Monthly Archives: November 2014
West Midlands hit hard by fuel poverty
As the weather gets colder, recent studies show that about 15 to 20 percent of families in the West Midlands area live in fuel poverty, and thousands of elderly are struggling to keep their heating…
Christmas gifts being bought using debt and payday loans
Over 30 per cent of people will take on debt to buy Christmas presents for their friends and family, and of those, over 1 million will use high priced payday loans. Studies from Money Advice…
Merseyside now on Universal Credit
The new Universal Credit welfare scheme is now being rolled out across Merseyside to lone parents and couples with children. A large number of the Jobcentres will now be processing applications for this benefit. The…
Families living paycheque to paycheque on brink of benefits
Falling wages and increased expenses are leading to more people living on the brink of poverty and needing to turn to breadlines. Studies from the Deadline to the Breadline charity as well as private groups…
Majority of food bank usage is from people on benefits
The demand on food banks across the UK is coming coming from households on benefits. Studies should that over 80% of the individuals that us the centres receive some form of government assistance, but the…
British Gas expects £100 drop in annual dual fuel bill
Residential customers of British Gas got some good news from a recent news release. The energy giant expects the trend toward lower energy costs to continue, reflecting an average annual savings of some £100 on a…
Food thrown away while people are in poverty
The demand for food assistance across the UK is skyrocketing. The national Trussell Trust charity organisation has had over a 150% increase in the number of people and families requesting emergency parcels, and even with…
Free advice returns for Financial Planning Week
Financial Planning Week returns to the UK in late November. This event is becoming an annual treat to those who cannot afford to pay the customary £400 or more fee charged by most financial planners. Already…
Managed payments from Universal Credit to benefit landlords
Tenants that fall into rent arrears will now have more of their Universal Credit payment sent directly to the landlord. The extra support is part of managed payments and the Department for Work and Pensions…
Almost one million older people lack adequate heat for the winter
With the high cost of gas and electricity, combined with the weak economy and ongoing reduction in benefits, millions of older people struggle to stay warm. Research and studies from groups such as Age UK…