Bolton South East: Two thirds fear they won't be able to heat homes

This comes after research from the House of Commons Library found that  nearly double the national average of people in Bolton South East are currently claiming Universal Credit or Job Seekers Allowance.

In that same area, campaign group 38 Degrees has found that as more than 60 per cent of people are worried they won’t be able to afford to heat themselves while just over a third fear they could be made homeless.

Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi said: “The recent data from both the House of Commons library and 38 Degrees makes for incredibly concerning reading.

“I am genuinely deeply concerned for the wellbeing of so many of my constituents who are forced to turn to inadequate welfare support because of a lack of job opportunity or the inability to work."

Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi (Image: Yasmin Qureshi MP)

Around 6.7 per cent of people in Bolton South East are currently claiming for Universal Credit, which includes many people in work, or Job Seekers Allowance. 

In the same area, figures from 38 Degrees show that 67 per cent of respondents worried they wouldn’t be able to afford heating bills, while 35 per cent feared becoming homeless.

Another 35 per cent were concerned about having to resort to food banks to feed their families.

This comes with energy bills set to rise by around £2,500 per household per year.

Ms Qureshi has said they she feels that the government’s ‘mixed messaging’ on welfare and whether benefits will be raised in line with inflation or in line with earnings is adding to the stress felt by families in her constituency.

The Child Poverty Action Group has also warned that if the government decides to raise benefits in line with earnings rather than inflation this could push a further 200,000 children into poverty.

The impact is likely to be especially acute in Bolton, where more than a third of children already live in poverty, well above the national average.

Ms Qureshi said: “If the government refuses to raise benefits in line with inflation then we risk pushing hundreds of thousands of people into poverty.

“Not only is it economically illiterate, as benefit increases produce a positive impact on local economies, it is morally wrong.

“We need to ensure our welfare system works for all and provides an adequate safety net the current forecasted increased in the cost of living would suggest it is far from adequate.”

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But the government has said that there are measures in place to support the most vulnerable families across the country while more could yet be announced in the near future.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: “The Secretary of State commences her statutory annual review of benefits and state pensions from late October using the most recent prices and earnings indices available.

“We are committed to looking after the most vulnerable which is why we’ve delivered at least £1,200 of support to families this winter while also saving households an average of £1,000 a year through our energy price guarantee.

“This support is on top of the annual working-age benefits bill which is over £87billion.”