New Swindon partnership launched to help tackle cost of living crisis

Swindon Borough Council, Citizens Advice Swindon and Crosslight Advice have joined forces in a bid to support residents as inflation soars to a 40-year high.

The most recent government figures from 2019 show almost one in 10 families (9,402) in Swindon are in fuel poverty, while almost 30,000 households received £1.5m worth of support between October 2021 and March 2022 to help with the cost of heating and food, administered by the council through the Household Support Fund.

The cost of energy bills has skyrocketed since, with Ofgem warning of a hike to a record £2,800 for the average family in October.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced new measures to help ease the pain on Thursday but the Swindon campaign aims to ensure those who are struggling know where to find support in the town.

The council is helping residents to check what state benefits they could be entitled to as well as signposting wider information and advice to those that need it.

It has been estimated that £15bn in benefits go unclaimed each year. This includes 1.3m families who do not take up an offer of up to £2,000 a year for childcare costs, while it is estimated around 850,000 eligible households are missing out on Pension Credit worth an average of £1,900 a year.

Councillor Cathy Martyn, the cabinet member for health inequalities and housing, said: “Please use this information to check whether you’re eligible for any unclaimed state benefits, as well as seeking expert support from Citizens Advice Swindon, Crosslight Advice and other organisations who can advise and help you.

“It’s hugely stressful if you’re struggling to pay your bills, or if you’re already in debt, so please contact them as soon as possible to get help and advice.

"You might find you’re one of the 1.3m people who is entitled to claim childcare costs, or you could be eligible for Pension Credit or income-related state benefits. There are experts available who will support and guide you to access help, which could include financial help.”

Claire Newport, chief executive of Citizens Advice Swindon, said: “Demand for our service is continuing to rise as the cost of living crisis starts to bite; soaring energy bills and rising food prices are seeing many families struggling to keep up with everyday costs. Levels of personal debt are increasing, and we are referring more and more people for foodbank support or help from their energy suppliers. We want to encourage people to seek advice now rather than letting things spiral out of control.

“Our advisers are on hand to help identify ways to maximise your income; a simple benefits check could result in vital additional income for many people. If you are already in receipt of benefits we would encourage you to seek advice to check on further entitlement before making any changes, in particular, residents should be especially careful if they are in receipt of existing benefits, as moving to Universal Credit could, in some cases, result in them being worse off.”

Amy Williams, Swindon Branch Manager of Crosslight Advice, said: “The rising cost of living is having a devastating effect on many households, with some struggling to even afford food or pay their essential bills. As a result, more people than ever before are finding themselves in debt – at Crosslight Advice, demand for our service has risen by over 60 per cent.

“These are really tough times, and trying to make ends meet or deal with debt can be incredibly stressful and worrying. Crosslight Advice exists to provide advice and support to anyone living under the burden of problem debt, as well as offering money education and budget coaching to help people navigate the current crisis.”

Citizens Advice Swindon is looking for help to understand the impact of the cost of living increases in Swindon and people can fill out a survey taking no longer than five minutes at www.citizensadviceswindon.org.uk by June 17.

More information is available at www.swindon.gov.uk/costofliving