Tag: cost of living crisis

Jack: Budget will create stability

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has responded to the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement where the UK Government pledged to restore stability to the economy, protect high-quality public services and build long-term prosperity for the United Kingdom.

Jeremy Hunt outlined a targeted package of support for the most vulnerable, alongside measures to get debt and government borrowing down.

The plan he set out is designed to fight against inflation in the face of unprecedented global pressures brought about by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said: “We are facing complex global challenges, and the Chancellor has had to take some difficult decisions. By reducing our borrowing, tackling the root causes of inflation and putting our public finances on a stable footing, we will create the economic stability we need for our long-term prosperity.

“As we promised, we have put in place extra support for those who need it most, with support on energy bills and increases in pensions, benefits and the National Living Wage.

“The Scottish Government will receive an additional £1.5 billion, to help support public services in Scotland. We are also putting extra money into two key projects in Scotland. Catapult will help grow our offshore energy capability, and a feasibility study to upgrade the A75 will pave the way for much improved connectivity between Scotland, Northern Ireland and England.”

As a result of Thursday’s tax and spending decisions, the Scottish Government will receive around an additional £1.5 billion over 2023-24 and 2024-25.

Delivering for the people of Scotland, the Chancellor has reconfirmed the UK Government’s commitment to work with the Scottish Government on options to improve the A75, in line with the findings from the Union Connectivity Review.

He also confirmed that funding for the UK’s 9 Catapult innovation centres will increase by 35% compared to the last funding cycle, this includes the offshore renewable catapult in Glasgow.

To protect the most vulnerable from the worst of cost-of-living pressures, the Chancellor announced a package of targeted support worth [£26bn], which includes continued support for rising energy bills. More than eight million households on means-tested benefits will receive a one-off payment of £900 in instalments, with £300 to pensioners and £150 for people on disability benefits.

The Energy Price Guarantee, which is protecting households throughout this winter by capping typical energy bills at £2,500, will continue to provide support from April 2023 with the cap rising to £3,000. With prices forecast to remain elevated throughout next year, this equates to an average of £500 support for households in 2023-24.

Working age benefits will rise by 10.1%, boosting the finances of millions of the poorest people in the UK, and the Triple Lock will be protected, meaning pensioners will also get an inflation-matching rise in the State Pension and the Pension Credit.

The National Living Wage will be increased by 9.7% to £10.42 an hour, giving a full-time worker in Scotland a pay rise of over £1,600 a year, benefitting 160,000 of the lowest paid workers.

The Scottish Government is receiving additional funding at the Autumn Statement for the current Spending Review period to 2024-25, but will be expected to live within these new budgets and support our mission of fiscal discipline.

To improve public finances, from 2025-26 onwards day to day spending will increase by 1% with capital spending held flat in cash terms. This means overall departmental and devolved administration budgets will continue to rise in real terms, although more slowly, increasing by 0.5% each year to 2027-28.

To raise further funds, the Chancellor has introduced tax rises of £25 billion by 2027-28. Based around the principle of fairness, all taxpayers will be asked to contribute but those with the broadest shoulders will be asked to contribute a greater share.

The threshold at which higher earners start to pay the 45p rate will be reduced from £150,000 to £125,140, while Income Tax, Inheritance Tax and National Insurance thresholds will be frozen for a further two years until April 2028.

The Dividend Allowance will be reduced from £2,000 to £1,000 next year, and £500 from April 2024 and the Annual Exempt Amount in capital gains tax will be reduce from £12,300 to £6,000 next year and then to £3,000 from April 2024.

The most profitable with the broadest shoulders will also be asked to bear more of the burden. The threshold for employer National Insurance contributions will be fixed until April 2028, but the Employment Allowance will continue protect 40% of businesses from paying any NICS at all.

In addition, the government is implementing the reforms developed by the OECD and agreed internationally to ensure multinational corporations pay their fair share of tax. And as confirmed last month, the main rate of Corporation Tax will increase to 25% from April 2023.

To ensure businesses making extraordinary profits as a result of high energy prices also pay their fair share, from 1 January 2023 the Energy Profits Levy on oil and gas companies will increase from 25% to 35%, with the levy remaining in place until the end of March 2028, and a new, temporary 45% levy will be introduced for electricity generators. Together these measures will raise over £55 billion from this year until 2027-28.

To ensure fiscal discipline while providing support for the most vulnerable, the Chancellor has introduced two new fiscal rules, that the UK’s national debt must fall as a share of GDP by the fifth year of a rolling five-year period, and that public sector borrowing in the same year must be below 3% of GDP.

Overall, the Autumn Statement improves public finances by [£55 billion] by 2027-28, and the OBR forecasts both of these rules to be met a year early in 2026-27.

 ‘They haven’t got a clue’: Edinburgh residents share experiences of the cost of living crisis

As spending cuts worsen, on Budget Day, Greenpeace volunteers hosted a screening of the new short film ‘The Cost of Living’.

This documentary, made by Greenpeace in partnership with the New Economics Foundation, tells the story of volunteers in food banks and community centres in the Rother Valley, Yorkshire. The film depicts how communities hard hit by the cost of living crisis are pulling together to support each other at this difficult time and how properly insulating homes can help tackle the cost of living and climate crises. 

On the eve of the autumn statement, the trailer for the film was projected onto Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s house in his Yorkshire constituency to encourage him to address the issues shown in the film. 

Greenpeace Edinburgh Local Group, as part of the Warm This Winter Coalition, is campaigning for the cost of living and climate crises to be solved by investing in renewable energy, properly insulating homes and providing people with the skills and training needed to deliver this green energy revolution.

Greenpeace is calling for at least £6 billion to be spent on implementing a national insulation and energy efficiency programme during this parliament. People living in poorly insulated homes will have to pay almost £1,000 more than others on their energy bills this winter. 

Data from the End Fuel Poverty Coalition shows that almost a quarter (24.5%) of UK households are currently experiencing fuel poverty. 

Around 20 people watched the documentary at the Grassmarket Community Project, one of more than 40 screenings taking place across the UK this winter. The screening was followed by a talk from Greenpeace speaker Issy, and a panel discussion with representatives from local organizations.

The panel was made up of Aditi Jehangir, chair of the Gorgie and Dalry branch of Living Rent, Stuart Bretherton, Energy for All Campaigner at Fuel Poverty Action and Louis Keal, an activist from Just Stop Oil.

After the panel discussion, members of the public were given advice on contacting their local MPs in Edinburgh, Ian Murray, Tommy Sheppard, Deirdre Brock, Joanna Cherry and Christine Jardine, to share how they are being affected by the sharp rise in energy and food prices. 

Louis argued that the solution to the crises lies in connecting with one another and ‘finding our people power in a way we never have before,’ while Stuart reiterated the words of one of the film’s interviewees, referring to the government’s understanding of how the crisis is affecting ordinary people: ‘they haven’t got a clue’.

Zoë, a volunteer from Newington, said: ‘The Cost of Living depicts towns in the Rother Valley, but the experience of people living in Edinburgh is very similar. We are facing enormous energy bills, and more and more people are relying on the community to help put food on their table and provide a warm refuge.

“Food banks and community centres are being stretched to the limit as winter approaches. It’s vital that our MPs know how much people are struggling at the moment, but that there are solutions to this problem.

“In this week’s Budget the Government seems to have finally realised that home insulation needs to be done, but not quite how urgently we need to do it. Home insulation will make our homes permanently warmer, and our bills permanently lower, as well as reducing our carbon emissions. 

“Almost a quarter of the country is in fuel poverty right now and we need an urgent insulation programme now to fix this. Ministers shouldn’t be waiting another three years to do what should have happened years ago.“

Recent polling conducted by Survation on behalf of Greenpeace shows that 68.8% of people in Scotland have had to make cuts to other spending due to rising energy bills, and 61.8% feel that their standard of living has got worse since the last general election. 83.6% of people in Scotland would support a government programme to install home insulation in their area.

A recent report by Cambridge Econometrics on behalf of Greenpeace UK, highlights how a government backed programme to insulate homes and install heat pumps could inject £6.8 billion into the economy every year and create almost 140,000 new jobs by 2030.

These green home upgrades could provide huge economic and social benefits – including to those on low incomes, older people and People of Colour, who tend to be most exposed to fuel poverty – while slashing bills and carbon emissions.

Day-to-day living spirals down for families with disabled children

As winter approaches, families with disabled or seriously ill children face dauntingly grave financial challenges, according to latest research findings.

In its latest poll, national charity Family Fund shows how prospects for the families it supports continue to worsen, as they grapple with the ever-rising cost of living for day-to-day needs. 

As the UK’s largest grant-making charity for families raising disabled and seriously ill children, on the lowest incomes, Family Fund provides essential goods and services to families including kitchen appliances, clothing, bedding, play and sensory equipment and much-needed family breaks.

Last year, it delivered over 170,919 grants and services, worth over £37 million, to families on low incomes across the UK.  

The charity’s Cost of Caring report, published last month for the first time, showed deteriorating conditions for families with disabled and seriously ill children. The report covered four quarterly polls in the year that followed the pandemic.

However, the latest quarterly poll, from September this year, shows an ever worsening picture, with families facing hunger and spiralling debts as they struggle to meet the needs of their children.

Families face a triple whammy of sky-high costs on top of severely reduced incomes, due to intense caring responsibilities and three-times-higher costs to look after a disabled child.

Over 70% of parents and carers report not being able to work at all, or as much as they want to, because of the care their children need, a post-pandemic reduction in support services for children, and parents being furloughed and living on reduced benefits.

Cheryl Ward, Family Fund’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “Our latest figures show that families with disabled and seriously ill children continue to face daunting financial challenges, which are worsening as winter approaches. 

“The majority of families who have been supported by Family Fund have shared with us how they are struggling to cover mounting debts and worry constantly about how they are going to clothe and feed their children, fund transport for medical appointments and heat their homes.  . 

“We are doing everything we can to support families whose costs are already three times higher to care for, and raise, their disabled children than costs for other children. We urge families who need support with urgent and essential items this winter to go to our website (Family Fund) to see if we can help them.”

Key findings from latest quarterly poll with UK families raising a disabled child or young person:

Impact on households:

  • average household income for families has fallen by over £660 in the last 12 months;
  • almost 60% of families (59%) report an increase in household bills of more than £100 a month;
  • 9 in ten families report they are struggling or falling behind on household bills (92%);
  • one in five families (21%) say their debt levels have risen by more than £1,000 in the last 12 months;
  • nearly 80 per cent of families (78%) have no savings to fall back on;
  • 75% of families say they would not be able to save £10 a month;
  • 58% have cut or skipped meals;
  • 40% have gone hungry because there was not enough money for food;
  • 48% are cutting back on energy;
  • over one third (35%) of families are cutting back on transport costs;
  • over one third (31%) of households said they have gone without carpets because they can’t afford them;
  • 11% have gone without a cooker or fridge;
  • 23% have gone without curtains;
  • 20% have gone without beds;
  • 27% have used a food bank;

Impact on disabled children:

  • 63% of families have cut back on play and recreational activities with their disabled child;
  • 31% are cutting back on toys or sensory toys for their disabled child;
  • 16% said they would like fresh fruit or vegetables every day for their disabled child;
  • 10 % said they would like a warm winter coat for their disabled child;
  • 76 % said their disabled child’s health and wellbeing had declined in some way over the last 12 months.

Greenpeace: Invitation to The Cost of Living documentary screening and panel discussion

Where:

Grassmarket Community Project

86 Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh EH1 2QA.

When:

Thursday 17th November 19:30 – 21:00

What:

Greenpeace Edinburgh will be hosting a town hall event at the Grassmarket Community Project focused on the cost of living and climate crises. As part of the event, we will be showing a screening of Greenpeace’s latest documentary, “The Cost Of Living”.

This short documentary tells the story of volunteers in food banks and community centres across Rother Valley in Yorkshire. Feeling neglected and left behind by the government and facing enormous energy bills, more and more people rely on their community to help put food on their table and provide a warm refuge.

Food banks, social cafes and community centres are being stretched to the limit as winter looms large. As the women of Rother Valley try to keep their communities afloat, the government’s inaction stands in stark contrast.

Both the cost of living and climate crises can be solved by investing in renewable energy, properly insulating homes and providing people with the skills and training needed to deliver this green energy revolution.

The screening of the approx. 10 minute documentary will be followed by a panel discussion, featuring representatives from organisations including Living Rent, Just Stop Oil, Fuel Poverty Action and Leith Community Crops in Pots. 

Get in touch:

greenpeace-edinburgh@live.co.uk

https://linktr.ee/greenpeace.edinburgh

Event Details:

Register on Eventbrite

https://greenwire.greenpeace.org.uk/s/event/a2X4H000000opddUAA/edinburgh-townhall-meeting-on-the-cost-of-living-and-climate-crisis?language=en_US

https://fb.me/e/dstTnhBlT

‘It’s Hard Work Being Poor’

A new report has found shocking evidence that women in Scotland are suffering increasing hardship, destitution, and food insecurity due to lack of support during the cost-of-living crisis.

In research conducted in partnership, the Poverty Alliance and the Scottish Women’s Budget Group (SWBG) found that women are experiencing increasing financial hardship and are at risk of falling into further debt as a consequence of the cost-of-living crisis. Women in low-paid work reported often missing out on social security support or cost-of-living payments, or free school meals, because they earn just above income thresholds.

The research was funded by abrdn Financial Fairness Trust and Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and included women from diverse backgrounds across Scotland. Women told researchers they are worried whether they will be able to afford their energy bills in winter and parents and carers are struggling to afford food and essential items like baby wipes, incontinence pads, and toilet roll.

The report contains 15 recommendations on how to better support women through this crisis and beyond. Key priorities include:

  • Ensuring adequate incomes for all through a “caring social security system”;
  • Investing in preventative public services and in support and advice services to help people manage debt;
  • Improving community amenities and services, ensuring that support provided is free from stigma;
  • For the UK government to uplift social security in line with inflation;
  • For the Scottish government to expand eligibility to sources of emergency support for women experiencing in-work hardship.

Download the report from here.

SWBG co-ordinator Sara Cowan said: “The costs crisis is affecting the vast majority of us, but this powerful research highlights again the unjust way that poverty especially affects women in our society.

“Women are more likely to be poor, have lower levels of savings and wealth, and are less able to find suitable work or increase their hours if they’re in work often due to caring responsibilities that fall disproportionately on women.

“The women in this research talked about the impossible decisions they had to make to prioritise feeding their children, and whether or not to turn the heating on. Or not being able to buy things like baby wipes, incontinence pads, or toilet roll.

“The Scottish and UK Governments can help by increasing and extending the emergency support available to people, and working to put justice and compassion at the heart of social security and our public services.”

Vivienne Jackson, Programme Manager at abrdn Financial Fairness Trust, said: “This important research shines a light on the real experiences of women in Scotland. It’s not right that people are struggling to afford to feed their families, or having to live in freezing cold houses because they can’t afford to put their heating on.

“We hope this research will add to the growing body of evidence that households need much more help from government during this crisis, and that we need to make financial fairness an urgent government priority.”

Fiona McHardy, Research and Information Manager at the Poverty Alliance, said: “This research shows that women are at risk of being pushed into destitution. The financial support that has been made available so far by both UK and Scottish Governments to help with the cost-of-living crisis is clearly not sufficient for many of the women in our study.

“It is vital that the UK Government increases the value of social security benefits in line with inflation. Any cut to UK benefits will led to unacceptable hardship for more women.

“In Scotland, we must find ways to expand eligibility for people who are in employment, are in need, but miss out on support. Too many women in Scotland are in urgent need of support – Scottish Ministers must leave no stone unturned in finding resources to support them during this crisis.”

SWBG_PA_Cost_of_Living_Report_FinalDownload

Women’s Realities (case studies)

The diary entries and interviews document women’s increasing desperation and despair as costs kept rising and incomes stayed where they are.

Stella

Stella, a Black lone-parent mother living with her children. Due to illness and subsequently losing employment, she had to apply for Universal Credit two years ago.

Even before the cost-of-living crisis, she noted how Universal Credit was an ‘insufficient means of livelihood even under normal circumstances as a single parent’. Now, due to increased utility bills, Stella supplements income with credit cards, which are accruing debt, and asking to ‘borrow money from family and…friends for financial help’. Stella was concerned about her energy bills, so now she only uses the washing machine once a week for her family.

Stella’s children were conscious of rising costs: ‘even as a child [her son] realises how much food bills have increased, and it impacts him greatly’. On top of the impact this is having for her child, she shared that she is having to consider ‘significant changes in [their household’s] diet’.

Stella was becoming increasingly socially isolated because of the high cost and unreliability of public transport. Consequently, she is unable to ‘attend church every Sunday. This impacts me spiritually and deprives me of much needed interaction and social isolation’.

Her September entries were mainly focused on how price rises were impacting every aspect of her family’s life. Food was costing over £20 more each shop, and when thinking about the future, she noted: ‘it will be too much and [she] will not be able to afford it’.

Stella wrote: “This cost-of-living crisis have brought untold pain and suffering on women especially single parents and children because of the way it impacts our lives on a daily basis. Not being able to afford the essentials of life can be very stressful and robs women of their dignity and self-worth.”

Sue

Sue is a white lone parent mother who has long-term health issues. She works part-time and recently stopped accessing Employment and Support Allowance by taking on a second low-income job.

To manage increased costs of living on her low income, Sue made a list of ideas including getting another part-time job, asking for more hours in her current employment, asking for a mortgage holiday, skipping meals and selling jewellery and things in the house. She wrote: “Sad one this for me, sold jewellery, mine and my gran’s wedding rings…but it is to help in a crisis that our household is facing and needs action fast so it had to be done”.

Idia

Idia, a lone mother, reflected on the challenges of being able to afford food and going hungry in almost all her diary entries. On the small amount she receives as an asylum seeker for her family, she wondered how she is expected to be able to buy food with costs rising week by week. She shared the damaging impacts on her mental health. She also shared: “the most frustrating part of the week for me was not being able to afford to get my kids snacks”.

“I spoke to my friend who told me she has been starving and only eats at night,” Idia said. “I have started doing that though it didn’t go well with me the first day, but I will get used to it.”

Sarah

Sarah is a parent and works full-time in a role providing advice and support to people in the community. In October, she was concerned about managing her existing debts and rising energy costs, particularly as she lives in an old house with poor insulation. She is no longer able to afford to go out places and see family or friends. Her interview highlighted the challenges for people in low-paid work during the crisis. She is not entitled to benefits or support with the cost of living.

Sarah said: “And I was thinking, ‘How can I… how can I keep my daughter, how can I keep warm? What if I have to go to work and then come home and freeze my ass off every night. And I was, I honestly got to the point where I was thinking, ‘What’s the point of living?’ You were going into shops, the prices were going up so much, and it was like, ‘Well I work so God damn hard, I get no help. I’m helping people get help, do you know what I mean? But yet I can’t access any help myself?’.”

Circle launches Sponsor the Difference winter campaign

Circle has launched their ‘Sponsor the Difference’ campaign to help families cope with the effects of the cost-of-living crisis and stay warm, fed, clothed and safe this winter.

Circle is a Scottish charity working at the heart of disadvantaged communities across central Scotland. These communities are impacted by persistent poverty, social injustice, and health inequalities, problems that have only been worsened as a result of the crisis. 

Families will be experiencing difficulties and hardship as the costs of energy, food, fuel, and the basic essentials of day-to-day living continue to increase. Circle have already seen an increase in accessing additional support for heating and food and this is only going to worsen over the winter months.

“It’s been a real pressure with rising prices. I reckon my food bill has gone up by a third. I’d like to batch cook and freeze things but that increases my electricity bill. It’s tight providing food for the family, I try to buy sensibly, using all the yellow labels but the prices mean there’s no scope for any unexpected bills like when the washing machine broke. I worry about the winter and how we’ll cope.”- Parent

The families Circle support desperately need material aid – food, clothing, and money for energy bills. They also need whole family support, that will give them the guidance, skills, and resources to cope with the emotional and psychological effects of the cost-of-living crisis.

Therefore, the charity has launched their winter campaign – Sponsor the Difference – to ask for donations to help children and families in desperate need cope with the cost-of-living crisis.

Families supported by Circle’s work were heavily involved in the creation of the campaign by providing examples of how they’ve been affected by the crisis and participating in case studies to share their experiences to raise awareness of the challenges they face and reminding others that they aren’t alone.

This is part of Circle’s participation strategy, to give children and families they work with the confidence and opportunity to have their voices heard and be listened to.

All donations will go towards purchasing energy cards, food vouchers and warm winter clothes for families to help them make it through one of the harshest winters they have ever faced.

The charity highlighted the issues facing many of their families across Challenge Poverty Week and are using the Winter Campaign to continue to spread awareness of the detrimental impact that the cost-of-living crisis is having on families across Scotland. 

Circle CEO, Mark Kennedy said “While Challenge Poverty Week did help to highlight the effects that poverty has on too many families across Scotland, we remain very conscious of the need to keep helping the families that do not have the means to afford the basic necessities of life.

“At Circle, we will remain focused on helping families to eat, keep warm, and ensure that children have what they need to attend school through one of the harshest winters they have ever faced.”

A £10 donation could cover the rise in gas and electricity bills for a family for one week, and they have many more examples of how a little from you could go a long way for a family.

Sponsor the Difference now by visiting:  

https://circle.scot/support-us/winter-campaign/

PAC: Ofgem failures “come at considerable cost to energy billpayers”

“Problems in the energy supply market were apparent in 2018 – years before the unprecedented spike in prices that sparked the current crisis, and Ofgem was too slow to act.“

In a report published today Westminster’s Public Accounts Committee calls on the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Ofgem to say how they will make “the energy retail market work in the best interests of customers during the transition to net zero” after finding that failures at the energy regulator have come “at a considerable cost to billpayers”.

Since July 2021, 29 energy suppliers have failed, affecting around 4 million households. Customers have been left to pay the £2.7 billion cost of supplier failures. This means an extra £94 per household, a cost that will very likely increase.

The Committee found that this was due to “Ofgem’s failure to effectively regulate the energy supplier market”. 

Ofgem “did not strike the right balance between promoting competition in the energy suppliers market and ensuring energy suppliers were financially resilient”. 

Despite problems with the financial resilience of energy retailers emerging in 2018 Ofgem did not tighten requirements for new suppliers until 2019, and for existing suppliers until 2021. By this point wholesale gas and electricity prices increased to unprecedented levels. 

The price cap “is providing only very limited protection to households from increases in the wholesale price of energy”, and Ofgem expects prices could “get significantly worse through 2023”. The Committee says BEIS and Ofgem should “review the costs and benefits of the price cap from a consumer’s perspective” to inform decisions about the future of energy price controls.

The position of vulnerable customers, who already pay higher energy prices, is “unacceptable”.  

Dame Meg Hillier MP, Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, said: “ “It is true that global factors caused the unprecedented gas and electricity prices that have caused so many energy supplier failures over the last year, at such terrible cost to households. But the fact remains that we have regulators to set the framework to shore us up for the bad times.  

“Problems in the energy supply market were apparent in 2018 – years before the unprecedented spike in prices that sparked the current crisis, and Ofgem was too slow to act.

“Households will pay dear, with the cost of bailouts added to record and rising bills. The PAC wants to see a plan, within six months, for how Government and Ofgem will put customers’ interests at the heart of a reformed energy market, driving the transition to Net Zero.”

Support for people living in Edinburgh to tackle energy bills and fuel poverty

There are now an estimated 860,000 fuel-poor households in Scotland following the latest increase in energy bills on 1 October

As more and more people across the country continue to worry about the cost of living, Zero Carbon Buildings Minister Patrick Harvie wants people living in Edinburgh to know that free impartial advice and financial support is available to help make home energy improvements.

Home Energy Scotland’s ‘Warmer Homes Scotland’ programme could provide funding of up to £5,000 to help support homeowners in Edinburgh to make their homes warmer, greener and more efficient to heat. This latest Scottish Government campaign aims to raise awareness of the support available to tackle energy bills and fuel poverty. 

Commenting on the launch of the Home Energy Scotland 2022/23 campaign, Zero Carbon Buildings Minister Patrick Harvie said: “Many people across the country including Edinburgh continue to worry about the cost of living crisis and the big rise in energy bills caused by surging gas prices.  

“Our latest estimates indicate that there are around 860,000 fuel-poor households in Scotland, of which 600,000 will experience extreme fuel poverty, following the latest increase in energy bills on 1 October. 

“We are making sure that anyone in Edinburgh worried about or struggling to pay their energy bills can get the right support and advice.  

“Our Home Energy Scotland service, delivered by the Energy Saving Trust, provides free and impartial advice, support and funding to help households in Scotland to better insulate their homes saving on energy costs while at the same time reducing their impact on the environment.  

“The Home Energy Scotland team are on hand to advise how our Warmer Homes Scotland programme could provide funding of up to £5,000 to help make your home warmer, greener and more efficient to heat.  

“A range of measures – big and small – to improve energy efficiency around your home are likely to be available, and I’d urge all households to find out more and get advice as soon as possible.”  

Local politicians to host Cost of Living events on Friday 18 November

On Friday 18 November @DeidreBrock & Ben MacPherson are hosting Cost of Living Help & Advice Events at @Leithcomcentre & @RoystonWardieCC.

As well as us & our teams, national & local organisations will be there to assist.

No appointment necessary.

Please spread the word.

#Leith

#Edinburgh

Cost of Living Crisis: £324 payment to hit bank accounts from today

Almost one in four families across the UK will receive £324 from the government this month as the latest Cost of Living Payments are sent out from today (8 November 2022).

Over 8 million households in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland who claimed qualifying means-tested benefits during the eligibility period will be automatically paid £324 this month, as part of £1,200 worth of direct help for households.

  • over 8 million benefit claimants to receive £324 this month as part of Cost of Living support
  • DWP claimants will receive their second Cost of Living payment by 23 November 2022, and eligible tax credit claimants, on no other means-tested benefits, will receive it between 23 and 30 November 2022
  • payments will automatically be made to everyone eligible, with no need for anyone to apply

The payments, starting today from the Department for Work and Pensions, are made directly into eligible recipients’ bank accounts, with no need for people to apply or do anything to receive it.

The payment reference on DWP recipients’ bank accounts will be their national insurance number, followed by “DWP COL”. For HMRC recipients the payment reference will be “HMRC COLS”.

Work and Pensions Secretary, Mel Stride said: “We understand that people are struggling and that is why we’ve consistently acted to ensure millions of low-income families are supported. We will continue to act with compassion as we navigate challenging global economic circumstances.

“As part of a wider £37 billion package of support, this latest £324 payment will help the most vulnerable people in our society who are worrying about their finances through the winter months.”

The UK government’s £1,200 support package contains £400 for energy bills that is being paid in monthly instalments to all domestic energy customers between now and March 2023. It also includes a £150 Council Tax rebate for 85% of all UK households and the previous £326 Cost of Living Payment made by DWP in July and by HMRC in September.

On top of this, nearly one in ten people received the £150 disability payment in September, and a £300 addition to Winter Fuel Payments will go to over eight million pensioner households over the winter.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt added: “Prices are rising across the world as we manage the aftershock of COVID-19 and Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. We recognise that families back home are struggling, which is why we’ve taken decisive action to hold down energy bills this winter, and provided hundreds of pounds of cash support for each vulnerable household.

“As part of that support, over 8 million vulnerable households – almost a quarter of families in the UK – will automatically receive a second cost of living payment worth £324 in their bank account from today.

“And while we can’t completely protect people from rising prices, my priority at the upcoming Autumn Statement will be to protect the poorest in society as we take the tough decisions necessary to fix our public finances.”

Those eligible to receive the second cost of living payment from today include people on:

  • Universal Credit
  • Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Income Support
  • Pension Credit

To be eligible, claimants must have been claiming and entitled to a payment between 26 August and 25 September 2022, with the exception of pensioner households, who may be able to have a new Pension Credit claim backdated.

They have until 18 December 2022 to submit a valid claim for Pension Credit, which could entitle them to the £324 Cost of Living payment. Anyone can check their eligibility for Pension Credit using the online calculator or by calling the freephone claim line, on: 0800 99 1234.

Even if you are not on a qualifying DWP benefit you may still be eligible for the £324 payment, as HMRC are also making payments to over a million people who receive Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit and no other eligible benefits. These will be paid between 23 and 30 November 2022 and customers do not need to contact the government or apply for the payment at any stage

The £324 payment and the overall £1,200 package come on top of wide-ranging government support with the cost of living this winter, including an extension to the Household Support Fund, which is providing an extra £421 million between October and March to help vulnerable people with the essentials.

As well as this, the Energy Price Guarantee is ensuring people across the country pay significantly less for their energy bills, with a typical household saving around £700 this winter.

Tenants urged to give their views in housing rent consultation

The City of Edinburgh Council is encouraging its housing tenants to take part in a housing rent consultation. This annual consultation helps influence how the Council spends the money it raises from rental income.

The cost-of-living crisis is also impacting on our costs to run housing services.  It is now more expensive to ensure our Council homes meet statutory energy efficiency standards and to build new affordable homes.

Over the next eight weeks we’re seeking tenants’ views on their priorities on how we spend the rent money we collect, what their views are on rent increases, and the financial challenges they face.

We recognise that this year will be particularly challenging for all residents with rising inflation, spiralling prices, and the wider cost-of-living crisis.

However, costs of providing landlord and housing services are increasing, and tenants previously told us they want us to invest in homes to make them more energy efficient and that they need more affordable homes. We have frozen rents for two years, now we need to know what tenants think about what we do next year.

The Scottish Government has recently announced that council rents will remain frozen across Scotland until at least March 2023.  At this stage it is unclear whether this will be extended beyond the spring.

Depending on the outcome of this we will consider options for a rent increase in 2023-24. However, any change in rents must take into consideration tenant’s views and input.

We would use any increase in rent to invest in homes to make them more energy efficient and help tenants save money, as well as improving the landlord service that we provide.

We are looking forward to hearing from our tenants on housing and how the Council can further support them through the cost-of-living crisis.

The consultation closes on 23 December 2022.

Make your voice heard by taking part in the consultation.

Councillor Jane Meagher, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “Tenants and their views are at the heart of our housing priorities and goals. With the current cost-of living-crisis and rising economic uncertainty, it is more important than ever that our tenants have a say in how the Council goes forward with housing.

“I hope that this year’s consultation will allow the Council an informative and insightful view into how tenants would like rental income spent.

“We want to make sure rents are affordable for tenants whilst also being able to sustainably invest in the standard and quality of council homes for the future.

“I would urge all council tenants to participate in the consultation and make their voices heard.”