Charity warns the government is failing disabled people over the cost-of-living crisis
Scope said lives are at risk as disabled people are unable to cannot afford heating
A leading charity has warned the government is failing disabled people over the cost-of-living, saying lives are at risk.
Disability equality charity Scope said that lives are at risk as disabled people fear they will be unable to afford to heat their homes this winter.
It comes amid uncertainty over whether the Government will commit to its promise to increase benefits in line with inflation.
Scope said it is calling for the Government to offer direct financial support immediately as it released the results of a recent poll of 1,000 disabled adults, which found that 63% were worried about being able to pay their heating bills.
This proportion rose to 72% when it came to those who were eligible for the Government's £650 cost-of-living payment, which will go to those on means-tested benefits such as universal credit.
The poll also found that 48% of respondents will not be able to cover all their energy bills and essentials, 51% are concerned about affording food and just 13% said they feel supported by the Government's support package.
Meanwhile, 60% of respondents said they feel the Government is ignoring them.
People taking drastic actions to cut energy use
Those who expressed concerns about their bills in the survey said the consequences of ministers doing nothing could have devastating consequences for them, including discomfort, pain, severe effects on health and even putting their lives at risk.
Scope said its helplines have also been hearing from disabled people already having to take drastic action to cut energy use.
These included a caller who needs to take medicine with food every day but cannot afford the food needed to take the medicine, and a person who has had their energy cut off despite needing to keep medicine in the fridge.
James Taylor, director of strategy at Scope, said: "Our findings clearly show that the support put forward so far doesn't touch the sides and that not increasing benefits in line with inflation would be truly devastating.
"There can be no doubt we are in a life-or-death situation”.
Mr Taylor continued that disabled people feel they are "seen as expendable" by the Government.
He said: "What kind of a government does nothing as disabled people are at risk of freezing and starving to death?"
The charity is calling on the Government to uprate all benefits in line with true inflation, provide another £325 cost-of-living payment for those on the lowest incomes, double the £150 disability cost-of-living payment and create a social tariff for disabled customers.
Cost of living crisis
Interest rates and inflation go up
Inflation rose by 8.8% in the 12 months to January 2023, down from 9.2% in December 2022. With interest rates also rising to 4%, those saving money will earn more interest on their finances, whilst those paying mortgages would pay more interest to the bank.
Energy bills
The price of energy went up incredibly as the cost of living crisis hit, with the gas price spike caused largely by the war in Ukraine. The price cap - which is set by an independent regulator to help offset costs onto customers - was set to rise to £3,549 for an average home in October but a price freeze from the government restricted the typical bill to £2,500. That's still an increase of 27% from the previous energy cap and as it's a cap on unit cost, the more energy you use the higher your bill will be.
Food prices
The cost of a weekly shop also has gone up as a result of the cost of living crisis. As a result of the war in Ukraine, a number of products including cooking oils and wheat have been disrupted. This means that several products are now considerably more expensive, driving bills up for customers.
Prices at the pumps
The average cost of petrol has also rose to unprecedented levels. Supply lines for petrol have been thrown into doubt as a result of the war in Ukraine, as Russia is a large export partner for gas, oil and fuel. In April 2022, the average price for a litre of petrol on the forecourt was 160.2p, whilst a litre of diesel would cost 170.5p. By late June 2022 the price had risen to an average of 190.9p for a litre of unleaded and 198.9p for a litre of diesel. In March 2023 the price wass on average of 147.03 in petrol and 167.04 in diesel.
Average cost of filling up a car with petrol hits £100
On 9th June 2022, the average cost of filling up a car with petrol hit £100 for the first time ever. Diesel had already hit that milestone. It comes as the cost of fuel hit a record high of one pound eighty a litre. The 2p rise was the biggest daily jump in 17 years. Prices have dropped by at least 20p per litre since the high point.