Tag: Household Support

Cheaper biscuits, free bus rides, but nothing on energy bills

The Chancellor has set out a package of cost-of-living measures, including free bus travel for children in England during August and cuts to import tariffs on more than 100 food products, expected to save consumers around £150 million a year.

But the announcement contained nothing on energy bills, as Rachel Reeves sought to reassure households by comparing July’s expected bills to April last year, obscuring the fact that forecasts point to a £209 rise on current bills and that gas unit rates are set to climb 25% on current prices.

A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, commented:

“The Chancellor’s complacency on energy bills is shocking.

“Ministers say they are waiting until they finalise winter support. But that ignores the majority of households who pay on direct debit and could see energy firms increase their payments to take into account of likely higher costs this winter.

“Keeping people waiting for help will also be too late for households already in debt and dreading the next bill or people who rely on energy for medical or disability needs.

“The Government must confirm what energy support will be available now, including for those in energy debt, and those not covered by the price cap, such as households relying on heating oil and those on heat networks.

“The Chancellor also appears not to have set out a long-term plan to cut bills, such as breaking the link between electricity prices and volatile gas markets, or accelerating the shift to homegrown renewables.”

Households can’t afford a Government distracted

While Westminster descends into political chaos, marked by the resignation of the English Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Ofgem will confirm an expected rise in energy bills in less than two weeks.

In a letter sent to the current Prime Minister earlier this week, charities outlined four policies that must be in place by the time regulators announce the new price cap.

The signatories called for enhanced financial support for households this winter, including an improved Warm Home Discount and action on energy debt; completion of the break between electricity prices and volatile gas markets; expanded support for solar, heat pumps, insulation and electric vehicles, particularly for lower-income households; and a commitment to staying the course on clean power.

The letter also set out plans for introducing a Warm Homes Guarantee to ensure lower bills, provide independent advice, establish clear consumer rights, offer fast redress if energy efficiency installations go wrong and include protections for renters.

Recent polling for the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit found that the cost of living was the top driver of voting intention overall and energy bills were the single biggest cost-of-living concern among voters in the recent elections.

Simon Francis, Coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said:

“Whatever happens in Westminster, the energy bills crisis will not wait, and neither can the households depending on the Government to act.

“In less than two weeks, households will learn how much their energy bills will increase. Ministers must set aside the power struggle and stay focussed on the day job.

“Before the end of the month, the Government must be ready with a package of support for vulnerable households and those in energy debt now, while urgently reforming electricity prices to bring down costs for everyone. Every day of distraction jeopardises any progress that has been made in developing such support and means households may not get the help they need.

“Longer term, Ministers must make sure that more households, especially those on lower incomes, can make the switch to clean electricity and feel the savings in their bills. That means breaking the link between electricity and gas prices for good, and rapidly expanding support for solar panels, heat pumps, insulation and electric vehicles. These reforms also require political drive to make sure they happen as soon as possible.”

Public demands Government help to end exposure to energy price shocks

British households want to break free from the cycle of fossil fuel price shocks for good, with new polling showing that the ongoing conflict with Iran has prompted more than a third of adults to increase their interest in new technologies to cut their bills and reduce their exposure to volatile global markets.

Research by Survation for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition finds that 35% of the public have become more interested in home energy technology since the Iran conflict began. Of these people, 45% are now more interested in getting solar panels on their roofs, 36% would like more home insulation, 35% are more interested in the new plug in solar option and 26% are now more interested in getting a heat pump.

But with 60% saying such options are simply too expensive, the public is calling on the Government to act, with 71% wanting grants for insulation and 68% seeking support for solar panels and heat pumps.

With 83% of the public worried about energy bills and 44% saying they would be unable to afford the expected £228 annual increase in energy bills from 1 July, 73% want to see targeted support for households and 67% want to see help for all households with energy bills.

Heating Oil and LPG customers have already seen the cost of energy increase and as price rises loom for even more households from 1 July, a majority of the public (64%) believe that the energy industry is profiteering from the conflict in Iran and a majority say that ending the Windfall Tax now would be the wrong thing to do.

Simon Francis, End Fuel Poverty Coalition coordinator said:

“The public has had enough of history repeating itself. They want to protect themselves from oil and gas price shocks for good, and the Government has both the means and the mandate to help them do it.

“Energy firms made £125bn in profits on their UK operations over the last five years and companies like BP are already expecting bumper profits from the fresh crisis. The Windfall Tax revenue raised by the Treasury should be going further to help households cut their bills for good.

“The Government’s Warm Homes Plan is the right vehicle, but now is the moment to make it even more ambitious and to ensure it comes with a guarantee that every upgraded home will see energy efficiency improve and bills come down.”

Three-quarters of the public (76%) hold Donald Trump responsible for energy bill increases set to hit UK households, while 65% also blame the energy industry directly. The anger runs deep enough that 63% of respondents agree the increases amount to a Trump Tax on their bills.

Robert Palmer, Deputy Director of Uplift, added:

“People know they’re being hit with a Trump Tax, plain and simple. We’re facing higher energy bills, rocketing fuel prices and more expensive mortgages.

“Our dependence on fossil fuels is making all of us poorer. All except for the oil and gas bosses and their shareholders who – once again – are set to cash in at our expense.

“Now Trump is demanding that the UK doubles down on drilling. But we can’t drill our way out of this crisis. More drilling won’t take a penny off our bills, and would have no meaningful impact on the UK’s supply of gas. We’ve burned most of what was in the North Sea already.

“The only way to insulate ourselves from these risks is to press on with renewables, like wind, and upgrade our homes with solar power and heat pumps, so we can free ourselves from oil and gas and ensure we have a liveable planet. And this polling shows the public gets this, even if Donald Trump doesn’t.

“The Government needs to help people who want to upgrade their homes and have more control of their energy bills, as well as billpayers who are going to struggle.

“This is a Trump Tax, plain and simple. It’s likely to be a painful economic hit to the UK with higher energy bills, rocketing food prices and more expensive mortgages.”

ENDS

Survation were commissioned by the End Fuel Poverty Coalition to interview 2,047 people from 2-7 April 2026. Data were weighted to the profile of the UK. Data was weighted by respondent’s sex, age, region, household income, highest qualification, and past vote (GE24, EU16).

Research tables can be downloaded here.

Iran conflict to cost the typical households £480 each

Rising energy costs triggered by the conflict in Iran are set to leave typical British households nearly £500 worse off this year, according to new analysis from the Resolution Foundation.

The thinktank calculates that the median working-age household, previously on track for modest income growth of 0.9%, could now see income fall by 0.6%, a swing worth around £480. Lower-income households will still see some benefit from the abolition of the two-child limit and above-inflation increases in Universal Credit, but the foundation estimates average income growth for the poorest fifth has been cut from 2.8% to just 1.2% as a result of the conflict.

The Foundation is urging ministers to accelerate work on a social tariff, a targeted support mechanism for lower-income energy users estimated and has the backing of former Conservative chancellor Jeremy Hunt, who estimated it would cost between £5bn and £10bn, but would sit within the Government’s fiscal rules. A Hunt-linked consultancy has previously estimated the Windfall Tax on energy firms could be generating excess revenue for the Treasury.

Meanwhile, Energy UK chief executive Dhara Vyas confirmed to media that a bill rise from 1 July is now inevitable, describing the market as “wildly unpredictable” given daily swings in global gas prices. She backed targeted support and called for accelerated investment in clean power as the only sustainable long-term answer to energy price volatility.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition commented:

“There is broad agreement that targeted support for struggling households is needed while clean power and improved energy efficiency is the long-term solution.

“New polling makes clear that the public understands the urgency of the here and now. Over four in ten people say they simply cannot afford the expected rise in bills this July, with many more worried about the impact of oil and gas prices on energy bills.

“Ministers should set out what support will be available and use the receipts from the Energy Profits Levy to pay for it. This Windfall Tax retains the support of voters and given that two thirds of the public believe energy firms are already profiteering from the Iran conflict, it is no wonder that voters back the Levy by a two-to-one majority.

“The Government should be listening to that public consensus, not to the powerful oil and gas lobbyists calling for the Windfall Tax to be ended just as energy profits are set to spike again.”

Damage already done to UK household finances from Iran conflict

The ceasefire between America and Iran has seen the market prices of gas and heating oil reduce from peaks.

But one market analyst warned that “the two-week ceasefire is likely to be fraught with uncertainty, but for now there are hopes that it will be a precursor to a longer-lasting agreement. There is a chance that the cost-of-living crisis consumers are already having to deal with may not be quite as painful.”

In early trading [by 1000 8 April], UK gas prices remained 38% up year on year with Heating Oil wholesale costs up 78% on 2025.

A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, commented:

“Despite the Iranian ceasefire, the damage has been done for households. The surges in oil and gas costs have already hurt household finances and will continue to have an impact on energy bills for months to come.

”Oil, LPG and gas costs have spent over five weeks at elevated levels hitting some households immediately and all households will feel the costs from 1 July when the next Ofgem price cap period starts.

”For as long as our energy system is hooked on oil and gas prices, history will keep repeating itself and our bills will be at the mercy of decisions taken by Trump, Putin and Gulf States.

”This must be the moment we push for more support for energy efficiency measures and renewable energy to bring down bills and secure our energy supply for the long-term.”

Ministers signal no energy bill help until autumn

Average energy bills have fallen by 7% (£9.75 a month) from 1 April under the Ofgem price cap, but the relief is expected to be short-lived.

Analysts forecast that average energy bills will rise to £1,929 from July to September, driven by a 33% increase in the cost of gas, caused by the impact of the Iran conflict on global energy markets.

The Prime Minister acknowledged today that the conflict will “affect the future of our country” and the Chancellor has said the Government is “preparing for all eventualities.” But speaking to the media, Rachel Reeves signalled that a package of support for energy bills is unlikely before the autumn, suggesting help would be timed to coincide with Ofgem setting the October price cap.

A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition commented:

“The fall in energy bills from 1 April offers brief relief for households, but the respite will be short-lived. Given the ongoing profits made by the energy industry, households deserve more than a temporary reprieve before prices rise again.

“For the millions of households already in energy debt to their suppliers, this is a real concern and risks pushing more people into crisis. Ministers have details for a Debt Relief Scheme on their desks and recommendations from experts on how to help these households, but have yet to sign off on the plans.

“The Government must use the window between now and July to act. That means targeted support for those hit first and hardest, including households off the gas grid and those on heat networks, faster action on energy debt, and preparations to bring costs down if prices deteriorate further.

“Increased Windfall Tax receipts from spiking North Sea profits should be used to fund that support. But beyond the immediate crisis, the only way to break this cycle for good is to insulate homes, expand homegrown renewables and reform electricity pricing so households see the real benefit of cheaper clean power.”

Social workers paying for people’s heating out of their own pockets

Research by the Social Workers Union has found that hundreds of social workers have felt compelled to personally fund basic essentials for the people they support, including food, clothing and energy prepayment meter top-ups.

Three quarters of union members who were affected by the issue were unable to claim back the costs they incurred. More than a quarter said they were dipping into their own pockets every month, with over a third saying it had put their own finances at risk.

Despite most social workers attempting to access foodbanks, council support funds and local charities, seven in ten emergencies left no time to navigate complex or slow bureaucratic systems. The Social Workers Union has warned that the Government’s new Crisis and Resilience Fund in England, due to begin on 1 April, may not go far enough to prevent social workers continuing to plug these gaps themselves.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Asked why they had resorted to providing direct financial support to service users, one social worker told researchers: “There are often several forms to fill out to request financial support which are declined anyhow by managers. To save time – something we don’t often have – I’ve paid for items myself.”

John McGowan, Social Workers Union (SWU) General Secretary, has warned the findings expose a “broken support system”:

“It cannot be right that social workers are left to plug the gaps in a broken support system with their own money. The data paints a stark picture of a safety net riddled with delays and gaps. The true test of the new Fund moving forward will be to see if it means that local and national governments act urgently to ensure help is there when it is needed.”

The Crisis and Resilience Fund is due to be used by the Government to also provide support to households using heating oil, this has now been extended to include homes who are reliant on LPG gas after pressure from the End Fuel Poverty Coalition.

A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, commented:

“These findings are a damning indictment of a support system that is failing people at their most vulnerable. When social workers are reaching into their own pockets to top up prepayment meters and keep someone’s heating on, that is not a gap in the system, it is a collapse.

“The new Crisis and Resilience Fund is a step forward, and the confirmation by Ministers that it will extend to households on heating oil and LPG in England is welcome. For the first time, some of the most exposed households, those off the gas grid and outside the protection of the energy price cap, will have access to emergency support.

“But the Fund will only work if it reaches people in time. Seven in ten emergencies left no time to navigate slow or complex systems. The Government must ensure the Fund is fast, accessible and properly resourced, so that social workers are never again left to pay for someone’s heating out of their own pocket.”

Chancellor confirms energy bill support planning

The Chancellor has confirmed that contingency planning is under way for targeted energy bill support ahead of the expiry of the current Ofgem price cap at the end of June, as rising oil and gas prices driven by the Iran conflict threaten to push household bills higher from July.

Rachel Reeves told MPs that her approach to providing support would be responsive to the need and responsible in terms of protecting public finances.

The Chancellor said that support would be focused on those who need it most, indicating a preference for targeted help over a blanket approach. She pointed to the costs of the broad energy support package introduced during the Ukraine crisis as a reason to take a more focused approach.

A spokesperson for End Fuel Poverty Coalition, commented:
“Households need to know what the Chancellor’s ‘responsive and responsible’ mantra means in practice.

“The immediate priority must be a new Alternative Fuel Support Scheme for off-gas-grid households, price protection for heat network customers, action on record levels of energy debt and targeted reductions in unit rates from July for households including those with disabilities and long-term health concerns.

“The Chancellor must also commit to expanding and extending the Warm Homes Discount and reforming Cold Weather Payments before winter.

“The money is there. North Sea profits are rising alongside the same gas prices pushing up household bills. Being responsible with public finances means using subsequent tax revenues now to protect people, not waiting until the damage is done.“

The End Fuel Poverty Coalition recommended that the Government introduce a new, longer-term, Alternative Fuel Support Scheme for households relying on heating oil, LPG and other off-gas-grid fuels, as well as support for heat network customers who face rising commercial energy prices.

The proposal also recommends preparing a targeted reduction in energy unit rates from July if the Ofgem price cap rises significantly, alongside faster rollout of a national energy debt relief scheme to address record levels of household debt.

For the winter, the Coalition is calling for reforms to existing schemes including further expansion of the Warm Home Discount and strengthening Cold Weather Payments so support reaches vulnerable households earlier.

Ministers are also urged to speed up reform to electricity pricing and prepare a scalable universal support package that could be activated quickly if energy prices spike further.

Cobra must act on energy costs, not just talk

The Prime Minister has convened an emergency Cobra meeting to examine the cost-of-living impact of the Iran conflict, with oil and gas prices surging due to the threat of further escalation in the Middle East conflict.

For millions of households, the consequences are already landing. Heating oil prices have doubled in recent weeks for off-gas homes sitting outside the protection of the Ofgem price cap. And even before this latest spike, Cornwall Insight was already forecasting that average energy bills would rise to £1,973 from 1 July, a 20% increase on current levels and a figure that has almost certainly moved higher since.

The same price spike hitting households is generating a windfall for North Sea energy firms, and therefore for the Treasury through the Energy Profits Levy. New analysis published by the End Fuel Poverty Coalition shows that at prices seen in mid-March, those profits could generate over £200 million a month in additional Windfall Tax revenues, rising to more than £5 billion a year when combined with offshore corporation tax receipts.

A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition said:

“People reliant on heating oil and gas cylinders to power their homes are already suffering from the oil and gas price spikes. Millions more households will face a 20% increase in their energy bills from July. For families who are already in debt and already struggling with energy bills, there is no more time to waste.

“North Sea energy firms are on course to make bumper profits as a direct result of this crisis, potentially generating hundreds of millions of pounds a month in additional Windfall Tax revenues at current prices. That money should be used to protect households from the bill rises heading their way. Every lever available includes the levers that take money from those profiting from this crisis and put it into the pockets of those suffering because of it.

“The Government should come out of the Cobra meeting with a clear commitment to targeted support for the households most at risk. The framework for that support must be ready to activate the moment the July price cap is confirmed. The lesson of the last energy crisis is that acting too slowly costs far more in the long run, both for households and for the public finances. The time to prepare that emergency support package is now.”

Government urged to prepare emergency energy bill support

The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has written to ministers urging the Government to prepare an emergency energy support framework to protect households from rising energy bills as global fossil fuel prices remain volatile.

In a new policy proposal sent to the UK Government, the Coalition warns that the current gas and oil price crisis could see millions of households in fuel poverty if bills increase again from July.

While the Ofgem energy price cap is set to fall slightly from April 2026, rising wholesale gas prices mean bills could rise sharply again this summer. Early projections suggest the average annual bill could increase and, as a result, the Coalition estimates that around 13 million households will be left spending more than 10% of their income on energy, with c.5 million spending more than 20%.

Some households are already feeling the impact of rising costs. Off-gas households relying on heating oil have reported refill prices doubling in recent weeks, LPG customers are facing rising prices, while heat network customers could soon face steep increases as energy supply contracts expire.

The Coalition’s proposals focus on targeted support for households most exposed to high energy costs, while retaining the ability to expand support more widely if the crisis deepens.

The immediate measures recommended include a new, longer-term, Alternative Fuel Support Scheme for households relying on heating oil, LPG and other off-gas-grid fuels, as well as support for heat network customers who face rising commercial energy prices.

The proposal also recommends preparing a targeted reduction in energy unit rates from July if the Ofgem price cap rises significantly, alongside faster rollout of a national energy debt relief scheme to address record levels of household debt.

For the winter, the Coalition is calling for reforms to existing schemes including further expansion of the Warm Home Discount and strengthening Cold Weather Payments so support reaches vulnerable households earlier.

Ministers are also urged to speed up reform to electricity pricing and prepare a scalable universal support package that could be activated quickly if energy prices spike further.

The Coalition says the proposals are designed to complement longer-term policies such as the Government’s Warm Homes Plan and Clean Power Plan, which aim to reduce energy bills permanently by improving energy efficiency and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

However, campaigners warn that households still need protection from price shocks in the meantime.

Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said

“Millions of households are still recovering from the last energy crisis, with record levels of energy debt and many already struggling to afford their bills.

“The risk is that we see another wave of fuel poverty driven by the oil and gas price crisis caused by Trump’s war in the Middle East.

“This is history repeating itself and rather than making snap decisions, the Government should establish an emergency support framework now, so households know what support can be expected.

“Reducing energy price spikes benefits the whole country. It helps limit inflation, reduces pressure on household finances, prevents worsening fuel poverty and cuts the health impacts associated with cold homes.

“This support should be funded fairly. Energy companies and other parts of the energy industry make huge profits during periods of price volatility, so it is only right that windfall taxes and excess profits are used to help protect households from another energy price shock.”

Maria Booker, Head of Policy, Fair By Design, commented:

“The Government must use the next two and a half months to design an emergency support package that is both effective and fair. Support should be carefully targeted towards those who need it most and funded in an equitable way.

“This shock is yet  another reminder of why the Government must accelerate progress on data‑matching capabilities so that support can be better targeted.

“Ultimately, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and transitioning to clean power generated here in the UK, will mean we are not at the mercy of global energy shocks like this in future.”

Uplift Deputy Director Robert Palmer said:

“Everyone in the UK is going to pay the price if this reckless conflict continues via a ‘Trump War Tax’ that could add thousands of pounds to people’s bills.

“We risk seeing higher energy bills, more expensive petrol, pricier mortgages and bigger food bills. It’s good to see some immediate support from the government on heating oil and it’s crucial that the government provides further support if it’s needed on bills.

“The UK must also plan for the long term. What we need is to ramp up the shift to renewable power so we have cheaper energy, secure supply and a cleaner environment. Oil and gas profiteers, who stand to make billions out of the Iran crisis,  should pay their share of any financial help.”

Morgan Vine, Director of Policy and Influencing at Independent Age said:

“It is clear that support is needed for older people in financial hardship who are understandably anxious about what the fuel crisis could mean for them. With over half of older people on a low income already finding it a struggle to keep up with their energy bills, many are already making tough choices, not turning the lights on at night, heating only one room even in the depths of winter, or washing in cold water.

“Older people on low incomes can’t afford to absorb any more costs; they’re already at breaking point. The UK Government must take comprehensive action now to protect everyone on a low income from sky-high energy prices.”

Jonathan Bean, spokesperson for Fuel Poverty Action, said:

“Any emergency support must recognise that electric-only homes face much higher unit prices than oil and gas households due to our rigged energy market.

“The Government must urgently break the link between gas and electricity which allows firms to inflate the price of cheap renewable energy.

“The Prime Minister must also get a grip on the huge profits that already make up £500 of the average energy bill. If the Government was serious about bringing down our bills, they would work with Ofgem to cut profits and pass the savings back to us.”

Susie Elks, Senior Policy Advisor on the UK Power System at E3G commented:

“In spite of this crisis, the government must continue to resolve the challenges which are increasing some of the underlying drivers for bills. They must lower the cost of ‘hidden taxes’ on bills, which add £11bn to households and business energy bills.

“They must solve the energy debt crisis, which is adding £50-£70 to every household’s bill.

“They must find a way for us to modernise our energy networks, which have been chronically underinvested in, whilst managing the costs to households.”

Ian Preston, Director of Development and External Affairs from the Centre for Sustainable Energy commented:

“Another fossil fuel price crisis, when many households still haven’t recovered from the last one, underlines the urgent need to support households to switch to heat pumps powered by homegrown renewable energy generation as quickly as possible. But, in the meantime though, bill payers, especially those reliant on oil or LPG, need bill support to stay warm this coming winter.”

The End Fuel Poverty Coalition brings together more than 100 charities, health organisations, housing groups, trade unions and consumer bodies working to end fuel poverty across the UK.

The full proposal has been shared with ministers and officials and the Coalition has offered to meet with the Government to discuss how the measures could be implemented.

ENDS

The full proposals can be read here.

Fuel poverty calculations are extrapolations using analyst forecasts of average energy bills and based on the data compiled in 2025 https://www.endfuelpoverty.org.uk/fuel-poverty-statistics-show-12-million-households-struggling/