Citizens Advice Scotland is urging people to come to the CAB network for help in a new campaign launched today, Our Advice Adds Up.
The call comes as new research for CAS finds that one in ten people in Scotland have no money left after covering essential monthly expenses, even before soaring rises in energy bills next month.
Analysis of the polling, carried out for CAS by by YouGov, reveals that 10 per cent of people had no money left each month after covering taxes, housing, utilities and food. Based on Scotland’s population estimates this works out to 452,958 people.
A further 18 per cent of respondents had less than £125 left over each month. Taken together this means over 1.2 million people in Scotland have less than £125 left over each month. Research from the Resolution Foundation suggests monthly energy costs for a typical household are set to jump by £169 from September to October.
CAS is warning that people are facing a financial cliff edge this autumn, with the energy price cap set to increase to £3,549 in October.
Launching the Our Advice Adds Up campaign, CAS Chief Executive Derek Mitchell said:
“People are facing a devastating financial cliff edge this autumn, as energy bills soar and inflation shows no signs of slowing down.
“It’s important to understand what this actually means for people. Half a million people have nothing left after covering essential bills – they literally cannot afford another big increase in bills and prices.
“Over a million people have less than £125 left over – and next month average monthly bills are going up by £169.
“That’s why we’ve launched Our Advice Adds Up to encourage people to seek advice if they are struggling with the cost of living.
“People can get help from their local CAB, or check online resources like our public advice site, www.moneymap.scot or www.checkmycounciltax.scot.
“Our advisers deliver real results – one in five people who seek advice see some sort of financial gain, and the average value of that gain is over £4,400. That can be life-changing money for people.
"Our advice is free, confidential and impartial. We're for everyone, regardless of background and circumstance so our message to people is to seek CAB advice – it can really add up.”
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
Further information on the campaign is available here.
Data from YouGov profiles question asked on 24 July 2022
Personal monthly discretionary income (last 30 days)
“Approximately how much do you personally have available to spend each month as ‘discretionary income’, that is to say money left over after deducting taxes (including council tax) as well as expenditure on accommodation, utilities and food?”
|
Scotland |
Count |
Weighted base |
Population estimate |
|
|
Nothing |
10% |
145 |
1,416 |
452,958 |
|
Less than £125 |
18% |
251 |
1,416 |
781,646 |
|
£125 to £249 |
16% |
224 |
1,416 |
699,018 |
|
£250 to £499 |
18% |
249 |
1,416 |
777,720 |
|
£500 to £749 |
7% |
99 |
1,416 |
310,115 |
|
£750 to £999 |
7% |
101 |
1,416 |
314,501 |
|
£1,000 to £1,249 |
3% |
45 |
1,416 |
141,650 |
|
£1,250 to £1,499 |
1% |
9 |
1,416 |
28,241 |
|
£1,500 to £1,749 |
2% |
29 |
1,416 |
89,519 |
|
£1,750 to £1,999 |
0% |
4 |
1,416 |
12,575 |
|
£2,000 or more |
2% |
28 |
1,416 |
87,560 |
|
Don't know |
9% |
129 |
1,416 |
403,437 |
|
Prefer not to say |
7% |
101 |
1,416 |
315,392 |
From the Resolution Foundation report “A chilling crisis”
“As Figure 4 shows, monthly energy costs for a typical household are set to jump by £169 from September to October, before more than doubling again to £613 (close to £20 per day) come January.”
Source: https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/app/uploads/2022/08/A-chilling-crisis.pdf