Citizens Advice Stockport provided 73% more support in January 2023

Citizens Advice Stockport has revealed it helped 709 local residents with support this January, an increase of 73% compared to January 2022.

The charity has reported unwelcome record demand in 2022 for its support for cost-of-living related issues, particularly compared to previous years. In 2022, Citizens Advice Stockport helped more than 200,000 people with crisis support (such as food bank referrals and emergency charitable support, a figure nearly 50% higher than 2021 and more than double the numbers helped in 2020.

The situation has only continued to get worse: in January 2023, Citizens Advice Stockport helped 3 people every minute with crisis support. In 2022, the top three cost-of-living issues people across Stockport sought help with were personal independence payments, energy, and charitable support and food banks.

Steve Hughes, Chief Officer of Citizens Advice Stockport said:

“Citizens Advice Stockport, Oldham, Rochdale and Trafford has seen huge demand for its services over the past 12 months. 

“Every day we hear from people in desperate situations, who are struggling to get by and have been pushed to breaking point by the cost-of-living crisis.

“We’re helping people on benefits, workers, families, pensioners and lots of people who have never needed to access support before.

“People continue to cut back on essentials in a desperate attempt to keep their heads above the water, this crisis is far from over.”

The charity is now calling on energy regulator Ofgem, government and energy companies themselves to continue with support, through ending forced installation of prepayment meters, and retain the Energy Price Guarantee to limit how much energy suppliers can charge at its current level.

Citizens Advice is also calling for action to protect private renters from poor living conditions, and for the sector to be subject to the same standards as social housing over mould, damp and draughty properties. The charity is asking those with experience living with damp in a privately rented property to share their stories. All responses are anonymous and may be used to support our local and national campaign work (in social media or in the news media).