Citizens Advice Liverpool is calling on the government to provide more support in light of the worsening cost of living crisis.
The charity, which provides expertise for citizens on issues from legal representation to debt and finances, has warned that without further government action people across the North West risk falling into severe hardship in order to cope with hiking energy prices.
They urge that the government supports its citizens in this time of crisis by increasing benefits in April in line with the current rate of inflation, and by offering further support so that more families will not be faced with the bleak decision between heating and eating in October, when the price cap is predicted to rise once more.
READ MORE: Cost of living: Everything that will cost more in 2022 and what will happen next
This comes after they saw a steep increase in calls to their service last month when they received well over 3,000 calls and saw the traffic on their website rise by almost a quarter of that of the previous month.
According to information provided to the ECHO, 19% of people In the North West are currently unable to afford energy bills, even when they take cost-cutting measures on other essentials.
Yet, the number is due to jump to 32% of people in the region on April 1 with the energy price cap hike, which will see the energy bill for the average household across the country rise by almost £700.
Heather Jessop, Chief Officer of Citizens Advice Liverpool said: “We’re seeing first hand that the budgets of people across the North West are being pushed to the brink.
“Current measures announced by the government don’t go far enough. Only 6% of people across the region think the energy rebate will make a significant difference to their ability to pay their energy bill from October. If the government doesn’t at least increase benefits to match the current rate of inflation, many more households will be pushed to crisis point.”
In January, the charity also recorded that 270,000 people had accessed its services across the country, breaking last November’s high of 265,000: the previous record number since before the pandemic.
The charity encourages anyone affected by the cost of living crisis to access their self-help services, or, for those living in Liverpool, to call the freephone 0808 278 7840 from 9 - 6 weekdays and 10 - 4 on Saturdays.
