On the Money: Could you be in fuel poverty?

If you struggle to afford to heat your home properly, you could be in fuel poverty.

Millions across the country are and London is one of Britain’s fuel poverty hot spots. Senior energy company officials and government ministers have suggested in the past that people should cope with unaffordable heating bills by putting on an extra jumper.

The reality is that inadequate heating can have unforgivable consequences. There were 26,000 “excess winter deaths” (above what is normal for the season) last year because of poorly-insulated homes and high bills.

New research from fuel poverty charity National Energy Action shows that cold homes claim lives and cost every local health trust in England more than £27,000 each day on treating patients with health conditions caused or worsened by living in cold, damp housing.

It’s not just the elderly and vulnerable who become victims, warned the National Children’s Bureau. It pointed out that living in a cold home leads to an increased risk of children suffering a range of health problems from asthma and bronchitis to poor mental health, as well as being a factor in their educational attainment and general well-being.

One young Lambeth parent told the charity: “No one can understand fuel poverty unless they have lived in it. Fuel poverty is when you wake up to find you have no gas, no money and two days till payday. You have to feed cold food to your children and wrap them up in coats, gloves and scarves indoors or trail them around the shops all day to keep them warm.”

Anne MacDonald lives in Tower Hamlets in East London, which has been highlighted as one of the country’s fuel poverty hot spots.

“I’m a mum of four and one of my children has cerebral palsy, so I have to make sure I plan carefully and paying high energy bills can be a struggle,” she said.

She’s been helped by a new Facebook community project called Fuelling Connections, which aims to help households struggling with fuel poverty and to encourage members to share tips and experiences.