This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly1vwd57y2o
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Council tax and energy bill rises hit single parents hardest | |
| (33 minutes later) | |
| A series of essential household bills are rising at the start of April, with warnings that single parents are among the hardest hit. | A series of essential household bills are rising at the start of April, with warnings that single parents are among the hardest hit. |
| Water bills, energy prices and council tax are all going up on Tuesday , although the minimum wage is also increasing. | |
| The charity Citizens Advice said the finances of millions of people on the lowest incomes were "already stretched to breaking point". | The charity Citizens Advice said the finances of millions of people on the lowest incomes were "already stretched to breaking point". |
| Many single parents in particular would struggle because a greater proportion of their money was taken up by essential spending, it said. | Many single parents in particular would struggle because a greater proportion of their money was taken up by essential spending, it said. |
| Laura Roan, a single mother of two daughters from Cardiff, said: "Without my own mum helping, there would be some days when I would not have any electric." | Laura Roan, a single mother of two daughters from Cardiff, said: "Without my own mum helping, there would be some days when I would not have any electric." |
| The 41-year-old, who works part-time in Asda, is using emergency credit on her energy meter and regularly dips into her overdraft. | The 41-year-old, who works part-time in Asda, is using emergency credit on her energy meter and regularly dips into her overdraft. |
| Household bills rise, but minister says minimum wage and pension increases will help | |
| Laura says her family brings her joy but finances are stretched | Laura says her family brings her joy but finances are stretched |
| "I got paid last Friday and it has all gone. I just live day to day." | "I got paid last Friday and it has all gone. I just live day to day." |
| She said her five-year-old daughter Prudence brought her joy and often took her mind off the financial challenges they faced. | She said her five-year-old daughter Prudence brought her joy and often took her mind off the financial challenges they faced. |
| Those challenges are increasing as a host of price rises kick in. The costs of a TV licence, car tax, and broadband and phone bills are among those going up in cost. | Those challenges are increasing as a host of price rises kick in. The costs of a TV licence, car tax, and broadband and phone bills are among those going up in cost. |
| Among the changes: | Among the changes: |
| Water bills for households are going up in England and Wales by £10 more per month on average, although it varies considerably by supplier, and by almost 10% in Scotland | Water bills for households are going up in England and Wales by £10 more per month on average, although it varies considerably by supplier, and by almost 10% in Scotland |
| The annual energy bill for a household in England, Wales and Scotland on a variable tariff and using a typical amount of gas and electricity is going up by £111 a year to £1,849 | The annual energy bill for a household in England, Wales and Scotland on a variable tariff and using a typical amount of gas and electricity is going up by £111 a year to £1,849 |
| Council tax bills in England are generally going up by 4.99%, with bills in Wales rising by about 4.5% to 9.5%, and in Scotland by at least 8% | Council tax bills in England are generally going up by 4.99%, with bills in Wales rising by about 4.5% to 9.5%, and in Scotland by at least 8% |
| "After years of cost-of-living pressures, households across the country are about to feel the extra shock of rising essential bills," said Dame Clare Moriarty, chief executive of Citizens Advice. | "After years of cost-of-living pressures, households across the country are about to feel the extra shock of rising essential bills," said Dame Clare Moriarty, chief executive of Citizens Advice. |
| "For those on the lowest incomes, these unavoidable costs are already eating away at their finances, leaving their budgets stretched beyond breaking point." | "For those on the lowest incomes, these unavoidable costs are already eating away at their finances, leaving their budgets stretched beyond breaking point." |
| The charity said households in the lowest 10% for income were already spending around two fifths (41%) of their earnings - after housing - on water, energy, broadband and car insurance bills. That was a considerably bigger proportion than those on higher incomes. | The charity said households in the lowest 10% for income were already spending around two fifths (41%) of their earnings - after housing - on water, energy, broadband and car insurance bills. That was a considerably bigger proportion than those on higher incomes. |
| Single-adult households, and particularly those with children, were more likely than others to be spending 20% or more of their post-housing income on these bills, leaving them more exposed to price shocks, it said. | Single-adult households, and particularly those with children, were more likely than others to be spending 20% or more of their post-housing income on these bills, leaving them more exposed to price shocks, it said. |
| John Paine is a single dad with three autistic children aged between five and eight. He said he had £100 left over at the end of the month when all the bills were paid. | John Paine is a single dad with three autistic children aged between five and eight. He said he had £100 left over at the end of the month when all the bills were paid. |
| "It goes quickly," he said, with a school trip, a picnic or a day out usually taking up a big chunk of that spending money. "It means we do not go out very much," he said. | "It goes quickly," he said, with a school trip, a picnic or a day out usually taking up a big chunk of that spending money. "It means we do not go out very much," he said. |
| Official figures show that a fifth of families do not have any savings, leaving them at risk. | Official figures show that a fifth of families do not have any savings, leaving them at risk. |
| Dozens of people have got in touch via Your Voice, Your BBC News to tell us of their experiences. | Dozens of people have got in touch via Your Voice, Your BBC News to tell us of their experiences. |
| Among them is Bradley Bayton-Harvey, who lives with his partner Ange in Dudley. They have three girls, including three-year-old Darcie-Mai. Both have full-time jobs with the NHS. | Among them is Bradley Bayton-Harvey, who lives with his partner Ange in Dudley. They have three girls, including three-year-old Darcie-Mai. Both have full-time jobs with the NHS. |
| Bradley Bayton-Harvey says family time can be affected | Bradley Bayton-Harvey says family time can be affected |
| "We both work nearly 200 hours a month, and it is still a stretch. We're rejiggling finances again and again," he said. | "We both work nearly 200 hours a month, and it is still a stretch. We're rejiggling finances again and again," he said. |
| "If we can try to get any additional shifts in our rest days to get that extra income, it's frustrating because those rest days should be family time. | "If we can try to get any additional shifts in our rest days to get that extra income, it's frustrating because those rest days should be family time. |
| "You shouldn't have to turn around to your kids and say that you can't afford to go on holiday." | "You shouldn't have to turn around to your kids and say that you can't afford to go on holiday." |
| Any silver lining? | Any silver lining? |
| Benefits and the state pension are going up in a week's time. Wages have also been rising at a faster pace than the rate of inflation, and the start of April also brings an increase in the minimum wage. It means: | Benefits and the state pension are going up in a week's time. Wages have also been rising at a faster pace than the rate of inflation, and the start of April also brings an increase in the minimum wage. It means: |
| The minimum wage for over-21s, known officially as the National Living Wage, has now risen by 6.7%, from £11.44 to £12.21 an hour. For someone working full time, or a 37.5-hour week, that equates to £23,873.60 a year, up from £22,368.06 | The minimum wage for over-21s, known officially as the National Living Wage, has now risen by 6.7%, from £11.44 to £12.21 an hour. For someone working full time, or a 37.5-hour week, that equates to £23,873.60 a year, up from £22,368.06 |
| For 18 to 20-year-olds, the minimum wage has gone up from £8.60 to £10 an hour. This means someone on a 37.5-hour week would earn £19,552 a year, up from £16,815. However only a minority of people in this age group do work full time | For 18 to 20-year-olds, the minimum wage has gone up from £8.60 to £10 an hour. This means someone on a 37.5-hour week would earn £19,552 a year, up from £16,815. However only a minority of people in this age group do work full time |
| Apprentices are now being paid £7.55 an hour, up from £6.40. That means their annual wage is going up to £14,762 from £12,513 | Apprentices are now being paid £7.55 an hour, up from £6.40. That means their annual wage is going up to £14,762 from £12,513 |
| In addition, experts say there are ways to cut costs to keep household bills as low as possible. | In addition, experts say there are ways to cut costs to keep household bills as low as possible. |
| "Our research shows that switching providers if you're out of contract can slash broadband, pay TV and mobile bills by up to £235," said Emily Seymour, from the consumer group Which?. | "Our research shows that switching providers if you're out of contract can slash broadband, pay TV and mobile bills by up to £235," said Emily Seymour, from the consumer group Which?. |
| "It's also worth checking if you're eligible for any council tax reductions or exemptions and could save money by installing a water meter." | "It's also worth checking if you're eligible for any council tax reductions or exemptions and could save money by installing a water meter." |
| Some of the UK's biggest banks have also said they would pro-actively contact customers they believed were struggling financially to offer assistance. | Some of the UK's biggest banks have also said they would pro-actively contact customers they believed were struggling financially to offer assistance. |
| Additional reporting by Kris Bramwell & Bernadette McCague. | Additional reporting by Kris Bramwell & Bernadette McCague. |