Struggling Brent and Harrow households encouraged to reach out to City Hall-backed debt helpline
Brent and Harrow residents struggling with the rising costs of living are being encouraged to contact Debt Free London’s helpline by local London Assembly Member, Krupesh Hirani AM. The number of Londoners contacting the service has more than tripled over the last year and the Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has now pledged £200,000 in support to ensure it can meet rising demand. Mr Hirani is expressing concerns that with rising energy bills, food costs and rents that Harrow’s 65,187 Universal Credit claimants “will be placed at the sharp end” of a growing debt crisis in the capital.
Recent YouGov polling has revealed that over a third of Londoners have found it difficult to keep on top of their household bills in the last six months.
City Hall expects that the Government’s changes to taxes and benefits could plunge another 130,000 Londoners below the breadline, bringing the total number living in poverty in the capital to 3.7 million.
Mr Hirani has also criticised the Government for forcing council tax rises after it has failed to adequately fund the police, fire brigade, adult social care, transport and other public services in the capital.
Recent increases in energy bills have also pushed an estimated 75,000 Londoners into fuel poverty.
The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that in 2019, 33,336 households in Harrow were living in fuel poverty.
This week, The Trussell Trust revealed that nearly half of people referred to food banks in their networks are in debt to the Department of Work and Pensions due to the benefits system.
At the latest Plenary meeting at City Hall, the London Assembly passed motions calling for the weekly £20 Universal Credit uplift to be reinstated, the removal of the benefit cap, an increase in the National Living Wage and for the Government to reconsider its planned hike to National Insurance.
Local London Assembly Member, Krupesh Hirani AM, said:
“So many in our community are facing a perfect storm of a surge in the costs of essentials, rents and household bills, stagnating wages, the upcoming increase in National Insurance and a welfare system that is not fit for purpose.
“On a national level, we just haven’t seen the leadership needed to help households and families on the lowest incomes navigate this cost of living crisis. Thousands in our borough, especially those on Universal Credit, will be at the sharp end of this.
“The Government’s failure to fund vital public services, our police, firefighters and our transport network means that the costs of these are being passed onto hard-pressed Londoners through council tax rises.
“The cold, hard reality is that without urgent and robust Government action, thousands more in our borough are going to be plunged into debt.
“For those struggling, there is help and advice at hand and I would encourage them to reach out to Debt Free London’s helpline which is being supported by the Mayor”.
Call 0800 808 5700 for support