Council tenants 'too scared' to ask for help as cost of living crisis continues
London councils have been meeting with residents
People living in Islington have told their local authority, they feel intimidated, nervous and anxious when asking for help and applying for it.
At a meeting to discuss the cost of living crisis, another resident said she feels judged for asking for help and is treated as though it's shameful to ask.
One mother broke down during the council meeting because of the fear of seeking support.
Following the appointment of Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister, another resident said:
"I don't know what to expect, I can only hope that, considering he has a background in finance and how far he's come to get to this point, that there will be change."
Council meetings provide the chance to "voice concerns" and get advice
Residents, charities, and council officials attended yesterday's council meeting in Islington.
This was an opportunity for people in London to 'air their concerns' and find out what support is available.
Age UK islington also joined the meeting. They are a charity supporting residents above the age of 16.
People were informed about the grants available to them.
Residents called for more support with grant applications and advice. One crowd member said: "People don't know what's out there, they don't know the language.
"You need to sit with them and say, this is what you can claim".
Residents were given advice and warned to be aware of fraudsters looking to take advantage of anxieties related to the cost of living crisis.
People aged 60+ are going back to work due to the cost of living
One resident at the meeting said that vouchers are her only form of income.
Another resident said that when she goes shopping, people buy all the cheap products so she has to resort to the more expensive items.
A panel member at the Islington council meeting said that some people aged 60+ are going back to work because they can't survive on just the benefits.
Other women weren't getting vouchers for milk and so they couldn't afford to feed their baby.
Many people have to choose between food and heating and several people have lost their jobs.
Council members and charities listened and took the initiative to take the contact details of residents who raised serious concerns.
More on the cost of living:
Interest rates and inflation go up
Inflation rose by 8.8% in the 12 months to January 2023, down from 9.2% in December 2022. With interest rates also rising to 4%, those saving money will earn more interest on their finances, whilst those paying mortgages would pay more interest to the bank.
Energy bills
The price of energy went up incredibly as the cost of living crisis hit, with the gas price spike caused largely by the war in Ukraine. The price cap - which is set by an independent regulator to help offset costs onto customers - was set to rise to £3,549 for an average home in October but a price freeze from the government restricted the typical bill to £2,500. That's still an increase of 27% from the previous energy cap and as it's a cap on unit cost, the more energy you use the higher your bill will be.
Food prices
The cost of a weekly shop also has gone up as a result of the cost of living crisis. As a result of the war in Ukraine, a number of products including cooking oils and wheat have been disrupted. This means that several products are now considerably more expensive, driving bills up for customers.
Prices at the pumps
The average cost of petrol has also rose to unprecedented levels. Supply lines for petrol have been thrown into doubt as a result of the war in Ukraine, as Russia is a large export partner for gas, oil and fuel. In April 2022, the average price for a litre of petrol on the forecourt was 160.2p, whilst a litre of diesel would cost 170.5p. By late June 2022 the price had risen to an average of 190.9p for a litre of unleaded and 198.9p for a litre of diesel. In March 2023 the price wass on average of 147.03 in petrol and 167.04 in diesel.
Average cost of filling up a car with petrol hits £100
On 9th June 2022, the average cost of filling up a car with petrol hit £100 for the first time ever. Diesel had already hit that milestone. It comes as the cost of fuel hit a record high of one pound eighty a litre. The 2p rise was the biggest daily jump in 17 years. Prices have dropped by at least 20p per litre since the high point.