MSE News: 'Poor families must get fair energy deal'

Former_MSE_Guy · 11 January 2011 at 6:45PM

This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:

"Save the Children wants the hard-up to get the £130 a year rebate elderly people will receive under Government plans ..."

Read the full story:
'Poor families must get fair energy deal'

hatchy · 11 January 2011 at 8:00PM

'Poor' families there through no fault of their own, yes. Those supposedly poor yet still manage to smoke god knows how many fags a day and have homes full of the latest games consoles/large screen tv's et al, by scrounging off the state having never had a job, not a chance.
This isn't a post by someone 'well off' I'm a Farm Worker.

Cardew · 11 January 2011 at 8:04PM

The problem, started by the last Government and continued by the present lot, is that any rebate or subsidy is paid for by other gas and electricity customers by means of a levy.

This levy takes no note of income. So take, say, a pensioner couple who are not well off but don't meet the criteria for this subsidy. They pay exactly the same amount extra as an affluent couple with the same energy consumption.

The same principle applies to the levy we all pay for solar/wind generation - except in this case the subsidy goes to those who can afford a £15,000 solar system or the venture capitalists funding the 'rent a roof' schemes. The poor subsidising the well off!

I am all for the welfare state and if poor families need help, then it should be provided by the Government - and funded by taxation.

Graham29 · 11 January 2011 at 8:10PM

Why is it always families that need extra help and will suffer the most? Another example was on the news the other evening, "families to be hit by VAT increase" Do us single folk who work full time, have a low income, yet get diddly squat not feel the pinch?

cing0 · 11 January 2011 at 8:22PM

Well if it gets rid of social tariffs which are implemented inconsistently across the range of suppliers, then so be it.
At least eligible pensioners will be able to chose a suppler and tariff they want and then get a rebate - social tariff prices are obfuscated.
I don't think it costs more to be poor, it just costs more to have kids.

FATBALLZ · 11 January 2011 at 8:23PM

That's funny, when I was a student I remember being poor but I didn't pay any more for things then than I do now. This site and other various organisations need to stop generalising people who are !!!! with money as 'poor', however I suppose pleading for handouts for people who are !!!! with money doesn't quite tug on the old heartstrings as much as pleading for help for the 'poor'. The kind of people who would waste £700 on a £200 cooker are the very same who would !!!! a £130 rebate up the wall in a second, handouts are not the answer, education is.

Joyful · 12 January 2011 at 12:18AM

The people that I think should be helped is single people on benefits. They have a lot less money coming in than those with children. Anyway doesn't the government give Child tax credits to bring poor families up to an acceptable amount of money to live on?

savemoney · 12 January 2011 at 12:24AM

Not all poor smoke, drink or fit the other label they have watch sky all day long

Also you dont have to be poor to be scrounging off the state as you put it, you can be poor working too

Many people who dont work arent shy to work they may be ill, or cant find a job, its hard out there looking for work, even part times jobs are getting harder

hatchy wrote: »

'Poor' families there through no fault of their own, yes. Those supposedly poor yet still manage to smoke god knows how many fags a day and have homes full of the latest games consoles/large screen tv's et al, by scrounging off the state having never had a job, not a chance.
This isn't a post by someone 'well off' I'm a Farm Worker.

Snakeeyes21 · 12 January 2011 at 3:08AM

Graham29 wrote: »

Why is it always families that need extra help and will suffer the most? Another example was on the news the other evening, "families to be hit by VAT increase" Do us single folk who work full time, have a low income, yet get diddly squat not feel the pinch?

You expect something from the government? us singletons are only good for one thing and thats raking in the tax from us.

Stuff families and the elderly they get plenty, they should just manage their money better, no 'family' in this country is hard up, even if the parents are working a minimum wage job they get atleast the same again in benefits and tax credits.

The people who are hard up and struggling the most are the unemployed, single under 25's because LHA rates dont cover rent and the short fall has to be taken out the £60 odd quid they get a week, leaving very little for food and bills, even the elderly are better off than them.

Even if you do work you arent entitled to anything untill you reach the magical number of 25 when the govenment thinks that you suddenly have more expenses

Here is an idea, why dont people just not have sprogs if they cant afford everything that that brings.

Ken68 · 12 January 2011 at 8:21AM

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wms/?id=2010-12-02a.86WS.1

Seems to be about identifying and targeting the more vulnerable customers. Surely this has already been done . If extra money is needed to bring down winter deaths, then just add it to fixed and 'applied for' benefits.

Former_MSE_Andrea · 12 January 2011 at 12:50PM

Hi everyone

By all means debate the merits, or not, of the news story but can you do it pleasantly please?

Thanks!

Andrea

MSE News: 'Poor families must get fair energy deal'

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