Cost of living crisis hitting disabled twice as hard, claims charity
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DISABLED people are being hit doubly hard by cost-of-living crisis, a equalities charity has warned.
Charity Scope, which campaigns for fairer treatment for disabled people, has urged the government to "fix its broken promise" and bring in social energy tariff now to avoid catastrophic winter for many of those living with disabilities.
It has been almost a year since the government promised it would launch a consultation on an energy social tariff, which would end sky-high bills for disabled people.
In that time, new figures from Scope show that almost a third of disabled people have been pushed into debt (29 per cent), compared to 16 per cent of non-disabled people.
While Ofgem has announced a reduction in the energy price cap, analysis by National Energy Action shows households will face even higher costs – 13 per cent more on average – than they experienced over the winter months last year. While previously the government provided support including the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme, and £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment, there are no more of these payments planned.
Meanwhile, research with more than 2000 people carried out by Opinium revealed the devastating and disproportionate impact the crisis is already having on disabled people.
According to their analysis, some 38 per cent of disabled people surveyed said they were not using heating when cold because of the cost of living, compared to 26 per cent of non-disabled adults. Over a third – 34 per cent – of disabled people surveyed said they were buying lower quality food, skipping meals and/or eating less because of the cost of living, compared to 19 per cent of non-disabled adults.
A fifth (20 per cent) of disabled people surveyed said they were cutting back or stopping showering and bathing because of the cost of living, compared to nine per cent of non-disabled adults
Polling by Opinium of 2000 of the general population also found strong support for an energy social tariff, with 74 per cent backing the policy.
Scope research shows disabled people face extra costs of £975 a month to reach the same living standards as non-disabled people.
James Taylor, executive director of strategy at disability equality charity 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.
“Life costs a lot more when you’re disabled, and the list of extra costs disabled people face is staggering. People need to use expensive but vital equipment like wheelchairs, hoists and breathing equipment. They face astronomical energy bills to power this equipment. Lots of disabled people need the heating on more for our health. The choices we face are impossible, which is why so many more disabled people are being pushed into debt.
“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.”
Recently Scope was part of a coalition of over 140 charities, organisations and MPs which is calling on the government to take action to support vulnerable households with their energy bills, in an open letter to the Prime Minister.
For more information about Scope, visit https://www.scope.org.uk/
To access the charity's helpline, phone 0808 800 3333 (if using textphone, dial18001 then 0808 800 3333) or email helpline@scope.org.uk
