Today we've launched new research Paying More for Less: The Poverty Premium in 2026. To mark the launch our Director, Rebecca Deegan, has written an article in The New Statesman on what a bolder approach to the poverty premium could look like. www.newstatesman.com/spotlight/ec...

Andy Burnham must redress the balance between markets, fairness and poverty

Tackling the "poverty premium" - the extra charges incurred by those on lower incomes - could help millions with the cost-of-living

newstatesman.com

Ending the poverty premium isn’t niche, it’s a popular idea with the public. Our latest blog turns our polling with YouGov into a set of data visualisations to tell the story of political attitudes on the poverty premium. Read the article 👉 fairbydesign.com/public-attit...

As the threat of another energy price shock looms it was good to catch up with energy sector colleagues at the @nea.org.uk annual reception last night. @adamscorer.bsky.social reminded us that one thing we know for sure is that rising energy prices will hit those already struggling the hardest…

The Government has announced support for heating oil to help vulnerable households, delivered through the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) from April, this is a welcome and necessary intervention. Our response 📷

Yesterday’s report by @thecccuk.bsky.social shows that the journey to net zero is an opportunity to reduce energy costs for everyone. We need to unite behind this and make sure it works for people on low incomes.

The Guardian@theguardian.com · 5mo ago

Reaching net zero by 2050 ‘cheaper for UK than one fossil fuel crisis’

Our Director, Rebecca Deegan’s, latest article in The Actuary looks at the poverty premium in car insurance - and why actuaries have a key role in making motor cover more inclusive. www.theactuary.com/2026/03/10/r...

Road worthy: insurers must make motor cover more inclusive

For those on low incomes, having a car can be a vital resource – but they’re often priced out when it comes to insurance.

theactuary.com

Today’s energy price cap announcement is welcome news, with the typical annual bill dropping by £117 a year. However, the ‘standard credit premium’, the added cost for paying your bill when it arrives, is still £131 a year. Watch @mariacbooker.bsky.social explain the issue.

It helps people spread the cost of annual travel tickets removing potential poverty premium’s and offering a model that could be replicated across the country.

We’re always keen to highlight local initiatives that successfully tackle the poverty premium, which is why we’ve written a blog about the Soundpound scheme in Greater Manchester. fairbydesign.com/soundpound-r...

Blog: How Soundpound's Partnership is Making Transport Affordable in Greater Manchester

Read our blog which shares good practice on reducing the poverty premium in Manchester.

fairbydesign.com

Some words from our Head of Policy, @mariacbooker.bsky.social, looking back at our Give Me Some Credit exhibition. The article is a deep dive on the process we followed and looks at the value of involving people with lived experience in our work. www.civilsociety.co.uk/governance/g...

Fair By Design: Give me some credit

Fair By Design teamed up with the Poverty Alliance to document through photography the real-life stories of 14 people who had been denied affordable credit. Maria Booker reports...

civilsociety.co.uk

It's been a busy January for all those concerned with making energy affordable for all...a few thoughts from us...

Fair By Design@fairbydesign.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Our Head of Policy, @mariacbooker.bsky.social, responds to the continuation of the Warm Home Discount, and other recent energy announcements the Warm Homes Plan & Fuel Poverty Strategy. Full response: fairbydesign.com/our-response...

Disappointed to see that the Government White Paper on water does not include proposals for a national water social tariff. This means people on low incomes will continue to face a postcode lottery when it comes to getting help with their water bills, forcing them into potential water cutbacks.

Independent Age@independentage.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Without urgent action, almost one million pensioner households will be in water poverty by 2029–30. The UK Govt has missed a major opportunity to tackle this crisis. No one should be forced to ration their water use. We need a national water social tariff. www.independentage.org/news-media/p...

Important new research from @responsiblecred.bsky.social 👇

Centre for Responsible Credit@responsiblecred.bsky.social · last yr.

New research: some lower-income borrowers are highly sensitive to their credit scores, and this could be negatively impacting their financial behaviours: causing them to prioritise credit repayments over the payment of household bills and other essentials. bit.ly/4574o85

Great news that Trump is a supporter of affordable credit! But I spoke to @bigissue.com about why telling firms to ⬇️ APRs could just ⬇️credit on offer. @fairbydesign.bsky.social supports a Fair Banking Act which requires all big banks to do their part in ensuring affordable credit is available...

Fair By Design@fairbydesign.bsky.social · 7mo ago

“If you get the line wrong, firms will simply withdraw products and then people are pushed towards other sources of credit." Our Head of Policy @mariacbooker.bsky.social is quoted in the @bigissue.com discussing why interest rate caps alone aren’t enough to tackle the cost of credit.

📢 On Wednesday @gareththomasmp.bsky.social will table the Financial Exclusion & Access to Finance Bill, taking action on access to #AffordableCredit through #FairBankingAct proposals. Read about it in @guardianheather.bsky.social's article. #FairBankingForAll www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Lending to small businesses and low-income areas must expand, say Labour backbenchers

Senior politicians have tabled bill that would force UK banks to make affordable finance more accessible

theguardian.com

See our response to the Budget in the 🧵👇

Fair By Design@fairbydesign.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Initial thoughts on the #Budget’s impact on the poverty premium 🧵🧵🧵 There are positives on energy bills support and removing the two-child benefit cap, but much more must be done to lift people out of poverty and reduce low-income households’ bills.

Great to see the ESNZ Committee calling out the energy market for entrenching the poverty premium. The report supports our calls to get rid of the premium for paying on receipt of bill, and for an energy social tariff.

It was a privilege to attend the launch of the Poverty Strategy Commission’s framework for tackling poverty this morning, having been involved in the advisory group. Thinking about what we at @fairbydesign.bsky.social can do to help make the suggested social contract a reality 🤔

Our Head of Policy @mariacbooker.bsky.social on today’s new report into targeted energy bill support ⬇️

How can inclusive design become business as normal within Government, regulators, & firms? If you are interested in this topic- we would love to hear from you! @fairforyoucic.bsky.social www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-do...

How do we promote inclusive design at every level in financial services?

The Government is expected to publish its Financial Inclusion Strategy later this year. It is essential that this is shaped by people experiencing financial exclusion using the principles of inclusive...

linkedin.com

Today The FCA has published new analysis on the motor insurance market which shows many of the factors that have increased the cost of car insurance are outside of consumers’ control. Here is the response of our Director, Rebecca Deegan.

Fantastic paper on how we can tackle the poverty premium in motor insurance from our Director Rebecca Deegan...

Fair By Design@fairbydesign.bsky.social · last yr.

As part of our response to the Financial Conduct Authority's new analysis on motor insurance we are launching a new position paper 'Driving Change: Policy Ideas to Tackle the Car Insurance Poverty Premium’. Full report 🔗 fairbydesign.com/wp-content/u...

New Financial Services Growth & Competitiveness Strategy reiterates Treasury's intention to review regulators' 'have regards'. We call on Treasury to maintain the FCA's 'have regard' to financial inclusion so that consumer protection remains an important cornerstone of growth. tinyurl.com/ye2523hf

Leeds Reforms to rewire financial system, boost investment and create skilled jobs across UK

Red tape cut and savers supported to invest as Chancellor rewires financial system to boost growth

tinyurl.com

Good to see that energy bills can be cut quickly when there is a will. Look forward to the Government slashing energy bills for those on low incomes via a social tariff... @fairbydesign.bsky.social #energysocialtariff

Financial Times@financialtimes.com · last yr.

Energy prices cut for business as part of UK industrial strategy https://on.ft.com/4eht1lt

A huge thanks to the lived experience expert speakers who shared their stories yesterday at our event on affordable credit and financial inclusion. It’s vital that these voices help shape policy and the design of financial services.

Our Head of Policy @mariacbooker.bsky.social spoke at the Local Government Association Financial Inclusion Webinar this week. Here 📹 Maria explains how No Interest Loan Schemes in the North East are helping to provide credit to people who can’t currently access it.

A clip from yesterday's Energy Security and Net Zero Committee session with our Head of Policy @mariacbooker.bsky.social, as she discusses the importance of long term energy bill support, in the form of a social tariff.

Can local No Interest Loan Schemes (NILS) help low-income households to weather financial bumps in the road? A case study from County Durham. Read our latest case study on how NILS is helping people get back on their feet. fairbydesign.com/we-launch-ne...

We launch new case study on local No Interest Loan Schemes in the North East

Today we are publishing a new case study showing how local No Interest Loan Schemes (NILS) are successfully helping people avoid paying the poverty premium.

fairbydesign.com

📣Join us to demand action on Warm Homes! On Wednesday 28 May, health workers will gather outside the Department of Health to call for a fully funded Warm Homes Plan, and we’re proud to support them. [1/5]

However, if you pay when you receive your bill, you will be paying £15 more for your energy on average from July! @fairbydesign.bsky.social survey shows that most people don't know they are paying extra for paying by standard credit or think the "extra" is only a small amount... rb.gy/q8sd2l