Revelation: Significant Number of British Citizens Falling Behind on Energy Bill Payments, According to a Report
In a recent survey conducted by the Money Advice Trust, it was revealed that an estimated 5.5 million UK adults are behind on their energy bills in April 2023, a concerning increase from previous years. This figure represents a 2.1 million jump compared to March 2022.
The survey, based on data from an Opinium survey of 2,000 UK adults and comparison with previous polling carried out throughout 2022, also suggests that millions more households were struggling with their energy costs.
Support from energy suppliers, which is crucial for repaying energy arrears, is reportedly difficult to access. In response to these findings, several organisations, including the Money Advice Trust, have written to the government calling for a 'Help To Repay' repayment-matching scheme.
Joanna Elson, Chief Executive of the Money Advice Trust, is advocating for an Essentials Guarantee to link the rate of Universal Credit to cover the cost of essential goods like food and energy. She is also urging for urgent reform of government debt collection practices to ensure safe routes out of debt, with affordable and fair repayment options available to all.
The new analysis from the TaxPayers' Alliance has found that council tax bills have skyrocketed since the levy began, causing more of a financial burden on people across the UK. Around 2.2 million people on low incomes have had money deducted from their benefits to repay debts, with more than one in four (27%) saying they have fallen behind on other bills as a direct result.
A fifth of people in receipt of means-tested benefits have gone without food in the last three months. Compared to the general population, the proportion of people turning to food banks due to rising costs almost doubles to one in ten among people from a black African or Caribbean background.
The Money Advice Trust is calling for a dedicated government 'Help To Repay' scheme for energy arrears, to provide repayment matching and the option to write off energy debts for people dealing with unaffordable arrears. However, as of the current search results, there are no publicly available recent figures or explicit government requests for measures to introduce a "Help To Repay" scheme specifically for energy theft.
The survey findings come at a time when the cost of living is a major concern for many UK households. With energy prices expected to continue rising, it is crucial that effective solutions are found to support those most in need.
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