“Should I heat my home or feed my family?” is the question many households up and down the country will be asking themselves this winter. With energy companies going bust and an impending £20 cut to Universal Credit, many homes will see their bills soar. And it will be disabled households amongst those who feel this squeeze on finances the most.
Research by Scope has found that, even pre-pandemic, disabled people already faced extra costs of £583 a month. Energy costs are one of the main factors driving this, as disabled people often have higher energy costs and usage, finding it harder to stay warm or charge equipment.
There is an intrinsic link between disability and poverty in this country. Almost half of people in poverty are disabled.
The pandemic has added to this, with 54 percent of disabled people saying their energy bills had increased since lockdown. A report by Scope released in March revealed the worrying measures disabled people were taking to keep costs down. Some were living in one room, so that they wouldn’t have to heat the whole house and some were even skipping meals to save money for bills.
In a few days, despite enormous opposition, the £20 uplift to Universal Credit - a lifeline for many disabled people – will be cut. Leaving families more than £1,000 worse off per year which, when added to higher energy bills, risks plunging more disabled households into poverty and pushed to their limits.
We mustn’t forget that this £20 lifeline wasn’t extended to the two million disabled people on ‘legacy’ benefits who have had to struggle through the pandemic.
So what’s the answer? Work a little harder or do more hours? To make back the £20 that is being cut would mean doing nine hours more a week – for families with caring responsibilities this isn’t an option.
The government must make sure disabled people have the support they need so they are not forced to choose between eating and heating.
There is some help available for disabled people, but 86 per cent have had no contact with their energy supplier about bill concerns at all this year.
Suppliers should be reaching out to disabled customers now to make them aware of the support available. Any disabled customer whose energy company collapses must be reassured they will not face extreme hikes in tariffs. This includes any support like the Warm Home Discount that was being received under an old supplier.
Two months ago the government published its National Disability Strategy promising to ‘build back better’ for disabled people.
The strongest foundations government can lay ahead of this winter are to keep the Universal Credit lifeline and stop hundreds of thousands of disabled households falling into poverty, debt and worry about spiralling energy costs.
*If you are disabled and worried about your energy bill, Scope can help. Visit www.scope.org.uk/disability-energy-support for more
