Dear Chancellor,
I heard recently that you have not yet made a decision about the Household Support Fund. While you consider whether or not to provide this lifeline to local authorities across the country; while many campaigners, charities and organisations gather together their evidence to convince you that this fund is needed, I would like to add some evidence of my own. Evidence direct from a helpline set up to distribute these vital funds to people who simply cannot get by.
This helpline, although enabled by the Household Support Fund, is so much more than a distributor of funds, it is the start of a conversation. A conversation that begins with empathy — without a script — to get to the bottom of what the problem is and how they might help. And that might be identifying unclaimed benefit entitlements, helping to complete application forms, providing information about vital services within the local community, sensitively picking up on deeper issues that may be contributing to the destitution being experienced in that household, and, yes, sometimes, making an application for an emergency payment that will enable the heating to be turned back on, or food to be purchased and cooked, or a warm blanket for these cold nights. It must be difficult for a Chancellor to understand that a very small payment from your Household Support Fund can be life-saving; but the fact is, it actually is a Life Support Fund at times.
I know that you would counter that in your Autumn Statement you committed to uprating working-age benefits from April 2024 by 6.7%, and defrosting Local Housing Allowance after a long and hard four year period which saw this happen:
…but remember, that LHA now only pays up to the 30th percentile of rent charged (it used to be 50%), and therefore many claimants will still have a shortfall to meet — any many will see their rents increase in April too.
Please also bear in mind that ‘unit prices will increase by 8% and 5% for gas and electricity respectively under the January to March 2024 cap with no change in standing charges. Typical bills under the January to March 2024 price cap will be almost 60% higher than in winter 2021/22.’ (Source: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/) Almost 60% higher, Chancellor. How does a 6.7% uprating of social security measure up against such phenomenal costs?
Additionally, water companies are also seeking to increase bills (source: The Guardian 18/12/2023) as they attempt to service their own debts and yet remain profitable for their shareholders, while continuing to pollute our waterways and coasts.
And let us not forget the weekly shop; food prices have risen 27% in two years (Source: ONS 20/12/2023) and the Office of National Statistics cautions that ‘although the rate at which food prices are rising has slowed, they remain high.’ Far too high. Foodbanks are struggling to meet demand. Food pantries struggling to find suppliers. There’s that word again: struggling.
I put it to you, Chancellor, that a rise of 6.7% in working age benefits just won’t cut it. Not when those subject to the benefit cap won’t feel any benefit at all from the rise; not when there are deductions stacking up for overpayments, debts, fines, and advances — not to mention the ineffective and cruel sanctions. It won’t ease the suffering that is being experienced by the poorest and most vulnerable people living in this prosperous country. These will be people who cannot work due to ill health, caring responsibilities and disabilities, among others. Those who could possibly work in time become so disheartened, depressed and estranged from the dignity of living a ‘normal life’, free of grinding, unceasing hardship, that the opportunity to escape poverty may just pass them by like a lifebelt bobbing along, slightly too far out to reach.
This is the reality we are hearing every single day. The Household Support Fund has provided a lifeline that — in the most desperate of times — has allowed people to purchase food and clothing, heating and electricity, nappies and baby milk — the things we all need to survive. Not all of these people have homes. Almost half have children.
This may be one of your last acts as Chancellor, Mr Hunt, so, please, do the right thing and provide that sliver of a safety net to those so much less fortunate than you. After what has felt like 14 very difficult years, it’s the very least you can do. The most you could do is uprate benefits properly to provide a decent living standard. You could also rethink your punitive sanction regime that helps no-one. No-one. But if you can’t do that, at least commit to extending the financial support that is needed now, and will continue to be needed.
This is a small selection of applications to the Household Support Fund. Payments are by supermarket voucher and energy top up voucher — average value of each ‘award’ is just £41. There are other ‘trusted partners’ of this fund doing some truly wonderful things with it – Age UK for example: replacing boilers, fitting adaptations, buying food and clothing, offering so much hope and comfort.
To people like this:
‘Two children in the property, without food, client does not receive her next benefit until next week, she is facing eviction and has used her food budget to meet mortgage instalment. Support Worker confirmed there is insufficient food in the house.’
‘Client and his wife are pensioners. Client has a hearing impairment and wife is terminally ill with multiple organ cancer. They do not have access to a phone or email. Due to rising cost of living and wife’s illness, they had been struggling to pay their bills and buy food etc.’
‘Client is homeless and is currently residing in a women’s refuge with her children.’
‘Client is waiting for benefits, she has been in hospital and has been diagnosed with cancer, husband stopped working to care for her.’
‘Client is disabled, due to previous brain injury. Client then had an accident in July ‘23, suffered a fractured spine, in a back brace and currently housebound. Employed but had only recently returned to full time hours. Wage for this month was £50. No other source of income. Has not eaten for a few days. No food in the house and does not get paid again until the end of the month.’
‘Client has no gas, in debt on the gas meter, has no electric and no food. Doesn’t have internet, has Schizophrenia and leaves the house rarely but has to go to court on Friday. No UC until the end of the month.’
‘No energy as used emergency credit on prepayment meters and has approx £300 elec and £200 gas debt. Needs electricity as a diabetic and needs to keep insulin chilled.’
‘Client is 19, homeless & just needs further support.’
‘Client is severely disabled and unable to walk (housebound) — we visited regarding debts, particularly care charges and some non-priority debt repayments which leave no money to buy food/clothing.’
‘Prepayment meters are on minus £10. Client is struggling financially and uses a blanket rather than the heating. Has had UC sanctioned. Client’s son died. Borrowed money to pay for funeral and also for everyday life.’
‘Family with 3 children. Can’t afford shoes for children.’
‘Resident homeless and in temp accom with 2 year old daughter. Heavily pregnant. There are no cooking facilities, microwave or a fridge at the hotel so cannot issue a foodbank voucher. Hotel is close to restaurants and a shop. UC payment is due on 15th — also receiving help from midwife for pregnancy and essential items. Cash is preferable for this client as she and her child have not eaten recently.’
‘Damage in the house due to mold, struggling financially, rent arrears of £2500. Everything runs off electric.’
‘Working part time at the moment and a carer for partner who is disabled with mental health problems. Can’t work more hours as has a 2 year old at home. Works for the nhs and it’s little more than minimum wage per hour. Not entitled to carers allowance. “We are struggling as is everyone with bills going up in price”.’
‘Client came out of work after nervous breakdown. Has a mortgage and has been struggling to pay the monthly instalments. Currently waiting for Work Capability Assessment and only income is £358.24 per month. Recently paid £300 to mortgage and now left with no money to pay bills and buy food.’
‘Taken time off work as father has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and therefore reduced income.’
‘Client is really struggling, is a single parent, works 21 hrs and has a Universal Credit top up, receives no money from child’s dad. Client getting herself in to more debt and just paying what she can to keep afloat. £30 HSF4 for food, so the money she would have spent on food can be put towards paying off her energy debt.’
‘Client has MS — is a student and qualifying to become a teaching assistant. Last month, UC sent an overpayment letter along with a civil penalty of £50 as the student loan for this term was slightly higher than last term. Has requested mandatory reconsideration but the deduction from UC this month has left them short of money. Client has a young child and advised very little money left to buy food etc.’
‘Client regularly uses food banks and volunteer there noticed that the client and her disabled partner had holes in their shoes. Partner’s PIP has been stopped and so has client’s carers allowance, they are down £1000 a month and really struggling. Client also cares for her mum.’
These people won’t go away, Chancellor, simply because we can’t help them any more with crisis payments. They will reappear in the NHS, when they are suffering from hypothermia, or malnutrition. They will be evicted from their rented home, to a hotel and then to the streets. Some will unfortunately die and, well, ‘decrease the surplus population’ is it? This is no way to treat people living in a wealthy economy. Read them again — these are not criminals, these are not wastes of space, nor shirkers or fraudsters — they are people who are struggling, like many of us do, and they need a safety net and a lifeline.
Do not withhold this. Not now.
Yours,
A concerned citizen.
PS: I wrote this letter today, on 21/12/23 and then saw this Guardian headline on 22/12/23. We can do better than this, surely?
