'Seek help' advice to people worried about gas price rise
ISLANDERS struggling to cope with rising fuel prices must seek help instead of falling into debt, organisations and agencies have warned.
This was the message from several groups that are looking to support residents on the poverty line, including the elderly who may be too apprehensive to seek the support they need through support funds and the benefits system.
It comes after an announcement that gas prices would go up by 2.9% from 12 September, which equates to an extra 10p per day for an average user.
Age Concern chairman Lester Queripel, pictured, said crucial help could be provided through supplementary benefit in Guernsey and Age Concern would be seeking to repeat its new fuel fund, which was launched last winter to provide additional support.
He said that States politicians were always available to support pensioners who were anxious about attending meetings to claim for support.
'If they are struggling, they must apply for supplementary benefit,' he said. 'The message I get from many pensioners is that they find it daunting. If they want to go to Social Security, any deputy will help them.
'Any pensioner struggling now will have an extra 70p a week they have to find from somewhere.'
