Cost of Living Crisis Briefing: November 2022

Citizens Advice North Lancashire released figures this week showing that the numbers of people coming to them with problems around utility bills has soared by over 850% on the same time last year. At the same time, the number of people seeking charitable help such as foodbank and fuel vouchers has also risen, by 566%. These figures reflect the numbers of residents who are finding the cost of living crisis hard to cope with.

"We are very worried about residents on the lowest incomes" says Helen Greatorex, CEO of Citizens Advice North Lancashire. "The numbers of people coming to us who are unable to heat their homes or afford food is extremely worrying and now that Winter is fast approaching sadly, we are expecting the situation to worsen."

 "It is absolutely critical that the Government commits to raising benefits by the rate of inflation, including raising the Local Housing Authority rate, next year" says Joanna Young, Head of Research and Campaigns at the charity. "We know that residents are struggling to get by if they have to rely on benefits to live and this is affecting health and wellbeing, especially where people are unwell, disabled or have young children in the household who are especially vulnerable to cold weather."

The charity spoke to a disabled client last week aged 64 who could not afford to repair his cooker, was relying on food bank food and had no heating because his benefits did not cover his costs due to rising bills. They also spoke to another client who was the parent of a five year old child who described herself as 'hungry all the time' and who could not afford to heat her home. The charity is also seeing a worrying spike in residents struggling to pay increasing rents, which are starting to go up due to the rise in interest rates.

"If you are struggling, please don't suffer in silence" says Helen Greatorex. "Contact us and we will do our very best to help, whether that's a hardship payment from the Council scheme, or a benefits check, help with debt or advice around housing, employment or finances. We know that things are very difficult for many people but there are things we can do to support you. The Citizens Advice website is also full of useful advice so take a look if you are worried."

Below you can find our November 2022 briefing, with details about the cost of living crisis, what's causing it, and how our service is responding.