In the week when the government announced millions of people are eligible for a new warm home discount, charity Scope announced that disabled people will continue to be hit doubly hard this winter.
Last year the government promised to launch a consultation on a social energy tariff which proposed that those facing higher energy costs would pay a lower price.
Yet a year on and with no tariff in place 29 percent of people living with disabilities have been forced into debt.
Research conducted by Opinium has revealed damning figures regarding the disproportionate impact of the crisis.
These highlighted 38 percent of disabled people were not using the heating; 34% regularly skipping meals and 20 percent cutting back or stopping showering.
James Taylor, executive director of strategy at Scope said: “When disabled people are being pushed into debt and can’t afford to eat, stay warm or shower, it’s clear the system is broken.
“These figures lay bare the fact disabled people are being hit hardest in this crisis.”
While Ofgem announced a reduction in energy price caps this winter, analysis from the National Energy Actions has predicted a 13 percent increase in costs from last year.
Charities have continued to respond and urge the government to “fix its broken promise” with a potential catastrophe on its way.
Taylor added: “Scope’s helpline has been inundated with calls from people who can’t afford to eat. One person told us they’d been surviving on donations of food from a neighbour.
“We need action now. An energy social tariff would make an enormous difference for disabled people. And is now backed by an overwhelming proportion of the general public.
“The government needs to fix its broken promise.”
Last month a coalition of 140 charities, organisations and MPs called the government to take action in supporting vulnerable households with their energy bills in an open letter to the prime Minister.
Feature image: Cost of living protest at Parliament Square, London on 2022-02-12, Photo: Alisdare Hickson. CC-BY-SA-4.0
