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Poorest families 'going without food or power' | Poorest families 'going without food or power' |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Hundreds of thousands of the poorest families in Britain are going without basic necessities, according to two separate surveys. | Hundreds of thousands of the poorest families in Britain are going without basic necessities, according to two separate surveys. |
Citizens Advice said as many as 140,000 households are going without power, as they cannot afford to top up their prepayment meters. | Citizens Advice said as many as 140,000 households are going without power, as they cannot afford to top up their prepayment meters. |
And the Living Wage Foundation - which campaigns for fair pay - said many of the poorest parents are skipping meals. | And the Living Wage Foundation - which campaigns for fair pay - said many of the poorest parents are skipping meals. |
However the government said workers are now earning more, and paying less tax. | However the government said workers are now earning more, and paying less tax. |
The survey conducted by Citizens Advice suggests that most households that cannot afford to put money in the meter contain either children or someone with a long-term health condition. | |
Some people are left in cold houses, or without hot water. | Some people are left in cold houses, or without hot water. |
"It is unacceptable that so many vulnerable households are being left without heat and light," said Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice. | |
"For some people self-disconnection is easily managed, but for many others it is an extremely stressful experience that can have harmful physical and emotional effects." | "For some people self-disconnection is easily managed, but for many others it is an extremely stressful experience that can have harmful physical and emotional effects." |
Cost of Living | Cost of Living |
A separate survey for the Living Wage Foundation suggests a third of working parents on low incomes have regularly gone without meals, because of a lack of money. | A separate survey for the Living Wage Foundation suggests a third of working parents on low incomes have regularly gone without meals, because of a lack of money. |
Around a half of those families have also fallen behind with household bills. | Around a half of those families have also fallen behind with household bills. |
"These findings reveal the desperate choices low paid families have to make, and show why it's so important that more employers take a stand by paying the real Living Wage, based on what they need to live, not just the government minimum," said Tess Lanning, director of the Living Wage Foundation. | "These findings reveal the desperate choices low paid families have to make, and show why it's so important that more employers take a stand by paying the real Living Wage, based on what they need to live, not just the government minimum," said Tess Lanning, director of the Living Wage Foundation. |
The so-called Living Wage is £8.75 an hour, or £10.20 an hour in London. | |
More than 4,000 employers offer the Living Wage, which is designed to reflect the real cost of living. | |
The National Living Wage is the legal minimum paid to workers over the age of 25. On 1 April the rate went up to £7.83 an hour. | The National Living Wage is the legal minimum paid to workers over the age of 25. On 1 April the rate went up to £7.83 an hour. |
Earnings | Earnings |
The government has insisted that it is helping working families. | The government has insisted that it is helping working families. |
As a result of increasing the amount people can earn before paying income tax, it says typical tax payers are paying £1,000 less in income tax than they did eight years ago. | As a result of increasing the amount people can earn before paying income tax, it says typical tax payers are paying £1,000 less in income tax than they did eight years ago. |
It said workers are also earning more in the first place. | It said workers are also earning more in the first place. |
"This is why we have increased the National Living Wage this month, so that the lowest-paid can earn an extra £600 a year," financial secretary to the Treasury, Mel Stride, said this week. | |
Nevertheless Citizens Advice wants the government and energy suppliers to do more to protect vulnerable households. | Nevertheless Citizens Advice wants the government and energy suppliers to do more to protect vulnerable households. |