The 2019 Act establishes a new two-part definition whereby a household is considered fuel poor if:
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- after housing costs have been deducted, more than 10% (20% for extreme fuel poverty) of their net income is required to pay for their reasonable fuel needs; and
- after further adjustments are made to deduct childcare costs and any benefits received for a disability or care need, their remaining income is insufficient to maintain an acceptable standard of living, defined as being at least 90% of the UK Minimum Income Standard (MIS)
The previous definition was based on the first part of the new definition only. The change will target fuel poverty funding better, defining out those with high incomes.
The figures supplied for 2021 which are based on the surveys done over the three-year period 2017 - 2019.
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