About 2m UK households have been forced to turn off their fridge or freezer to save money as they continue to struggle with what poverty campaigners called a “frightening” level of hardship.

Nearly half of those households said that since May they had to disconnect their fridge or freezer for the first time, a sign the cost of living crisis was still hurting low-income families, according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) charity.

Millions of families were still resorting to “desperate measures” to cope with rising bills and prices, it said, with four out of five households on universal credit also going without food, turning off the heating, and not replacing worn-out clothing.

The JRF’s latest cost of living crisis tracker survey found that in October a quarter (2.8m) of UK low-income households ran up debt to pay for food, a third sold belongings to raise cash, and one in six had used community “warm rooms”.

The findings come amid concerns among poverty charities that ministers are looking to reduce financial help for low income families at next week’s autumn statement by cutting benefits and winding down cost of living support payments.

The JRF said that although the government had allocated more than £12bn in targeted cost of living support, and inflation has begun to fall, 7.3m households had gone without food and other essentials in the last six months, suggesting the crisis was far from over.

There is speculation ministers could freeze the value of working age benefits from next April, which would raise billions for the Treasury but make about 9m households lose out on an estimated average of £460, and push lower income families even further into poverty.

“Millions of families unplugging their fridges and freezers is the latest chapter in a long-running story of hardship. People risk becoming sick from eating spoiled food and going without healthy, fresh food. This risks lasting harm to the health of millions,” said Peter Matejic, chief analyst at the JRF.

“The picture isn’t getting better for low income families even as inflation starts to come down. Too many are taking out loans to pay for food, selling their belongings and using warm banks to try and get by.”

He added: “It’s unconscionable that the government is reportedly considering cutting struggling families’ benefits to fund tax cuts. In the upcoming autumn statement benefits must be increased in line with inflation and local housing allowance must be unfrozen to support private renters with their housing costs.”

jmoore:
They have 24/7 electricity everywhere in their country. Unlike your country ran by criminal leaders that is generating 5,000 megawatts for 180 million people.

2mch:

Trust you can never afford what they pay for electricity. Most people abroad can barely afford to eat because food has gone up over 100%. Cost of living crises is a global issue. My friend pays electricity bill of equivalent 200k a month for 2 bedroom flat.

2mch:

Trust you can never afford what they pay for electricity. Most people abroad can barely afford to eat because food has gone up over 100%. Cost of living crises is a global issue. My friend pays electricity bill of equivalent 200k a month for 2 bedroom flat.

blamingthedevil:
Millions of UK households forced to unplug fridge to cope with rising bills


https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/14/millions-of-uk-households-forced-to-unplug-fridge-to-cope-with-rising-bills

2mch:

Trust you can never afford what they pay for electricity. Most people abroad can barely afford to eat because food has gone up over 100%. Cost of living crises is a global issue. My friend pays electricity bill of equivalent 200k a month for 2 bedroom flat.

advanceDNA:


200k is now less than 200pounds oooo ..that's cheap oooooo bill oooo

EmeeNaka:
Do not be deceived. People that lives in the UK earns in UK pounds and paying an energy bill equivalent to 200k naira a month is not very big as the person would want you to believe.

EmeeNaka:
Do not be deceived. People that lives in the UK earns in UK pounds and paying an energy bill equivalent to 200k naira a month is not very big as the person would want you to believe.

Ikaeniyan0:
I don't see their present prime minister wining the election next year

jmoore:

They have food banks over there.

Tell your friend to relocate back to Nigeria.

Whalis:
This is no news as people in UK do not need fridge in the first place. Heating system is the first priority and not freezer.

2mch:

Provide him ticket and accommodation in Nigeria plus a job that will pay his bills and he will come back. Many can’t even afford to fly back home.

EmeeNaka:
Do not be deceived. People that lives in the UK earns in UK pounds and paying an energy bill equivalent to 200k naira a month is not very big as the person would want you to believe.

coetech:
Uk has always been a crazy society when it comes to tax

Antiurchins:
a plus for jagabandit adminstration

2mch:

Trust you can never afford what they pay for electricity. Most people abroad can barely afford to eat because food has gone up over 100%. Cost of living crises is a global issue. My friend pays electricity bill of equivalent 200k a month for 2 bedroom flat.

jmoore:
They have 24/7 electricity everywhere in their country. Unlike your country ran by criminal leaders that is generating 5,000 megawatts for 180 million people.

Goodvibes007:

Let us blame Tinubu. The UK only started unplugging their refrigerators after Tinubu got elected.