A family forced to “share bathwater” due to rising costs has joined the growing call for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to increase the £10 Christmas bonus.
This payment, introduced in 1972, has remained unchanged for over 50 years and is given to those receiving certain benefits.
Stephen Farrell, 43, lives in Greater Manchester with his wife and two disabled daughters. He told the i paper that the family struggles with soaring energy bills and the stagnant value of Government benefits.
Mr Farrell said that his family, which includes a 20-year-old daughter with multiple sclerosis and a 15-year-old daughter with autism, ADHD, and dyspraxia, is already cutting back to prepare for tough winter months.
Mr Farrell, who left his job as an account to care for his children, told the i: “We’re cutting back now to prepare for what could be coming.”
Both he and his wife now work part-time as childminders to supplement their benefits, but it’s not enough to keep up with inflation.
The family’s heating bill has more than doubled in recent years from £110 to £225 a month, despite using less energy due to solar panels. To cut costs further, the family has reduced heating use, impacting their eldest daughter, who needs warmth due to her condition.
As a result, the family said they have returned to sharing bathwater—something Mr Farrell never thought he’d be doing again. He said: “As awful as it is, we’ve gone back to sharing bathwater – once one person has finished with the bathwater, someone else can get in it. I remember doing that in the 80s with my cousins as a kid. It’s not something I ever thought I would be doing again as an adult.”
Mr Farrell said the £10 Christmas bonus is far from helpful in today’s economy. He initially thought there had been a mistake when the payment arrived, noting that while £10 had significant value in the 1970s, it now barely covers a single day’s energy costs.
Calls for the bonus to rise with inflation have gained traction, with a petition demanding change attracting over 18,000 signatures. If adjusted for inflation, the payment is estimated to now be worth £114.75.
The calls for the increase follow the Labour Government’s recent move to reduce the eligibility criteria for the Winter Fuel Allowance, worth up to £300, to help fill a £22billion hole in the nation’s finances.
The DWP have so far announced no changes to the Christmas Bonus this year.
