UK: Millions can't afford heating as 'dangerous cold' looms - Guardian

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Guardian
8 Dec 2022 21:44
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7 million households have gone without at least one of the essentials since June, and 2.4 million low-income households have borrowed money or used credit to pay for their bills so far this year.

The End Fuel Poverty Coalition campaigns for energy-efficient homes in the UK. (@EndFuelPoverty)

The UK Health Security Agency issued a weather alert on Thursday warning vulnerable people to keep their homes warm as "dangerously cold" weather is arriving from the arctic.

The notice recommends people heat their homes to at least 18°C, wear several layers of thinner clothing, and have plenty of hot food and drinks to keep their body temperature at normal levels.

The government further announced that eligible people on the lowest incomes in over 300 postcode districts in Wales and England are set to receive a £25 Cold Weather Payment which will be paid only when the average temperature is 0°C or less for seven days in a row.

But according to the results of a survey conducted by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, "over 750,000 low-income households said they didn’t have enough money to provide warm clothes and heating for them and their families."

A fifth of all low-income households, which is approximately 2.5 million, are going without food and heating, the report adds. "This rises to over a quarter for those on the bottom 20% of incomes."

Surveying 4,251 people in the bottom 40% of incomes, the study revealed that 4.3 million low-income households reduced their spending on heating ahead of the cold snap.

Moreover, over 7 million households have gone without at least one of the essentials since June, and 2.4 million low-income households have borrowed money or used credit to pay for their bills so far this year.

"The government must see that families will not be able to get through the winter on the current levels of support," said JRF analyst, Rachelle Earwaker, as quoted by The Guardian.

"For hundreds of thousands of households it is not a choice between putting the heating on or not. Our research shows they cannot afford anything recommended to protect themselves from the effects of plummeting temperatures."

"We are still experiencing historically high inflation and the prices of essentials are still soaring. Energy bills, while capped, are still almost double what they were last winter. Housing shortages, rising rents and mortgage payments are overburdening budgets across the country."

"People are being forced to wager their financial health and whether they can afford more debt, against their wellbeing without sufficient heat, clothing or hot food."

A government spokesperson said, "Our priority will always be to support the most vulnerable. We recognise that people are struggling with rising prices, which is why we are protecting millions of those most in need with at least £1,200 of direct payments and providing households with £400 towards energy costs."

"Our immediate support also includes our energy price guarantee, saving around £900 for a typical household over winter and our household support fund is helping people with essential costs. Meanwhile, the chancellor recently announced a further extensive cost of living package, ensuring those most in need are supported next year as well as this," the spokesperson added, as quoted by The Guardian.

Whether a meager £25 Cold Weather Payment will make a difference or not, what is sure is that normal citizens are paying the price for the government taking part in the sanctioning of Russia, particularly in the form of galloping inflation and higher living costs, while the US treasury earns billions of extra dollars monthly due to higher fuel prices.

The Met Office has issued several weather warnings for rain, snow, wind, fog, and ice in parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and the east coast and southwest of England.