SINGLE people on low wages will spend 43 per cent on average of their income left after housing bills on energy costs.
It means Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s support for gas and electricity costs will bring cold comfort as prices soar in April, campaigners say.
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Their research also reveals lone parent families on low incomes will part with just over a fifth of earnings on energy bills once other bills are paid.
It also shows low income families will spend 16 per cent after housing costs on energy compared with five per cent for middle-class families.
The cost of living analysis by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation highlights the struggle even after the Government’s £200 rebate and £150 council tax rebate for those in bands A to D.
The energy price cap will rocket by £693 a year to £1,971 from April for millions.
Katie Schmuecker, Rowntree deputy director of policy, said: “These families are expected to find at least half of the eye-watering increases in energy bills, when many are already getting into debt to keep their houses warm and food on the table.”
Ministers are under pressure to drop green levies while Labour says it would scrap VAT on home energy bills for a year.
The Treasury said: “We understand that people are concerned . . . which is why the Chancellor announced a £9billion package to protect millions of households against the impact of rising global energy prices.”
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