Disabled people in the UK are facing an almost impossible choice between heating their homes or finding the right food that they need to survive. The cost of energy has been rising month after month and due to problems with the supply of raw materials from Russia or Ikraine. Ever since Russia invaded and countries from Western Europe have come to their defence, Rissia has threatened retaliation by created problems in the supply of crude oil and other raw materials. People who receive benefits to help with their every day essentials or care needs may find that they may have to give up other essential services in order to be able to afford the things that they need to survive. The increase in the cost of energy can have many different causes, the majority of which can stem from Russia’s special military operation with Ukraine.
Following the start of the invasion on the 24th February 2022, many countries from Western Europe and NATO have tried to come to the defence of Ukraine. This has lead to repeated threats from Russia that the flow of oil and other materials from the country will be disrupted which in turn caused energy prices to rise. This is due to the fact that there wasn’t as much raw material around to produce the energy that people need to heat their homes and produce the food they need to eat in order to survive.
This rise in the cost of energy has caused many problems for people who may be on low incomes and have to rely on the benefit system. Some people may choose to go without essential products or services which can be a danger to their health and may lead to them becoming seriously ill.
Many disability and poverty charities around the UK including Scope, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Leonard Cheshire, and the MS Society have said that disabled people and their families will be put under severe financial pressure.
They warn that disabled people could be pushed to use food banks and unwashed soiled clothes in order to prioritise keeping lifesaving medical equipment such as ventilators running, as well as other vital goods. Disabled people typically have higher energy needs than the wider public, while being more likely to be in poverty.
Disabled people may need a variety of different kinds of equipment in order to help them manage their every day life style. Some of this different equipment may have to be on almost twenty four hours a day. Due to this and the high price of energy, it will push them in to poverty even sooner than they may have been which can cause them to have to rely on different charities and other state funded systems in order to survive.
Some energy companies may be able to provide forms of help to many of their customers who may be strugling with their bills. This can come in the form of grants but can sometimes be very difficult to understand. They may be able to offer you a Green Homes Grant which is a £2 billion scheme that helps home owners pay for energy saving improvements. This can include installing items such as solar panels and air source heat pumps. This is a fully funded scheme which is recognised by all official bodies and equipment is fitted by fully qualified engineers.
Local authorities in England can bid for funding to help homes in their area pay for energy efficiency measures through the Local Authority Delivery scheme. They can then select partners to deliver the home improvements grants on their behalf.
Initially, the Green Homes Grant scheme was split into two areas; one where eligible households can apply for free funding through their local authority, and a second part where customers who didn’t meet the eligibility criteria could receive a voucher to cover up to two-thirds of the cost of the improvements, however this part has recently been stopped.
Since the beginning of the scheme we have only worked in partnership with local authorities to provide free energy efficiency upgrades and have not dealt with the voucher element of the scheme. To find out if you’re eligeable, please contact your energy supplier.
Your energy supplier could also offer you a Warm Homes Discount which is a one off payment of £140 aimed at helping those who are struggling paying their energy bills. The amount is paid as a credit and is primarily used to help people with their energy bills.
Another option people may have if they are struggling with their energy bills is negotiating with their supplier as if someone can only afford to pay a lower amount, this may be acceptable. The best thing to do would be to contact your supplier to discuss how to resolve the matter.
