A very Happy New Year to all readers of this weekly column in the Brentwood Gazette. It’s been a cold and frosty start to the New Year, to the extent Cold Weather Payments have been triggered in the following postcode areas in my Brentwood and Ongar constituency:
CM12, CM13, CM14, CM15, CM16, CM4, CM5 and RM4.
Cold Weather Payments are made to recipients of selected benefits. If you think you might be eligible and are not yet receiving the payments, you can find out more about how to claim here: https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment
For some people, the cold weather means their day to day cost of living rises even more, and we are still waiting for the £300 cut to energy bills that the Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, had promised voters before the General Election.
A Which? survey has found that 52 per cent of British households were making financial adjustments in October 2025 to cover essential costs such as utility bills, housing, and the weekly shop. These adjustments include dipping into savings, selling possessions, or borrowing. Perhaps even more worrying a third of households surveyed believe their financial situation will deteriorate in the next 12 months citing rising bills, food prices, and tax rises.
If you, or someone you know, is struggling to pay bills, keep warm and keep fed, please do reach out to those who can help you, including the Department for Work and Pensions, Citizens Advice, the Brentwood Food Bank and the Daily Bread Café. If you need help in find out who can best help you, do get in touch with me at [email protected] or via my website, and I will make sure you have the information you need to access the help which is available to you.
