Somerset charity prepares for rise in demand for debt advice services

ASomersetcharityispreparingforasurgeindemandforitsservicesasthecostoflivingrises. TauntonAreaDebtAdvice(TADA)expectstoseemorepeopleseekinghelpashouseholdbillsincreaseinApril. WaterbillsintheWessexWaterareawillrisefromanaverageannualbillof£556to£669. Theannualenergybillforahouseholdusinganaverageamountofgasandelectricitywillincreaseby£111peryearto£1,849. SomersetCouncilhasbeengivenpermissiontoraisecounciltaxabovetheusualfivepercentlimit,anditislikelytobearound7.5percent,whichwouldaddanother£129peryearforabandDproperty. ADVERTISEMENTTherewillalsoberisesincartaxandTVlicences,both£5peryear,andmobilesim-onlycontractsarescheduledtorisebyaround£18peryear. Thecostoffoodandbasichouseholdgoodsisstillincreasingfasterthantheaveragerateofinflation. Asaresultofthesechanges,itishighlylikelythatmorepeoplewillfindthemselvesindebt,andthosealreadystrugglingareinevitablygoingtospiraldeeperintodebt. TADAprovidesfree,confidential,non-j