The local Footprint Trust has welcomed some elements of the recent Autumn Statement, including that energy cost support is to be targeted towards poorer households.
The energy bill for a typical average household will rise to £3,000 in April, from £2,500. The Trust points out those living in poorly insulated and maintained properties are already paying well above this average, and have been driven into fuel poverty. Those households who are off-gas, mainly in the south and west Wight will be amongst the worst hit.
However, the Trust has raised concerns that others will have a less generous amount, meaning thousands of Island households will still face higher bills. Island working people will suffer the sharpest downturn in living standards since 2013 as real pay falls.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt also announced additional cost-of-living payments for the most vulnerable. This amounts to £900 to households on means-tested benefits, £300 to pensioner households, and £150 for individuals on disability benefit.
Paul Savill of Citizens Advice IW has said:
“The country is facing the biggest drop in living standards since 2013. This will hit a large cross section of the public including middle income working families, along with those on very low incomes. This in turn will lead to budgeting issues and people making difficult choices between eating and heating.”
Ray Harrington-Vail, Senior Officer at the Footprint Trust, who is also a trustee of IW Community Action, said:
“Island charities and churches are at the frontline of the cost-of-living crisis helping those in most need. Our sector is providing warm spaces, essential food and meals, mental health services, and guidance on energy matters and benefits and other assistance available. It is disappointing that the chancellor did not mention any support for charities. Many organisations are under severe financial strain, facing soaring utility bills and declining income, but a massive rising demand for their services.”
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Those struggling with budgeting and debt should contact Citizens Advice IW on 08001 44 88 48, for energy help and guidance contact The Footprint Trust on 01983 822282.
The breeders who add more burdens for the state to fund are getting £900 help.
Yet they are the ones getting free or heavily subsidised rent and council tax as it is
They get free school meals and transportation, uniforms , trips DESPITE getting £20 a week for each child plus child tax credits AND working tax credits if ‘bothered’ to do 16 hours a week
Us not burdening others with clones get no help. No wonder the world flocks here now
yep – pays to sit on your backside and simply be a burden on the working and self sufficient. Mind you, with the amount of stupid hand wringing do gooders on these message boards that champion the couch potato payments, it comes as no surprise that the country is going down the swanny
Just waiting for our useless government, to fill up local hotels with economic!! Mi grunts.
The footprint trust, a charity that is asking for taxpayers money and counts councillor quigley of the isle of wight on its books.
it comes as no surprise that a labour councillor is on the books at a charity, trying to take money from taxpayers to sprinkle like confetti around the alleged poor and unfortunates, that are already getting every benefit and hand out under the sun.
So the three tier class we have had in the past will now become, those that have and those that have not. Even if you have saved all your life just 1p over the the limit you are not entitled to any assistance whatsoever. No wonder we are a country living off plastic with no incentives to save.
more like those that are dependent on the state and will do as they are told in exchange for their charity handouts and those that are not dependent on the state and expected to pay for the charity handouts