Mind responds to Energy Price Guarantee announcement
Today the UK government have announced plans for an Energy Price Guarantee.
Responding to the announcement, Vicki Nash, Associate Director of Policy, Campaigns and Public Affairs at Mind, said:
“The Energy Price Guarantee announcement will come as a relief to everyone across the country, but particularly people with mental health problems. We are fast approaching what could be the most difficult winter in decades, and for those on the lowest incomes - many of whom have poor mental health - there was never any prospect of being able to afford increasing costs.
“We are concerned that energy prices are not the only costs going up, and many of the people we help are also struggling with other costs right now. In addition to the Energy Price Guarantee, we need to see real, systematic change to our benefits system to support those on the lowest incomes. The UK government must urgently bring forward the inflation-based increase in benefits payments, to make sure people's income can cover the basics such as food, toiletries and travel. If the government's upcoming budget does not address this, millions of people will be pushed further into poverty, and in some cases, destitution."
