'Food banks have become a normality': Essex food bank on household bills increase
From April 1 household bills rise dramatically and Colchester foodbank warn it will leave "many" going hungry
With people in Essex waking up on day two of what's now known as "awful April", an Essex food bank is warning of the impacts these rising household bills are going to have on people already struggling.
Coinciding with the new financial year, there will be higher bills for:
• Energy
• Broadband, mobile phone and TV licence
• Car tax
• Water
• Stealth taxes
• Stamp duty
• Council tax
The average water bill for Essex and Suffolk Water customers will increase by around £32 per year, or 61p per week.
Energy bills are also increasing by 6.4%, meaning the energy price cap will increase to £1,849 per year for those on a standard variable tariff and paying by Direct Debit.
Essex county council are raising council tax by a total of 3.75%, comprising a 1.75% general increase and a 2% increase in the adult social care precept.
With the raised tax, the council plans to allocate more money to road maintenance and pothole repairs, with an increase of £65m budgeted for the next year compared to £25m previously.
It is causing concern for people across the region.
Charelle Winskill, 28, from Chelmsford is a single mother of two boys aged seven and five.
She tells Greatest Hits Radio she already goes hungry sometimes so her children have a "snack" at night.
Now with her household bills increasing, she says "it's going to be a hell of a lot worse".
She said getting through one pay day to the next is already difficult: "We're living in survival mode, I feel like I'm begging for handouts."
Essex County Council says support is going to be made available for households who really need it.
"There is a range of support available for household bills including the Household Support Fund, low cost broadband, community supermarkets and food banks" the council writes on their website.
The director of Colchester Food bank, Nikki Ranson, tells Greatest Hits Radio "food banks are becoming a normality."
The foodbank has ten satellite hubs across the county.
Nikki is encouraging people to reach out for help and visit if they need support.
She tells us it can often be very difficult for people to "get over the shame" of visiting a food bank but adds they are seeing more and more people they "don't expect to see".
"Food has become a luxury. It's not become a necessity because the government is rising bills and cutting benefits in a way that is driving people into deeper poverty than they're already in."
"Benefits aren't increasing in line with household bills. People that were just managing aren't going to manage now. It's going to have a dreadful knock-on effect for a lot of people.
If you're struggling to pay your water bill in Essex, Essex and Suffolk Water offers various financial support schemes, including low-income discounts and the WaterSure scheme, which can help cap your bill.
Households with more than 1 dependent child, or larger occupancies, may be eligible for additional income allowance.
Water Sure - A bill cap scheme for customers who have a water meter, claim an income-based benefit, claim Universal Credit and need to use extra water because they have a medical condition or three or more children.
Citizens advice have released information of how to get help if someone is struggling with their energy bills. That can be found here.
Stamp duty, broadband, mobile phone, TV licence and car tax are some of the other bills going up from April 1.