Scots are unaware of help available for fuel poverty
MORE has to be done to publicise the financial help available to those struggling with rising fuel costs according to a national charity.
A Turn2us survey of 1,091 benefit claimants with an annual household income of £40,000 or less, showed one in three Scots have been forced to cut back on spending on food or skip meals to pay their energy bills.
The research, carried out to coincide with the launch of its third annual fuel poverty campaign, also found 43% would risk endangering their health and wellbeing by not using heating in their homes rather than checking what support is available.
The charity’s campaign, Mind the Gap, highlights free tools and information showing people how to check welfare benefits entitlement, search for grants and schemes to help with bills, get help to improve energy efficiency and check energy tariffs.
Only 40% of those asked said they were aware of grants and schemes offered by energy companies and as little as 6% said they would consider checking for support in the form of charitable grants.
Alison Taylor, director of Turn2us added many people are experiencing stress and ill health as they struggle with the growing gap between the costs of their bills and what they can afford to pay.
“Our research shows that more needs to be done to help raise awareness of the financial support and help available to manage energy bills,” she said.
“With our Mind the Gap campaign we have brought together a number of free Turn2us tools and information all in one place to help people in financial need maximise their income and manage their energy costs.”
The average annual shortfall between energy bills and what people can afford to pay has increased by almost £200 to £438 over the last 10 years and one in three people admit to having relied on the financial support of family and friends in the past.
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