AIBU TO WONDER HOW IN GOD'S NAME PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE INRESE IN ENERGY PRICES

[Diamondsareforever123]

OK this obviously won't affect those who are lucky enough to have money - but - how are those on low incomes/benefit, poor pensioners, etc. ever going to possibly be able to afford the energy price increases? Also the increases will have a knock-on price increase effect on everything we buy - food, clothes ...... I am concerned.

Yes, it is worrying, our fixed rate runs out in April, and if we go on to another fixed rate with the same supplier the cheapest tariff is another £100 a month on top of what we already pay.

Simple they won't

Yes I think it’s crazy to expect people who have had a pay freeze for 3/4 years to accept this. I work for DWP on UC public sector we have employees on UC we earn £27 pa our gas/electric has gone up from £110 to £260

@Theunamedcat so what will they do ? It’s crazy

People's standard of living will drop. More people will struggle. I suspect minimum wage and benefits will go up a little. There are schemes that energy companies can use to support people who are really struggling, listened to a piece on the radio saying that they are designed for minimal take up, you have to actually call the energy company and talk through your circumstances to find out if you qualify, little information on criteria is in the public demain.

In France the government are expecting the state-run energy company to absorb the majority of the impact. I hope that the electorate consider why the current government aren't prepared to strike a similar deal here and vote accordingly.

With rise in NI and inflation it really is going to be incredibly tough for many.

We’ve been fairly fortunate this time around, £101 for electric only and £45 for a heat pump for the water. However, we’ve decided to overpay into our British Gas account by £25 pcm and then when I get my work from home allowance quarterly (£84), I’m also going to overpay that. We’re hoping that by doing this, when they increase the cap again it will soften the blow a bit. Luckily, we can afford to do this but I appreciate that plenty of others can’t.

@wonderstuff

People's standard of living will drop. More people will struggle. I suspect minimum wage and benefits will go up a little. There are schemes that energy companies can use to support people who are really struggling, listened to a piece on the radio saying that they are designed for minimal take up, you have to actually call the energy company and talk through your circumstances to find out if you qualify, little information on criteria is in the public demain.

In France the government are expecting the state-run energy company to absorb the majority of the impact. I hope that the electorate consider why the current government aren't prepared to strike a similar deal here and vote accordingly.

With rise in NI and inflation it really is going to be incredibly tough for many.

Minimum wage will rise and UC will rise but the increase in minimum wage will basically wipe out any increase in UC for those working so won't be any better off as such

[quote Parsley1234]@Theunamedcat so what will they do ? It’s crazy[/quote]
It will definitely be case of heating or eating for thousands of people.

This govt have provided no help at all. This £200 direct debit you pay back over 5 years is useless.

God knows. I didn’t get a pay rise last year. If we get one this year it will be peanuts.
The government voted against abolishing the. 5% vat on fuel.
It’s totally fine though, they own shares in these companies so they will be quids in.
France have capped the increase and other countries are set to follow suit.
I predict a sudden push in the right wing press blaming greedy benefit scrounges/single mothers/pensioners/disabled etc etc etc.

I read that in Portugala windfall tax has been levied on energy companies, so there is no effect on the consumer. No price rises.

Meanwhile here, Shell have just announced huge profits. But nothing like a windfall tax here. I hope this government ultimately get what they deserve.

It will definitely be case of heating or eating for thousands of people.

That's exactly the choice, I've been doing that for years unfortunately due to my housing situation but it now means instead of doing it a couple of times every two weeks it's probably going to be at least 5/6 days per fortnightly payment

The Toroes and those who vote for them care not a jot, disabled so clearly a benefit scrounger I'm just lazy and feckless

It’s frightening. We have turned our heating off and are now limiting our hot water. Daily baths and showers are stopping. A daily bath was a big luxury for me - I’m disabled and it helps - but it’s stopping. Washing machine use is being cut to once a week. We don’t have a tumble dryer. We do have a dishwasher and I’m wondering about using that less. It makes you a bit lazy - it’s often full of just cups and glasses.

People who can’t afford it will either get into debt to pay, or will just have to choose heating vs eating as others have said - relying on wearing layers, hot water bottles, blankets etc and hoping it doesn’t affect their health.

YANBU

It's Rishis new scheme...

'Eat nowt to heat the house'

In November my boss quit. I had to take on her role as well as my own. For this I get £88 a month more (not exactly the 35K they saved from her wage is it?)
That’s how I’m going to afford it.

Now it had been my plan to say in March that I didn’t want the extra responsibility (I agreed to do the job until then) as it’s killing me. But now I can’t, I need the money.
FML.

Back to heat or eat.
I did it when Dd was little and it was fucking shit.

We should not have to live like this that is the entire point. Both dh and I work full time.
I absolutely should not have to tolerate this shit.
I didn’t vote for it.
I’ll say it again. You will get the ‘Let’s blame X lazy bastards, they shouldn’t live in a house with central heating/feed their children/own a pair of shoes/own a car/have a phone etc etc etc
When will people wake the fuck up.
This government have spent BILLIONS on their mates and giving tax payers money to their mates.
They do not give one fuck about anyone who has to actually work for a living.
If you have had the privilege of attending a private school which cost £23,500 PER YEAR per child plus over £1000 for a uniform, you have no idea, repeat no idea what it will mean to go out to work to earn a living.
The thought that some people will not be able to give their children a hot meal or bath them due to the sheer expense is incomprehensible to entitled (usually white middle class males) who are in power.
You may as well talk in Chinese for all the comprehension they will have.

@Gardeningcreature

We should not have to live like this that is the entire point. Both dh and I work full time. I absolutely should not have to tolerate this shit. I didn’t vote for it. I’ll say it again. You will get the ‘Let’s blame X lazy bastards, they shouldn’t live in a house with central heating/feed their children/own a pair of shoes/own a car/have a phone etc etc etc When will people wake the fuck up. This government have spent BILLIONS on their mates and giving tax payers money to their mates. They do not give one fuck about anyone who has to actually work for a living. If you have had the privilege of attending a private school which cost £23,500 PER YEAR per child plus over £1000 for a uniform, you have no idea, repeat no idea what it will mean to go out to work to earn a living. The thought that some people will not be able to give their children a hot meal or bath them due to the sheer expense is incomprehensible to entitled (usually white middle class males) who are in power. You may as well talk in Chinese for all the comprehension they will have.

Completely 100% agree. This govt have NO clue about real life. Never have never will.

God knows.
Ours has gone from 154 to 195 and in April will go up by nearly 60

I'm on the default tariff since my fixed term at 154 ended but they wanted over 300 for another fixed term so I decided to leave it. Now it's going to be nearly that anyway and possibly ride again in October. I am debating whether to fix or not

It's a shit show and the government 200 pound scheme is a joke. How about putting wages up and taxes big corporations properly and not lining their own back pockets. Yet people vote them in time and time again cos "I'm alright, Jack".

I dread it. My heating has barely been on since xmas and only when dc are in the house. I'm going to end up sitting in the dark in the cold at this rate.

Yes well thanks for your responses. I think it's going to be truly hideous. I'm on state pension and have another tiny pension - but it takes me just over the limit to qualify for ANY benefits. I am worried about food and being cold. But there are others worse off. I despair for people on low incomes with kids. I had a pretty poverty stricken childhood and can remember my Mum not having any heating on so she could feed us. I never thought those days would come again, but they have. I mean what are we going to do?

I think realistically people are going have lot debt on their accounts we need least scheme where you can hold certain level
Of debt and pay it back as and when not automatically go straight on a key meter. People can’t be putting £800 on a credit card and getting further into debt.

It’s not going make sense when plunge millions into more poverty or mean the cold and lack of proper meals will knock on health. The affect on the nhs, mental health services and schools, police and prison service with increase petty theft as people try and cope . Probable cost 3 times as much in long term as giving a cash payment not a loan.

@Gardeningcreature

We should not have to live like this that is the entire point. Both dh and I work full time. I absolutely should not have to tolerate this shit. I didn’t vote for it. I’ll say it again. You will get the ‘Let’s blame X lazy bastards, they shouldn’t live in a house with central heating/feed their children/own a pair of shoes/own a car/have a phone etc etc etc When will people wake the fuck up. This government have spent BILLIONS on their mates and giving tax payers money to their mates. They do not give one fuck about anyone who has to actually work for a living. If you have had the privilege of attending a private school which cost £23,500 PER YEAR per child plus over £1000 for a uniform, you have no idea, repeat no idea what it will mean to go out to work to earn a living. The thought that some people will not be able to give their children a hot meal or bath them due to the sheer expense is incomprehensible to entitled (usually white middle class males) who are in power. You may as well talk in Chinese for all the comprehension they will have.

Round of applause for this. Spot on.

Just to add. We should have a windfall tax without a doubt. This government have lined their and their pal's pockets for years. The money they chucked to their mates during Covid is a joke. Sunak's family are richer than the Queen. I honestly feel I am in an alternate reality, like a bad sci-fi film. I'm not sure people in this country can stand a lot more of this. Something has got to give.