Energy Bill Fear and Council Tax Arrears
Money Box
BBC
4.2 • 825 Ratings
🗓️ 16 May 2026
⏱️ 25 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Are we at the start of a deepening cost of living crisis as nearly half of all adults fear they might not be able afford their energy bills?
And from next year, councils in England will be banned from demanding householders pay their council tax in full if they are only late with one payment.
HMRC warns of scammers as it begins taking back Winter Fuel Payment from more than two million higher income pensioners.
Also, the rise of the poly worker. Why young people are fixing their sights on a portfolio career.
Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporters: Dan Whitworth and Niamh McDermott Researcher: Jo Krasner Editor: Rob Cave Senior News Editor: Sara Wadeson
(First broadcast Saturday 18th April 2026)
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. |
| 0:07.3 | On BBC Sounds, there are podcasts to help you look after your body and your mind. |
| 0:12.7 | From increasing your immunity to feeling more confident. |
| 0:16.6 | Or tips on how to focus. |
| 0:18.5 | Sorry, what will you say? |
| 0:19.7 | If it matters to you, it matters to us. |
| 0:22.6 | Feel good inside of them. |
| 0:24.3 | With What's Up Docs. |
| 0:25.8 | And Complex with Kimberly Wilson. |
| 0:27.9 | Listen on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:30.5 | Hello, welcome to this Moneybox podcast. |
| 0:33.5 | The government is to ban councils in England from demanding that householders pay their council tax in full if they're late with just one payment. |
| 0:41.9 | Beware the thieves, the revenue warns, as it begins taking back winter fuel payment from higher-income pensioners. |
| 0:49.2 | And Polly can't just put the kettle on. |
| 0:51.3 | She must clean a care home, drive a taxi and write about her outfits |
| 0:55.1 | on social media. Gen Z goes crazy for poly-employment. But we start with the cost of heating, |
| 1:03.4 | lighting, cooking at home. New research seen exclusively by this program done for the debt |
| 1:08.4 | charity step chains suggest 45% of adults are worried about paying for their electricity and gas, a big increase from 29% at the start of this year. |
| 1:18.9 | It comes as the latest data from the energy regulator OfGEM shows the total amount of money owed by consumers to energy providers is more than four and a half billion |
| 1:29.0 | pounds and that's money owed for three months or more. Dan Whitworth's been looking at the numbers, Dan. |
| 1:35.1 | Well, what we're actually talking about here, Paul, is how people just like Beth Hughes |
| 1:39.5 | from Newport are struggling to pay their energy bills. She owes around £2,000 to her supplier. That is money |
... |
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