Thousands of Scottish households are “holding on by their fingertips” as they face a storm of rising prices, Citizens Advice Scotland has warned.
With predictions that gas and electricity bills are set to rise by nearly 50 per cent to £1,900 a year the advice service has called for emergency action from government.
It predicted that massive increases to energy bills in the spring could see demand for food bank use soar
The energy price cap is set to increase in April under plans being finalised by industry regulator Ofgem this week.
Derek Mitchell, CAS Chief Executive called for a package of measures from the government to help struggling families.
He said: “We are facing a nightmare scenario in the spring as the rising cost of living and increases in energy bills collide with flat or falling incomes.
“Around half a million people are already cutting back on food shopping to deal with unaffordable bill, and looking at the demand for advice the Citizens Advice network saw during the pandemic, we see a link between the need to use a food bank and the need for advice around utilities.
“People are holding on by their fingertips, they can’t afford a big rise in bills with no support.”
Analysis of the advice CABs gave during the pandemic found that 30 per cent of clients getting advice around food banks also needed advice around utilities – the majority of which is energy advice.
Over 2,000 people needed advice in relation to both food banks and utilities.
Previous analysis published by CAS revealed that almost half a million people in Scotland were cutting back on food shopping because of unaffordable energy bills.
The charity has also seen increasing demand for energy advice.
Data from the Citizens Advice Network in Scotland for September 2021 already shows a rise in demand for energy debt advice, with a 53 per cent increase since February 2020.
Citizens Advice staff has stepped in with money-saving advice for thousands of clients.
Mitchell said: “People who are struggling should know that we are here for them. The Citizens Advice network helped over 171,000 people during the pandemic, unlocking around £147 million in the process. For energy advice alone people who saw a gain were around £272 better off.”
The the CAS Chief Executive said: “Around half a million people are already cutting back on food shopping to deal with unaffordable bill, and looking at the demand for advice the Citizens Advice network saw during the pandemic, we see a link between the need to use a food bank and the need for advice around utilities.
CAS has made a submission to the Scottish Government around ending the need for food banks.
The charity outlined a range of factors that drive demand for food bank use and a range of areas where actions could be taken to reduce the need for food banks, including increasing social security support and benefit take-up
Mitchell added: “While we are seeing an unprecedented crisis in the energy market driving these increases, the need for food banks predates this and is simply unacceptable. No one should have to choose between heating their homes and feeding their families.”
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