I have been contacted in the past few months by so many constituents who are struggling with the rising cost of living.
The Government will bring forward its budget on Wednesday 6th March and MPs are invited to make ‘budget representations’ to the Chancellor. As I form my representation, I want to know what your priorities are, so the Chancellor is under no illusion what the key concerns are for residents in North Lancashire.
I therefore invite you to complete the survey which you can find here. The more responses I receive, the stronger a message I can convey to the Treasury about the need for them to act.
I understand how worrying it is for costs to continue to rise whilst wages have stagnated and how much financial worries can seem to take over your life. I have set up this page to be a reference point for support which is available both locally and nationally.
I am very aware that most of these schemes have strict eligibility criteria and not everyone will be able to benefit from them. Equally, I know that for many of you they simply will not provide enough to make a meaningful dent in the burden of rising costs.
I believe that the level of Government support provided is insufficient, ineffective, and too exclusive. I have raised this in Parliament several times and will continue to advocate for better support at every opportunity.
In the meantime, I hope that you know you are not alone in this crisis and encourage you as much as I can to reach out for support when you need it. My inbox (cat.smith.mp@parliament.uk) is always open to you to share any concerns, stories or questions you may have.
Government Support:
You may be eligible for benefits or financial support from the Government and not know it. Use this calculator to find out: https://www.gov.uk/check-benefits-financial-support
This web page: https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/help-with-your-bills/ provides an overview of the Government support available for energy bills. You can also contact your energy supplier if you are struggling – many are providing support at the moment.
The NHS Healthy Start Scheme: https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/
Household Support Fund: Lancaster City Council: https://www.lancaster.gov.uk/sites/cost-of-living/financial-support-for-households
Local Support:
Local Food Banks and Food Clubs: There are many different local food banks or food clubs who are there to help you if you are struggling to afford food and necessities. Lancaster and Wyre Councils have both listed what is available at the links below:
Warm Welcome: https://www.warmwelcome.uk/#find-a-space
Cosy Homes in Lancashire: https://www.chil.uk.com/
Useful Links:
These are some of the many organisations providing free, independent and typically confidential advice about any financial worries you may have:
Local Energy Advice Partnership: https://applyforleap.org.uk/
MoneyHelper: https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en#
Money Saving Expert Cost of Living: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/cost-of-living-survival-kit/
Citizens Advice: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/get-help-with-the-cost-of-living/
National Debt Line: https://nationaldebtline.org/
Financial worries can also hugely impact your mental health. If you find yourself struggling, it is so important to reach out and talk to somebody. These are some of the many free helplines you can contact: