Citizens Advice responds to new cost of living measures announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves
Responding to the Chancellor's announcement, Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said:
"With budgets strained across the country, free bus travel and help with food costs will make a real difference for families this summer.
"But the people coming to us every 30 seconds in crisis aren't just worrying about August, they're already struggling now and fear things will only get worse as winter hits. Today's announcement doesn't address the urgent need for a plan to tackle record energy debt, or the huge uncertainties people face with their finances.
"The government must deliver the much-delayed Energy Debt Relief Scheme now and ensure any targeted support reaches those who need it most, such as families with children and disabled people. To truly get a grip on cost-of-living pressures, it must also look at the biggest challenges for household budgets, including housing costs and record debt levels. Summer savings are welcome, but the government needs to help people now and make a serious plan for winter."
-ends- We are the people's champion. We give people the knowledge and confidence they need to find their way forward - whoever they are, and whatever their problem. Notes to editors:
Citizens Advice is the people’s champion - supporting people across England, Wales and the Channel Islands through: the national charity Citizens Advice; the network of independent local Citizens Advice charities; and the Citizens Advice consumer service.
Our network of charities offers impartial advice online, over the phone, and in person, for free.
Citizens Advice helped 2.71 million people face to face, over the phone, by email and webchat in 2024-25. And we had 44 million visits to our website. For full service statistics see our monthly publication Advice trends.
Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 19,500 trained volunteers, working at over 1,900 locations across England, Wales and the Channel Islands.
Citizens Advice is the statutory consumer advocate for energy and postal markets. We provide supplier performance information to consumers and policy analysis to decision makers.
Citizens Advice consumer service can help with consumer issues like broken or faulty goods, or problems with energy, heat networks or post. You can get advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133 or 0808 223 1144 for Welsh language speakers