Warm home discount: Demands Boris double perk – energy crisis risks crippling pensioners
Energy crisis: Martin Lewis says there are no cheap deals left
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With the cost of energy rising, many Britons have been pushed onto tariffs more expensive than they originally signed up to. A number of energy companies have collapsed in recent weeks, forcing households to be transferred to new suppliers.
Yesterday three more firms collapsed, taking the total for September to nine and affecting up to two million customers.
There are fears the crisis will get worse in the weeks to come with many more households impacted.
Consumers who are moved to a new energy firm after their supplier goes out of business stand to pay almost £30 a month more, Citizens Advice has found.
The energy watchdog warns people will face “desperate choices” this winter after finding that customers of the five largest failed suppliers are set to pay £6.70 more a week when moved on to the default tariffs of a replacement firm.
In light of the concerns, the Liberal Democrats are urging the Warm Home Discount, which gives people £140 off their electricity bill, to be doubled for this winter.
The discount is available for those on pension credit as well as some people on low incomes.
Mr Davey, who severed as Energy Secretary in the coalition government, told Express.co.uk: “No-one in Britain should have to choose between heating and eating this winter.
“The Conservatives are pushing vulnerable people into a cost of living crisis, with a double whammy of soaring bills and rising food prices.
“The Prime Minister should double and extend the Warm Home Discount to give help to those who really need it.
“We simply cannot allow those who are already struggling to bear the brunt of this Government’s terrible mistakes.”
Approximately 1.2 million pensioners would benefit from the uplift.
The energy price cap is due to rise by £139 for people on default tariffs and £153 for people on pre-payment meters from tomorrow, hiking up costs.
A survey from Citizens Advice found 35 percent of people are worried they will struggle to pay their energy bills this winter, rising to 45 percent of those earning less than £21,000 per year.
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Today, the Government launched a new £500million winter hardship fund to help support vulnerable households in the coming months.
The new Household Support Fund will support millions of households and will be distributed by councils.
As well as utility bills, the fund can be used to help with food and clothing.
“Our targeted Household Support Fund is here to help those vulnerable households with essential costs as we push through the last stages of our recovery from the pandemic,” said Work and Pensions Secretary Thérèse Coffey.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak added: “Everyone should be able to afford the essentials, and we are committed to ensuring that is the case.
“Our new Household Support Fund will provide a lifeline for those at risk of struggling to keep up with their bills over the winter, adding to the support the government is already providing to help people with the cost of living.”
Critics have warned the extra funding does not go far enough to address the problem.
Labour’s shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Reynolds described the Household Support Fund as a “sticking plaster”.
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