People in Clifton have spoken out about the hardships they are facing with the cost of living and not being able to afford bills on Universal Credit. Before bills could possibly rise again in October of this year, people would like the Government to take action.
More than 60 per cent of private tenants in the East Midlands relying on Universal Credit to pay their rent have a shortfall between the amount they receive and what they pay. With inflation rising and very little help, some people in Clifton said they are worried, including some who are both out of work and those who have jobs.
Nottingham City Council has been allocated £3,556,933 in the latest Government Household Support Fund (HSF), which aims to support local residents with rising household costs. The Council, governed by guidance from the Department for Work and Pensions, can choose how to assign this funding to residents.
Bar worker Theo Davies, 30, said during the pandemic he was furloughed and applied for Universal Credit successfully. He added: “My Universal Credit payments were stopped around four months ago but I see no difference, you struggle to pay for things when you’re on it and when you’re off it.
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"People are starting to realise that waiting around for benefits is no good, you may as well just go out and work but for some people who are ill and disabled, that could kill them.
“There needs to be more schemes put in place to help people. I’m single and I have no kids but for families I expect them to be able to get easy access to food vouchers, milk vouchers, free school meals - anything just to help them.
“Nationwide, people aren’t being helped, it’s not our fault inflation just went right up overnight.”
Official data shows across the region, 61.5 percent of renters who receive housing benefits have a gap in their ability to afford their bills. Government figures show that across the region the average shortfall between the support tenants receive and the rent they pay is £100 a month.
Toni Leonardi, 59, from Clifton and retired, said: “Luckily, I have no children but I feel so sorry for people who do. I’ve had to pay a £13 charge for paying my electricity bill - that would knock others out.
“The Government needs to let people have a chance, I don’t know how people are coping. Help them, please. I can get under the quilt and I’ll be fine but that’s not the same for everyone.”
Toni hopes that the Government will put more pressure on the big companies. She continued and said: “Let people get back on their feet and then maybe raise it a little. The Government could have helped people for a little longer, I feel for those who are working and still can't afford thing, they're working."
Cara Martin, 35, a sales assistant from Clifton spoke out about how everyone now is in the same boat, she said: “Whether you work or not, everyone is struggling and it’s awful. Universal Credit is supposed to be something that helps people but it’s useless.
“I’ve been on Universal Credit in the past but I work full-time now but still, I’m struggling. After bills, rent, a food shop and now with fuel rising too, it is just unbelievable with the little that you are left with.”
Cara, who is a single mum of two children, said she’s finding it hard to save for emergencies. She continued and said: “I’m spending pretty much all my wages and more each month just to cope. I have little left for an emergency so if something was to happen, God forbid, I have no idea what I’ll do.”
Chancellor Rishi Sunak previously said that it would be "silly" to look at further support with energy bills until they are set to rise again in the autumn. Speaking to Nottinghamshire Live on Thursday, April 28, he said: "I absolutely know that it's tough right now and that many families are struggling with prices going up, particularly with energy. That's why we've already put in place an extensive amount of support to try and make a difference to people while we can - so on energy £9billion.
"Many people will have already received a £150 discount on their council tax in the last few weeks, a further £200 to come later on in the year. The minimum wage is going up and people's tax is being cut at the beginning of July very significantly. If we need to step in and support people more then of course will look at that."
Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources, Councillor Sam Webster, said: “We’re all facing a £700-a-year rise in energy costs, with other bills going up such as national insurance, water and food shopping, plus fuel and car tax also rising for those with vehicles.
“This is at the same time as general inflation is reaching a record high. We’re all going to feel the impact of increased costs, but some households in the city are going to be particularly badly affected.
“Nobody in Nottingham should have to choose between heating and eating. We need sustainable solutions which give people opportunities to lift themselves out of poverty and keep pace with the rising cost of living.
“The Government has recently given some temporary funding to help with household finances, such as the Household Support Grant and the energy rebate, but more must be done to address financial inequality in the UK. Temporary support grants are, of course, welcome but a more sustainable solution must be found to tackle inequality in the longer term.
“To make sure you're in the best possible position to cope, our friendly Welfare Rights team can support you with issues like debt, eviction, and help you to make sure you’re getting all the benefits you’re entitled to. They can give advice and help you to come up with a plan.”
A Government spokesperson said: “We recognise the pressures on the cost of living and we are doing what we can to help, including spending £22 billion across the next financial year to support people with energy bills and cut fuel duty.
“For the hardest hit, we’re putting an average of £1,000 more per year into the pockets of working families on Universal Credit, have also boosted the minimum wage by more than £1,000 a year for full-time workers and our Household Support Fund is there to help with the cost of everyday essentials.”
