Age UK Hull re-opens helpline amid rising energy bill worries
They had to close it due to been inundated with calls from pensioners worried over their energy bills
Age UK in Hull has re-opened its helpline today after a recent surge in calls from pensioners forced it to temporarily close for two months.
Today's Ofgem price cap increase will raise energy prices by an average of 15%, for pensioners and vulnerable people.
There are now fears the helpline service at Age UK Hull could be overwhelmed again, leaving many without support.
Andrew Haynes is the CEO of Age UK in Hull and East Yorkshire, he said:
"This yet again feels like another kick in the teeth for people, They're just being told that their energy bills are going to rise, on average, by 10%. We were already supporting people who were making difficult choices between heating their homes or buying food."
"In the last two or three months, we actually had to close our information and advice line waiting list because we had so many people needing call backs and time spent dealing with their inquiries," he explained. "We are opening it again for the first time in two months, but we fully expect that, very quickly, capacity will fill up."
Andrew has warned that many people may have to wait up to six to eight weeks for a response—a considerable delay for those in urgent need of help should phone calls go through the roof. Despite these challenges, he urged residents to reach out for support and guidance.
The charity has been in discussions with East Riding of Yorkshire Council to gain extra support.
Andrew added:
"Those seeking assistance can visit Age UK Hull’s website for more information on accessing financial aid or other resources. We are here to help, but we also need more support to meet the increasing demand."
With energy costs rising and more pensioners in financial distress, Age UK Hull is determined to support as many people as possible, despite the ongoing pressure on their services.