A new study has found six in 10 voters want targeted support for struggling households in order to cater for rising living costs and energy bills, according to Public First.
The results from the poll are expected to increase pressure on politicians to optimise and use the Universal Credit welfare system to direct more public money to struggling households across the UK.
62% of voters say that struggling households should receive specific help with energy with a similar proportion backing help with water bills (59%) and the cost of food (58%).
As showcased, the general public believe catering for rising energy prices, amid the costs-of-living crisis, is more important than other necessary outgoings such as food and water bills. This increases the urgency for the government to support vulnerable households with their energy bills.
The researchers said the findings show public opinion is swinging behind interventions and is instead being targeted according to income. This will help families with the broader cost-of-living crisis.
“These numbers suggest that, as the crunch hits this autumn, support will swing further behind a more broad-based support for households struggling to cope with multiple higher costs,” said Daisy Powell-Chandler of Public First.
“Interventions using Universal Credit to support the finances of those on low incomes or other targeted payments are likely to find solid support among the public – including Conservative voters – so would-be prime ministers should study these results carefully.”
The data released today is part of a joint project on the long-term future of energy bill support being conducted by Citizens Advice, the Social Market Foundation think-tank, and Public First, a research consultancy.
Cornwall Insight released its final predictions for October’s Default Tariff Cap this week showing that a typical household will be paying £3,554 equivalent per year for their energy bills.
This is slightly below previous estimations, which indicated the average household could pay £3,582, however it still indicates a rise by over £200.
These startling increases will have a substantial impact on the welfare system in the UK and more of the public and organisations are pushing for greater support from the government.
Rising living costs even prompted the National Health Service (NHS) to make a rare letter to the government asking to limit energy bill increases and provide further support to households in need, in order to avoid a public health emergency.
“After Britain’s last economic crisis, political rhetoric and public attitudes on welfare hardened and some politicians sadly resorted to labelling welfare recipients ‘shirkers’,” said James Kirkup of the Social Market Foundation.
“This research shows how much has changed. The scale of the energy bills crisis and the resulting pressure on the cost of living is shifting public opinion in favour of more support for those in need.
“The community spirit revealed in the pandemic clearly holds strong in today’s opinions on the need for targeted help for those in need. Politicians of all parties should make sure they keep pace with today’s public attitudes on welfare and the cost of living instead of living in the past.”