Stirling CAB welcome Chancellor cost of living help - but more still needs to be done

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Newly-announced measures to help those living on the breadline in Stirling have been welcomed - but there are fears they won’t be enough to reverse the current situation for many.The cost of living crisis has been prompted by mammoth rises in energy prices, fuel and food costs on top of existing squeezes in the rate of inflation and changes to benefit entitlements.The situation prompted Chancellor Rishi Sunak to announce a £21 billion package of measures last week aimed at reducing the burden, including a £400 rebate on energy bills and an extra one-off payment of £650 to around eight million struggling households.Staff at Stirling Citizens’ Advice Bureau, which help those seeking support with their bills, offered a cautious welcome to the moves.Stirling CAB CEO Craig Anderson said: “The cost of living crisis is unprecedented in recent social and economic history.“The rising cost of living are pushing the vast majority of Stirling residents into fuel poverty and a significant further number into extreme fuel poverty, meaning they are spending more than 20 per cent of their available income on fuel.“With the associated cost of food and petrol increases - which is disproportionate in rural communities - it is the perfect storm.“People are having to make difficult choices, food bank usage has increased greatly of late, as has our crisis intervention work.“Food insecurity doesn’t happen in isolation.

For many people, the overall cost of living is simply too high, and incomes are not keeping up.“This means having to make difficult choices between – for example – topping up their pre-payment energy meter or buying that week’s shop.“Some of the measures announced by the Chancellor will provide some respite, however in reality