Wed Sep 18 00:37:00 UTC 2024: ## Postcode Lottery for Essential Bills Costs Millions: Report
**LONDON -** A new report by Citizens Advice (CA) reveals a “postcode lottery” for essential bill support, leaving millions of households across the UK deprived of potentially significant financial relief.
The report, based on a survey of 2,093 adults, found that identical households are receiving vastly different levels of support for water, broadband, and energy bills due to a lack of consistency and proactive efforts by suppliers to promote cheaper social tariffs.
CA estimates that low-income households are missing out on an average of £350 a year, with a staggering £1.9 billion unclaimed for water and broadband schemes alone.
The charity has urged the government to take immediate action, urging suppliers to proactively offer social tariffs to low-income customers. They also advocate for aligning water and broadband charges with existing schemes for energy.
The report highlights the dire situation faced by many households, with half of those surveyed slashing spending on essential items like water, broadband, car insurance, and energy over the past year. Some individuals have even resorted to disconnecting their home broadband or cancelling car insurance.
The Institute for Public Policy Research estimates that 1.4 million households will spend a fifth or more of their disposable income on water, energy, and broadband bills in the next 12 months, a 27% increase since 2021-22.
Despite the need, frontline CA staff report that many individuals in need remain unaware of existing social tariff schemes, and even those aware find it difficult to access them.
CA chief executive, Dame Clare Moriarty, expressed concern, stating, “For too long, people have been in the dark about extra financial support available, which could ultimately affect if someone keeps warm, or falls into debt on their water bill. Solutions to this are hiding in plain sight.”
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