Children’s health at risk as fuel bill crisis leaves 800,000 families in the cold
Most parents who cannot afford to heat their home this winter are not getting the help they need from energy suppliers.
The vast majority of parents who cannot afford to heat their home this winter are not getting the help they need from energy suppliers, warns Save the Children.
The government’s scheme for help with bills currently reaches just 3% of families at risk of fuel poverty, because energy companies have not committed enough funds this year. Research shows that growing up in cold, damp homes can slow children’s development, worsen long-term problems like asthma and lead to rises in hospital admission rates.
According to Save the Children, 800,000 of the poorest families qualify for a £120 discount on fuel bills under the Warm Homes Discount scheme, but a huge funding shortfall means only 25,000 families will get it. A poll commissioned by Save the Children shows many of the parents surveyed were considering choosing between paying for food or fuel this winter, with over half worried that their children’s health will suffer because their house is too cold.
Save the Children‘s “No Child Left in the Cold” campaign is calling on energy companies and the government to urgently fill this funding gap, so that all families eligible for the fuel discount get it. Companies also need to promote the scheme better to low income families.
Save the Children CEO Justin Forsyth said: “It’s unacceptable that 97% of the UK’s poorest families who need help heating their homes this winter will get nothing because energy companies have not put up nearly enough money. Without this help the choice for parents is stark: cut back on food, get into debt or risk their children’s health because they can't afford to keep them warm. The scheme urgently needs millions more from the energy companies, or the cost will be counted in children’s futures.”
Save the Children’s research revealed the extent to which high energy costs are putting pressure on some of Britain’s lowest income families (below £12,000 per year):
- Over half of the low income parents of children under 16 in the survey were worried that their children’s health will suffer because their house will be too cold this winter.
- Nearly a third of those polled said they won’t be able to afford their winter energy bills
- Almost half (45%) said they are considering cutting back on food in order to pay their energy bill this winter.
- Worryingly only 9% of parents on the lowest incomes in this survey said they had heard of, and were planning to apply for, the Warm Homes Discount.
Many of the poorest families already pay more for their energy because they cannot access the cheapest tariffs or pay by direct debit.
Save the Children is calling for:
- The ‘big six’ energy companies to ensure all families are eligible for Cold Weather Payments receive the Warm Home Discount. This would provide support to at least 800,000 of Britain’s poorest families.
- All energy companies to put plans in place to transfer all prepayment meter customers and all customers in debt on their bills onto the cheapest tariff so that no low-income family pays more than they have to.
- The government to support and invest in energy efficient measures as a way to reduce fuel poverty for low income families.
Ends
For further information, including interviews with case studies and spokespeople, please contact: Oliver Courtney on 0207 012 6469 or out of hours on 07831 650409.
Notes to editors:- Save the Children wants all families eligible for Cold Weather Payments to be paid the Warm Home Discount. Cold Weather payments are made to families on very low incomes (for example those in receipt of Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance) with either young children or children with a disability. These families are considered most at risk of fuel poverty and the effects of the living in a cold home. Other groups, such as older people on low incomes and disabled adults, can also get help through Cold Weather Payments. Cold Weather Payments of £25 are usually paid when there are seven days of continuously cold weather.
- Consumers can sign Save the Children petition calling on the CEOs of the biggest six energy companies to commit the money needed at www.savethechildren.org.uk/coldkids.
- Follow the No Child Cold Left in the Cold campaign on twitter #coldkids.
- The Marmot Review concluded that hospital admission rates, developmental status and asthmatic conditions were increased by growing up in cold damp homes. And more than one in four adolescents living in cold housing are at risk of multiple mental health problems compared to one in twenty adolescents who have always lived in warm housing.
- The average duel fuel bill currently stands at £1,345 (Source: Ofgem) with low income families often paying a lot more because they can’t access the best deals.
- 59% of parents polled are having to cut back elsewhere to afford their energy bills this winter, regardless of their income
- 55% of parents polled are worried about being into pushed into debt if they can’t afford their energy bill.
- For those in debt to their energy supplier many will find it difficult to switch. A fifth of families on the lowest incomes polled said they do not believe they can switch energy supplier. This may trap many on tariffs they cannot afford.
- All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. They are unweighted and provide a spread amongst household incomes. The total sample size was 1,016 parents of children under 16. 251 parents in the poll had a gross household income of below £12,000. Fieldwork was undertaken between 21st - 24th November 2011. The survey was carried out online.