Government misses fuel poverty targets

[Kati]

More than 2 million households still can’t afford to heat their homes

More than two million households are living in fuel poverty despite Government targets set in 2000 to end it by this year, according to an investigation by BBC’s Panorama programme. This includes 1 in 10 pensioners who still can’t afford heat to heat their homes adequately.

This article (on the "Turn2Us" website) goes on to say that ONE IN TWO households are struggling to afford their energy costs despite being in work. With 48% of those having trouble for more than one year

As a result:
33% have been forced to skip meals
21% have experienced stress or mental related health issues
and;
39% are struggling to afford other essential bills too

According to National Energy Action (NEA) there at least 4.5 million UK households unable to adequately heat their homes and making difficult choices about how to keep themselves or families warm, pay fuel debt, whether to heat just one room in their homes or even going without heating or power all winter.

[CYNthesys]

Re: Government misses fuel poverty targets

I know first hand what its like, I went without heating for 3 years, my health suffered as a result

My home relied on oil for heating, the price of which reached sky high 2-3 years ago. Whereas utility companies often have schemes in place for consumers using gas/electricity there does not appear to be any similar scheme for consumers relying on oil for heating.

Existing on state pension I just could not afford to buy any oil, so I had no choice but do without, it was either keep a roof over my head eat or heat the home, yet when the MP's expenses scandal was at it height I noted that many of them were claiming thousands per year for oil used to heat their second homes.

[charitynjw]

Re: Government misses fuel poverty targets

I have a neighbour, a 'self-made' man who took pride in his achievements, & rightly so.
He had little time for anyone that didn't work hard & relied on the state. This was his work ethic, the way he had been brought up.
His crowning achievement was his son, a young man destined to go far.

Then one day the unimaginable happened; the son was involved in a terrible accident which has left him permanently disabled & reliant on 24hr care via the parents.

My neighbour is now a shadow of his former self; in his words, he is now just waiting to die - everything worthwhile has been ripped away, & living on benefits is certainly not the 'easy street' once envisaged.

IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE!!