With the cost-of-living crisis seeing rents, energy and food bills soar, I know that many people in our community are struggling.  Let me know how this situation is affecting you by responding to my cost of living survey here.

Crucially, please don’t struggle alone.  If you are finding it difficult at the moment, I hope these sources of advice and support will be helpful:

• Visit Haringey Council’s Here to Help for advice and support.
• Haringey Warm Welcome is a growing network of inclusive, warm and welcoming spaces across the borough run by local businesses, charities and places of worship.  Find your nearest here.
• Haringey Council’s Connected Communities team are there to help understand the issues residents are having and work with you to provide support in finding solutions.  Contact the team.
• The Mayor of London has set up a cost-of-living hub with lots of useful support and advice.  He has also launched a benefits calculator on this hub, so people can ensure they’re not missing out on any support they might be entitled to: http://better-off.london.gov.uk
• Debt Free London offers a free helpline with trained and accredited advisors supporting Londoners with all types of money worries – from rent and council tax arrears, to credit card and catalogue debt.
• Haringey Food Support Map | HCFN – community of food banks with location details, distance, days operating and types of food items carried.
• Turn2Us is a charity that has a useful benefits calculator to check you’re receiving all the support you might be entitled to.
• Moneyhelper is a website that provides free, impartial advice on money issues including benefits, and if you enter your postcode it can also tell you about services available locally.
• Get help with NHS prescriptions and health costs – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) – assesses if someone is eligible for a discount on their NHS prescription
• Help with bills – CCW – checks if someone is eligible for a social tariff / support paying their water bill

Help with energy costs

• UK energy crisis: will bills go up and should I switch supplier? – this newspaper article explains if and how consumers should switch their energy provider
• Please do visit your local Citizens Advice Bureau for energy advice. The website includes some excellent information about grants and benefits available to help you pay your energy bills as well as more general help with the cost of living – Citizens Advice
• Money Saving Expert allows your to compare energy deals and this page is updated weekly
• Money Saving Market offers useful energy saving tips
• Ofgem can help with high energy bill
• Please do visit Shelter as they can offer useful information on keeping your home warm
• SHINE is a charity that can help with high energy bills

What should I do to cope with the increasing cost of energy?

1. Make sure you are receiving any benefits you’re entitled to (you can check what you should be getting by using the Turn2Us benefits calculator to check this: https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/)
2. Ask a local food bank if they issue fuel vouchers (you can find a local food bank here: https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/)
3. Contact your local council to ask for fuel vouchers or a grant from the Household Support Fund
4. Ask your energy supplier for emergency credit and/or a discretionary discount
5. If you have a pre-payment meter and your impairment means your health would be negatively affected by your heat or electricity going off, ask your energy supplier to replace the meter with a conventional type
6. If you use an oxygen concentrator at home, claim the rebate from your supplier (Details about how to claim are here: https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/government-payments-discounts-heating-bills/)
7. If you pay care charges and your disability-related expenses were not taken into account during your means test, ask for a financial reassessment (use this template letter to request this, listing your disability-related expenses – https://97f2d5a9-ec44-4459-bc22-4c8c4ff0fdb2.filesusr.com/ugd/4e74de_25c50ed35dd24765ab2d4bb05e8dd8f7.docx?dn=Requesting-a-review-of-financial-assessment.docx

I have been raising concerns in Parliament about people on pre-payment meters, who are often the most vulnerable, being subject to higher charges and at greater risk of seeing their energy supplies cut off.  I have written to the Minister to raise my concerns and you can view my speech in a recent Parlliamentary debate here: