Worries about the cost of living has prompted Perthshire residents to reach out for urgent assistance - with Perth Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) accepting a “staggering” 40 per cent rise in demand for its services.
Jane Adams, chief executive officer for Perth CAB, tweeted on Friday that the service was busy with calls and noted: “That’s another week finished and the team have had nearly 600 contacts with clients in the past five days.”
Yesterday, she told the PA of the rise in calls for help, specifically callers voicing alarm over bills for gas, electric, fuel and water.
She looked back over the last month: “This May we supported over 1000 individuals and had a 40 per cent increase in client contacts compared to May 2021.
“This includes a 40 per cent increase in people presenting with debt issues and a staggering 260 per cent increase in clients presenting with issues with their utilities. While the price of energy, petrol, diesel and food have soared in recent months, it’s important to understand that households on low incomes were struggling with their costs beforehand.
“But people don’t have to feel alone or powerless as costs rise.
“The CAB network has been helping people for over 80 years and we recently launched a new project to provide dedicated, specialist advisers to support those worried about energy costs and we have a team of dedicated money advice and debt workers.
“Our free, confidential and impartial advice unlocked around £4.4 million for people last year through social security payments, employment entitlements, debt reductions and other support.
“We’d like to see policymakers focus on ways to get more money into people’s pockets, but we’re here to help people now so would urge anyone struggling to please get in touch.”
Meanwhile, the Highland Perthshire Debt Centre run by Christians Against Poverty (CAP) indicated that it will see the effects of the current crisis become apparent in years not months as it is some time usually before people take action to free themselves of crippling debt.
Angela Hanvey, centre manager for CAP in Aberfeldy, where there is a debt counselling service, said: “CAP Highland Perthshire has never been a busy centre with around only 10 new clients each year.
“However, like the whole debt advice sector, the number of people seeking help with problem debt completely dried up during the pandemic.
“I can’t say that there has been a surge in demand with the cost of living crisis but CAP (UK)’s research from annual client reports shows that many people can wait for up to three years before seeking help.
“The increase in numbers now is probably more a reflection of the last two years (of COVID) than the current cost of living crisis which may see numbers increase later this year and into next year.
“With regard to actual numbers in Highland Perthshire, I can confirm that we have seen one new client each month which is what we would expect in this area, so no real increase in demand due to current issues.”
Last month, CAP Scotland’s national director, Emma Jackson, accused the UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak of “buying time” when he announced direct financial help to many UK households unable to cope with rising costs.
She said: “At first look, we expect eight in 10 CAP client households in Scotland to benefit from the targeted measures for households on means-tested benefits.
“While these emergency measures will help to meet people’s needs right now and buy some time, they do not address the underlying reasons why people’s incomes are inadequate. We are deeply concerned about those who will continue to suffer through benefit debt deductions and not see the full impact of these measures.
“Although technically worth more than benefits uprating, a one-off £650 is less than the amount lost by households when the Universal Credit uplift ended. We are deeply concerned about low income households who will not receive this support as they are not eligible for means-tested benefits.”
