Govt policy changes having "devastating impact on those with mental health issues"

The Chancellor says their energy bills support scheme is being scaled back

Author: Kathy GreenPublished 18th Oct 2022

What has the Government announced?

Jeremy Hunt has revealed he is reversing "almost all" of the tax cuts announced in his predecessor's mini-budget and is scaling back support for energy bills.

In an emergency statement, the chancellor said a 1p cut to income tax will be delayed "indefinitely" until the UK's finances improve instead of being introduced in April 2023 as announced in Kwasi Kwarteng's mini-budget three weeks ago.

Mr Hunt, who only stepped into the job on Friday, said the government's energy price guarantee will only be universal until April - not for two years as originally planned.

After April, the scheme will be more targeted following a review into how to support people's energy bills from that time, he said. It was originally in place for two years to limit the price that suppliers could charge for each unit of energy.

What has the reaction been to the changes to the energy price cap policy?

Charities and organisations have pointed to the impact changing policy will have on those already struggling with their mental health because of the rising cost of living.

Johny Haycocks from York has severe mental health issues and says all the uncertainty is really upsetting: "For people like myself, it could trigger a whole catastrophic period of time now, till April, everyone like myself is going to be on 100% anxiety every day on what's coming next."

The Government claim the new approach will better incentivise energy efficiency, but Johny says he's already cut down as much as possible "The light from the television is the only light at night time now really, I'll flick the light on if I'm making a hot drink or anything because I don't want to burn myself but there is no light on at night time."

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