Heat or Eat. Single Parents’ Responses, What The Government Are Doing And Some Simple Energy Saving Tips.
There is a real fear and panic for single parents around the energy prices going up. The cost is going up over 50% by 1st April. For the average household that is £693 per year, a 54% increase.
Gas and electricity up for the average family by £686, fuel up by £314, the average weekly shop by £85, Universal Credit cut by £1,040, National Insurance up by £150 and frozen tax allowances will cost another £300, that's £2,875 in a area where the median salary is £27,000. In reality most single parents will not have an income of this amount but less. This doesn’t include the annual increase to our broadband and mobile phone bills and mortgages and rent. We must also remember that council tax will be increased this year.
Food prices are also rising, and an increase in National Insurance in April will leave millions of working people facing higher tax bills.
This will particularly have an effect on single parents. The media term being used by the media “heat or eat” is echoing in the minds of single parent households around the UK.
Lots of single parents have already taken a financial hit with having £20 per week being taken away from Universal Credits, plus the hardship of unpaid child maintenance. The news about the energy will have a direct impact on single parent households across the UK. Hear our members’ responses, what the Government is doing and some simple energy saving tips you can do today.
“As a working single mum who doesn’t qualify for any benefits I’m really worried. I’m in no man’s land. I can’t work extra hours as the cost of childcare isn’t worth it and I have no family near to help with childcare. Should a parent have to work 7 days a week just to provide the essentials to a child? Already feel guilty for working and I’m the only parent. Her childminder spends more time with my daughter than I do! I don’t think giving out extra money in benefits is going to help either, such as grants. The government needs to intervene (do a cap) and stop lining the pockets of the companies! That way we all get a better price for the fuel.”
“Already struggling to heat, feed and keep my daughter in clothing as the CMS is still chasing the parent almost 5 years down the line with not a penny provided. Think that the food-banks will be hit harder than ever.”
SPW Members
The new cap will allow suppliers to charge a maximum of £1971 per year meaning energy bills for the average household will increase by £693. The price cap will come into effect from the 1st April. Although according to this single parents energy prices have gone up already:
“Mine has doubled already and is crippling me already. If it goes up anymore I won't be able to afford everything, something will have to give. Currently waiting on my DBS and I will be able to get back into work but even then by the time I pay out on childcare I won't be much better off”
SPW Member
Traditionally we would shop round for a better deal however doing this could leave you hundred of pounds out of pocket.
Entering into a ‘fixed amount contract’ now could protect you from further energy increase however that comes with a high price. The average fixed deal costs £2492 over the year according to Uswitch. This is more than the price cap for the variable tariffs which is updated every 6 months.
These single parents are already trying to save energy -
“I’m working from home and already trying to layer up and use other ways of keeping warm because I dread the bill if I put heating on all day.”
“Working from home and not being able to afford the heating costs. It’s depressing.”
“I’m occasionally working from home and I’ll later up and use a hot water bottle instead of using the heating. Been doing this for the last 2 years. Working and being so cold isn’t good for our health or our minds to be working in.”
A lot of single parents have to budget, this one single parent is budgeting down to the bare essentials:
“I am putting a lot more money for heating as the cost is now significantly high. Also, mine is a PAYG meter so I see/feel the pinch everyday. I know the downside and health implications of cutting cost with this so I am avoiding that by cutting my budget down to bare essentials this year.”
What are the UK and Welsh Government plans to support people struggling with the fuel increase?
Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced yesterday that a council tax rebate today of £150 in council tax bands A and D will be received in April this year.
He also announced that in October all domestic electricity customers will receive a £200 ‘discount’ on their bills. People will then have 5 years to repay that ‘discount’ in equal instalments of £40 a year. Which isn’t a discount, it’s a loan.
The Welsh government have pledged to help people with low incomes. Labour Welsh ministers say they want to target the extra money to "those who need it most".
As part of the Welsh Government’s bespoke Household Support Fund. The £100 one-off payment, which was launched in December, is now being extended to support eligible households with rising energy bills and costs.
Welsh Government also are addressing fuel poverty with a plan to support people struggling to meet the cost of their domestic energy needs. However, this is a plan that spans 2021-2035.
The Fuel Poverty Plan aims by 2035:
No households are estimated to be living in severe or persistent fuel poverty
Not more than 5% of households are estimated to be living in fuel poverty
The number of all households “at risk” of falling into fuel poverty will be more than halved
You can read the full report HERE.
Energy Saving Tips
Some of these you can do straight away and it will also have a positive effect on the environment.
Switch off instead of leaving on standby
Draught-proof gaps
Turn off the lights
Wash at 30 degrees, and avoid half loads of washing
Avoid using the tumble dryer, operate with an electronic humidity control
Take a 4-minute shower or swap one bath a week
Don't overfill the kettle
Reduce your dishwasher time, make sure it’s full when you do use it
Connect the dishwasher to the cold water supply
Don’t leave your tap dripping or water running
Use energy efficient light bulbs
Control the thermostat
Look into schemes around getting a new boiler such as Nest
Check your roof insulation
Make sure your tap and radiator temperature on your boiler are set to around 40/50 degrees C, instead of the standard 80 degrees C
Turn your refrigerator down
Use fewer bulbs with higher wattages.
Switch to energy saving light bulbs
Being aware that most people use most energy between 6pm - 8pm and seeing how you can reduce this at this time.
If you’ve tried to save energy by limiting your usage but you are struggling to pay your bill, you should contact your supplier and see if they can help. You may be able to negotiate a payment plan if your energy bills are becoming too much for your budget.
There is also lots of information and advice around debt and money on our resources page HERE.