have had to go into debt to cover their energy costs since the price surge in 2022.
“It’s important that we don’t become complacent about the lower cap. The fact is that too many people are still struggling to pay these bills, and more targeted financial support like a social tariff is needed for the most vulnerable households.”
Previous CAS research on energy affordability has found that:
Nearly 3 million people report switching the heating off when it’s cold, wrapping themselves in blankets and extra layers instead.
1.4 million people regularly sit in the dark, with no TV or laptop/tablet on, to save on energy bills.
Nearly 3 million people in Scotland have cut back on food as a result of rising energy bills.
Tens of thousands of people in Scotland have been forced onto pay as you go energy meters against their will.
Over 300,000 people say they are concerned about energy debt.
In December the average energy debt for people seeking complex debt advice was £2,307 – up nearly £500 compared to the same time last year.
185,000 people say they have changed their bathing habits to save on hot water – they’re sharing bathwater or showering at work or at the gym.
Pilot scheme will see councils and advice services work more closely together
Extra help for people struggling with council tax debt will be on offer in three local authority areas under a pilot scheme.
The Scottish Government is providing Citizens Advice Scotland with £200,000 funding to better understand the reasons why some people end up in council tax arrears and to work collaboratively with local councils to help reduce and prevent council tax debt in future.
Citizen’s Advice Bureaux in Renfrewshire, Clackmannanshire and the Scottish Borders will test different ways of working including:
Providing targeted support to individuals facing council tax debt
Simplifying the referral processes between councils and advice services
Organising mutual training sessions for council and Citizens Advice staff
Housing Minister Paul McLennan visited Roxburgh and Berwickshire Citizen’s Advice Bureau to launch the project.
Housing minister @PaulMcLennan7 visited @RandBCAB to launch the Council Tax Debt Advice Pilot Scheme.
This will fund Citizens Advice Bureaux in Renfrewshire, Clackmannanshire and the Scottish Borders to work with local councils to help people facing problem council tax debt. pic.twitter.com/2tQF8Jdlcl
Mr McLennan said: “We know many people are struggling in the cost of living crisis and that is why we are targeting resources at those most in need.
“Council tax debt is a significant issue, and one that particularly affects the most vulnerable. The three Bureaux involved in these pilots have established relationships with their local authorities. This funding will help build on those connections to help individuals tackle problem debt and also provide valuable learning on how public sector debt can best be managed.
“Advice services are critical to Scotland’s communities, supporting people to understand their rights and entitlements, maximising incomes and helping to reduce poverty. This year we will invest more than £12.5 million in a range of advice services providing free income maximisation, welfare and debt advice.”
Myles Fitt, Financial Health Strategic Lead at Citizens Advice Scotland said: “Council tax debt is the single biggest debt issue that clients bring to the CAB Service each year. The cost-of-living crisis is only worsening this problem, so we welcome the opportunity this funding provides to make a difference to peoples’ lives and financial well-being.
“Through working in partnership with councils, the three bureaux involved in this pilot will bring their deep insight into the factors and barriers that lie behind council tax debt to develop joint solutions that will help those in arrears now and in the future.”
Eligible low income households urged to make sure they get £150 in Warm Home Discount before 29 February
Low income households who qualify for the Warm Home Discount are urged to make sure they get the £150 discount.
Most of the 3 million households who qualify will automatically receive this energy bill support.
Households who need to confirm their details must do so by the end of February.
People on low incomes could benefit from a £150 rebate on their energy bills – and are being urged to act now where they need to, so they can get the support before this year’s scheme closes.
The help is available to over 3 million households across Great Britain that are most at risk of fuel poverty, with many receiving the discount automatically. However, some customers in England and Wales have been sent a letter asking them to confirm their details by calling the Warm Home Discount Helpline so they can check their eligibility and get the rebate.
To mark Big Energy Saving Week, Minister for Affordability and Skills Amanda Solloway is today urging any of these households who need to provide more information to call the helpline by 29 February and get the support they are entitled to.
The scheme forms part of measures to keep costs down for families and put more money in their pockets. It targets support to protect those most at risk of fuel poverty this winter, following a significant drop in energy prices since their peak last year and the Government delivering on its pledge to halve inflation – which is now at a two-year low of 3.9%.
Tax cuts announced at the start of the year will also support 27 million people across the UK, meaning a household with two average earners will save nearly £1,000 a year.
Minister for Affordability and Skills Amanda Solloway said: “We will always act to support the most vulnerable – and this means making sure those most in need are getting the right support.
“Today, I am urging people on low incomes who have been notified about the Warm Home Discount to make sure they act now to get £150 off their energy bill.
“Please check your letter and call our helpline before the end of February if you need to provide more information.”
The UK government’s Warm Home Discount offers targeted energy bill support for those most in need. This includes low income pensioners and households in England and Wales with high energy costs.
These customers received a letter at the end of last year explaining the discount and instructions on any action they may need to take.
For the vast majority of these customers, the discount is automatically applied to bills between October 2023 and March 2024, or is available as a top-up voucher for those with a prepayment meter.
However, some people in England and Wales who received a letter and could qualify for the support have been asked ring the government helpline number provided in their letter to confirm their details.
In Scotland, customers on low incomes who have not received a letter may still be eligible and should apply via a different route, by contacting their energy supplier as soon as possible.
The support comes on top of wider action to protect vulnerable households, including a £900 payment for those on means-tested benefits, £300 for pensioner households and an extra £150 available for those on disability benefits.
The Government has also invested over £2 billion into the Household Support Fund over the last two years, increased the Local Housing Allowance Rate so £1.6 million private renters on Housing Benefit or Universal Credit gain an average of nearly £800 a year and £600 in tax-free cash for pensioner households to help with energy bills through Winter Fuel Payments.
Cold Weather Payments have also been triggered to help households receiving certain benefits to stay warm this winter. The scheme – which runs until March 2024 – provides low-income households with an automatic payment of £25 following periods of cold weather.
Anyone can access advice on how to reduce energy costs and heat their home for less via the government’s Help for Households website. This includes energy saving tips as part of the It All Adds Up campaign, which helped British households an estimated £120 million on their energy bills last winter.
UK is only country in G7 where household budgets have not recovered to pre-pandemic levels
Families would be £750 a year better off if real disposable income had grown in line with other leading economies
Working people are being made poorer by Conservative failure, union body says
The UK is suffering the worst decline in living standards of any G7 country – according to new TUC analysis published this week.
The analysis shows the UK is only G7 economy where real household disposable income per head hasn’t recovered to its pre-pandemic levels:
Real household disposable incomes in the UK were 1.2% lower in the second quarter of 2023 than at the end of 2019.
But over the same period they grew by 3.5%, on average, across the G7.
The TUC estimates that if real disposable income in the UK had risen in line with the G7 average UK families would be £750 a year better off.
More pain ahead
The union body warned that the contraction in UK household budgets is going to get worse – despite falling inflation.
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecasts that real house disposable income per head in Britain will fall by an additional 3.4% by the end of the first quarter of 2024.
And according to the same forecasts household budgets won’t even recover to their pre-pandemic levels until the end of 2026.
The OBR said in November that UK households are suffering the worst period for living standards since modern records began in the 1950s.
Households in debt
The TUC says the Conservatives’ failure to grow the economy and deliver healthy wage growth has pushed many households further into debt.
Analysis published by the union body at the end of December revealed that unsecured debt (credit cards, loans, hire purchase agreements) is set to rise by £1,400 per household, in real terms, this year.
The TUC says working people have been left brutally exposed to rising costs after years of pay stagnation.
UK workers are on course for two decades of lost living standards with real wages not forecast to recover to their 2008 level until 2028.
The TUC estimates that the average worker has lost £14,800 since 2008 as a result of their pay not keeping up with pre-global financial crisis real wage trends.
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “The UK is the only G7 nation where living standards are worse than before the pandemic.
“While families in other countries have seen their incomes recover – household budgets here continue to shrink.
“This is a damning indictment on the Conservatives’ economic record.
“Their failure to deliver decent growth and living standards over the last 13 years has left millions exposed to skyrocketing bills – and is pushing many deeper into debt.
“We can’t go on like this. Britain cannot afford the Tories for a day longer.”
Growth in real disposable household income in the G7
Country
change 2019Q4 to 2023Q2
United Kingdom
-1.2
Italy
0.1
Germany
0.2
Japan *
0.5
France
2.4
Canada
3.0
G7
3.5
United States
6.0
source: OECD; * Japan to 2022Q1
– The analysis is based on OECD figures for real household disposable income per head, which extend to 2023Q2 (except for Japan, which go to 2022Q1). Looking forward, UK figures are based on Office for Budget Responsibility projections in the November 2023 Economic and Fiscal Outlook. As with the ONS outturns and OBR projections, cash figures are in 2019 prices.
– The OBR measure living standards as real household disposable income (RDHI) per person.
• Lloyds Bank data unearths how different generations and regions spend on making memories
• Non-essential spending on holidays, restaurants and recreation rising
• Non-essential spending increase is slowest in London
• Gen Z holiday spending growing quicker than Millennials and Generation X
Non-essential spending in the UK is on the rise despite the cost-of-living crisis, according to data from Lloyds Bank.
Every region in the UK, including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, is spending more on non-essentials like holidays, restaurants and recreational activities but London is the slowest-growing region for this type of spending.
Lloyds Bank has revealed the data following the launch of its new credit card, the World Elite Mastercard®, which enables customers to earn cashback on every card purchase made, alongside enjoying a range of travel benefits.
With millions of customers across the UK, Lloyds Bank touches nearly every community and household in the country. The analysis, based on card spending of the bank’s customers, provides live insight into the state of the nation.
Non-essential purchases – like holidays and restaurant spending – have been in positive growth, year-on-year, since May 2021. In 2023 alone, year-on-year non-essential spending has grown more than 3% every single month, peaking at a 10% increase in January.
The data indicates the trend is largely being driven by wanderlust – particularly amongst the over 65s, who have increased spending in this category by 21% in October. Millennials (people aged 25 to 34) meanwhile, are displaying the slowest growth among generational holiday spenders year-on-year, up 11.8%, while Gen Z consumers (aged 18 to 24) have seen holiday spend grow 16.9% over the last year.
Taking a regional view, consumers in Wales are leading the charge in holiday spending – up by more than a fifth compared to last year (21.6%), while Scottish holidaymakers and those in the South West have increased travel card spending by 19.5% and 19.1% respectively.
Spending from people living in London shows the slowest growth at 12.5%, with those in the North West spending 16.5% more year-on-year.
Overall, year-on-year holiday spending is up 17.1%, restaurant spending is up 6.2% and recreational spending is up 3.3%.
Looking at regional growth around non-essential spending more broadly, you see London showing the slowest growth – up just 1.8% compared to the previous year.
Meanwhile, consumers in Yorkshire and the Humber, which is the fastest-growing region, spent more than 6% on non-essentials when compared with the previous year and Scottish consumers also spent over 5% more.
The data also shows that spending on restaurants and going out to socialise account for the biggest non essential spending growth across all generations and all regions across the UK in October.
Marc Lien, Credit Cards Managing Director at Lloyds Bank, said: “Despite understandable concerns around the cost-of-living crisis, people still want to socialise and have a holiday to look forward to.
“We’ve come through a challenging few years, and it’s positive to see that consumer spending is on the rise.
“After listening to our customers it’s clear that spenders up and down the country want more from their credit and debit card providers, and this is more important than ever at times like these – that’s exactly why we launched the Lloyds Bank World Elite Mastercard®, to provide better, more easily accessible rewards.
“The new Lloyds Bank World Elite Mastercard® offers cashback on every card purchase – no matter how big or small – and great benefits for travellers, including the luxury of skipping airport security queues and access to over one thousand airport lounges worldwide.”
Customers using the World Elite Mastercard® will earn 0.5% cashback on each card purchase up to and including £15,000. When total card spending reaches over £15,000, each card purchase will earn 1% cashback, paid into the account each month.
World Elite Mastercard® customers will also receive benefits which add a touch of luxury when travelling:
o Access to over 1,300 airport lounges, including lounges at London Heathrow, Edinburgh International, Orlando International, Dubai International and many more, through Priority Pass. (Owned and operated by Collinson.)
o Cardholders will be able to skip airport security queues and upgrade their airport security experience at participating airports, powered by DragonPass.
o Direct access to Mastercard’s priceless.com experiences and content in the UK and around the world.
World Elite Mastercard® also provides one additional cardholder with all the card benefits at no extra cost to the initial £15 per month.
Cashback earned by the additional cardholder will be added to the main cardholder’s running total, and will be included in the monthly cashback payment made to the account.
The main cardholder will be able to view or manage their World Elite Mastercard® and travel benefits through online banking and the mobile app.
AGE Scotland has produced a new guide to support older people through the #costofliving crisis.
It’s packed with advice on energy bills, tips on how to shop smart and eat well when food prices bite, cost-effective recipes, and a directory on where to go for help:
The cost of living crisis is forcing many older people to make incredibly difficult financial choices between powering and heating their homes and the food they can afford to buy.
Age Scotland’s helpline is hearing from an increasing number of older people who are finding it near impossible to pay their energy bills, having cut down on all but the essentials, and are now at risk of falling into unmanageable debt as a result.
Their Big Survey 2023 really highlights the stark reality and toll the cost of living crisis has taken on older people’s financial and physical wellbeing.
Age Scotland has pulled together this guide to support older people as we believe nobody should face the ongoing cost of living crisis alone.
It’s packed with advice on energy bills, tips on how to shop smart and eat well when food prices bite, recipes from top Scottish chefs, including Tom Kitchin and Tony Singh, and a directory on where to go for help.
We hope you find it useful. For further help and advice or to get a benefits check please call our free Helpline on 0800 12 44 222.
Aldi donates surplus food from all its stores to local charities and foodbanks when stores close early on Christmas Eve. Aldi’s staff L-R Emily Sutton, Carla Louise Gospel and Tamara Mawson-Phipps 24/12/2022
Aldi donated 25,691 meals to those in need in Edinburgh and The Lothians over the festive period.
The supermarket paired up its stores with local charities, community groups and food banks in the area to collect unsold fresh and chilled food when stores closed their doors early on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
Charities that benefitted from the donations in Edinburgh and The Lothians include The Pennypit Trust, Tummies Not Trash and Winchburgh Food Store.
The food donations are part of Aldi’s successful partnership with Neighbourly, a community giving platform that links businesses to charitable organisations.
Aldi’s UK stores donate surplus food to good causes each and every day, with over 40 million meals donated to good causes since its partnership with Neighbourly began back in 2019.
Britain’s fourth-largest supermarket also worked in partnership with Company Shop Group this Christmas to provide around 2,000 meals at its Community Kitchens across the UK in the run up to Christmas.
Liz Fox, National Sustainability Director at Aldi UK, said:“We are so proud to work with such amazing charity partners throughout the UK and the impact they have cannot be underestimated, especially during the winter months when their services are needed more than ever.
“We are pleased that through our partnership with both Neighbourly and Company Shop we have been able to give back to the communities we serve by providing more donations than ever this Christmas.”
Steve Butterworth, Chief Executive Officer at Neighbourly, added:“We’re pleased to have supported Aldi once again during what is often one of the busiest periods for our charities.
“Large donations like Aldi’s allow us to provide vital support to communities across the country who would otherwise miss out.”
The energy price cap has increased to £1,928 raising the average bill by £94
Union body says UK is “feeding foreign firms’ profits” while British households struggle
Commenting on Monday’s energy price cap announcement, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “No one should struggle to get by in one of the richest countries in the world.
“But 13 years of wage stagnation and cuts to social security have left millions badly exposed to sky-high bills this winter.
“Energy bills are already 50% higher than two years ago, so today’s rise will just hammer households even harder in the coming year. “
“It doesn’t have to be this way.
“Other governments are investing in publicly owned clean power and insulating homes.”
“The UK is feeding foreign firms’ profits and subsidising cheaper bills abroad, while British households struggle to heat their homes and pay their bills.”
