Tackling Poverty Update - 9 December 2024

Ofgem announces reform of standing charges on energy bills

The proposals which will go out to wider consultation in the New Year, propose that energy suppliers will have to offer household tariffs free of standing charges as an alternative to existing ones under plans by regulator Ofgem. The regulator wants suppliers to have to offer ‘zero standing charge’ tariffs alongside other tariffs by next winter as part of plans to address ballooning household energy debt.

It is also proposing new standards for suppliers to make it easier for customers who are struggling to pay their bills to get support.

Under Ofgem’s price cap, standing charges have risen by 43 per cent since 2019, and from January will cost dual fuel households an average of £338 a year, although they disproportionately affect those who use less energy as the fixed costs make up a higher proportion of their overall bill.

One parent Families Scotland Report

This report highlights the pressures that lone parent, low-income households are facing.

One case study gives an example of a lone parent working and receiving a UC payment as they are on a low wage and the impact of changed pay dates over Christmas.

Many workers are paid every 4 weeks and getting paid twice in a UC pay assessment period, because of the Christmas pay dates, means as well as budgeting extra for the cost of Christmas, many must stretch their December pay to cover both December and January bills.

The full report is available here. Lone Parents Scotland produce bi monthly social policy reports also accessed from this link.

Benefit Calculator and Pension Credit claiming – deadline for winter fuel payment 21st December

Fife benefit calculator is free and easy to use.

One case study this week shows what an impact the calculator can have and highlights the deadline of the 21st of December for eligibility to a winter fuel payment if claiming pension credit.

  • This week one of Fife Council's Welfare Support Assistants supported a client to use the benefit calculator .The person was in receipt of Disability Living Allowance and that often leads to entitlement of other benefits.

  • It was established the person was entitled to Pension Credit amounting to £77.00 per week that they were not claiming.
  • As the claim was made before the 21st December ,the person will still be entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment.
  • Feedback from the person was that they were worried about heating their home this winter and this extra money meant that they could now do this without that concern,

Here is the link to the free benefit calculator below:

Education Scotland Report – highlights highly effective practice in Fife

Education Scotland has published an evaluation of community learning and development in Scotland . There are 31 case studies of highly effective practice . A Fife example is shown below .

Developing a community approach to supporting recovery and access to services in Fife Council

Summary of the case study

  • Specialist drug and alcohol services are central to delivering support to people but access to a broader range of services and pathways are helping people access additional support in safe and barrier-free ways.
  • This includes access to welfare, health services and emergency food provision.
  • The sustained impact of these approaches is that recovery is becoming more visible within the local community. A longer-term commitment by partners is tackling change around complex issues and is engaging those hardest to reach.
  • As a result, evidence shows a reducing trend in drug related deaths in the area.
Full case study

New Lottery Funds opened 27th November 2024

Worth a look -

Please get in touch if you would like to know more about any of the updates this week,

Contact: Sheena Watson

Email: sheena.watson@fife.gov.uk