Recent Changes to Energy Support
This development comes in the wake of recent changes that have restricted the £300 Winter Fuel Payment to those on Pension Credit and certain other means-tested supports, excluding older individuals who depend solely on the State Pension or disability benefits. Additionally, the Warm Homes Discount of £150, which aids low-income households, has undergone revisions; since 2022, it has no longer been available to those receiving PIP, DLA, or Attendance Allowance.
Urgent Need for Further Assistance
Advocates for disabled individuals emphasize the urgent need for further assistance, as high energy bills—often exacerbated by the use of medical equipment—have left many in significant debt, with some accumulating nearly £2,000 in arrears for gas and electricity. In response to these pressing challenges, a new service has been launched to address these issues directly.
Partnership to Address Fuel Poverty and Digital Exclusion for Disabled People
UK gas distribution network Cadent has introduced a £1.8 million initiative in partnership with Scope, a charity focused on disability equality. This grant aims to combat fuel poverty and support individuals who lack digital access. The funding will enable Cadent to engage directly with disabled individuals and their families, as reported by BirminghamLive.
Scope Community Disability Energy Advice Service
The newly established Scope Community Disability Energy Advice Service is set to provide guidance and support to approximately 225,000 disabled people over the next two years. Operating in four key locations—Manchester, Norwich, Stoke-on-Trent, and London—a specialist team will deliver vital advice concerning energy bills, available grants, discounts, and strategies to enhance energy efficiency.
Moreover, this program has been thoughtfully designed to ensure that individuals with disabilities can maintain warmth and safety in their homes while managing their living expenses more effectively. To achieve this, Scope plans to conduct one-on-one sessions to create tailored energy action plans for each individual.
Addressing the Challenges Faced by Disabled Households
Jacqui Osborne, who leads the community disability energy advice initiative at Scope, remarked, “The past few years have been particularly challenging for disabled people and their families. The rising costs of specialized equipment, increased energy consumption, and an inadequate welfare system are all contributing to the difficulties disabled households face in covering the additional costs associated with disability.
On average, disabled households with at least one disabled adult or child require an extra £1,010 each month to achieve the same standard of living as non-disabled households.”
Osborne further emphasized, “This new partnership with Cadent allows us to reach many more disabled individuals struggling with their energy costs. While we currently assist thousands through our helpline and email support, this initiative will bring our services directly into communities, providing bespoke and accessible support to those who are digitally excluded.”
This new endeavor represents a significant step toward ensuring that disabled individuals receive the support they need to navigate the challenges of energy costs, ultimately fostering greater equity and security within their households.
I not got now I help with my gas and electricity I am disabled and very poorly I can get out of bed now what to help me
As I have Encephalitis I don’t understand anything about this and need support
If it’s anything to do with the government forget about it they’re far too busy sorting out their expenses which includes heating a second home and god help the people who need help ( give all pensioners the £89000 a year allowance we would be happy
Tony you are right, we gave them our yesterday for their tomorrow and this is how they treat us, shame on them, chancers the lot of them, our PM was able to clear his 2m morgage at our expense, shame on him, what goes around comes around I say and his cym around will come you see.
On PIP and get no help. Not used cooker since April and cannot afford heating, currently 15 degrees in my house. Energy supplier gives no help. It is badly affecting physical and mental health.
Currently on ESA and receiving less than I was earning 20 years ago when I was working in retail!
We don’t choose to be on benefits. We claim them because we have to. We have to jump through so many hoops to get the derisory amount we are given.
I object to having to pay 63p a day standing charge on my electric bill. We need a social tariff for the elderly and disabled
my electric company switch 2 have recently put new meters in the building, which is for people who want to live independently but need carers on site 24/7, i tried getting a meter reading but they said no they couldn’t, i told them my bills had been estimated for the past two years, when i rang them i was told they don’t keep records that far back, I may be old but am not stupid!! the bills have continued as normal now, refund or anything no way can they estimate for two years exactly. As for the carers we were informed last Thursday that all care staff will be discontinued very shortly and we will have to find our own care staff!! What can we do about that, we seem to be getting stung from all sides, there are some here who need two carers every time, and some who have no family to help them.
Am on pip for and I need my heating on 24/ 7 as I suffer with server fibromalga when am cold it affects my pain to the stage I can not get out of bed .and on top of that I have osteoporosis and ostereoarthritis and mental health problems. I have day of suicidal thoughts and with the worry off having to have no heating sets my Anxiety off I have also just lost my partner of 37 years and my mental health is not in a good place ..
I have a few illnesses including type2 diabetes i. Always so I need the heating on at all times plus suffer from insomnia so tv on all night hopefully I could get some help
What about Scotland
I am interested to find out about this
I have many health issues aswell as disability
Living in Birmingham,, receiving pip,,
Would I be eligible for assistance,,,
I am cold all year I diabetic 2perrious amaima osprits RLS plus other problems
I’m pleased that some people are going to get help,my thoughts are,( Why )
Is it, that only people in certain areas get this type of help?
Like many people i don’t live in any of the places that have been mentioned,
How ever i do live in Maidstone Kent, people here need help just like everybody else, just because we live in an area witch is labelled wealthy,i can assure you
That’s not the case, I’m not stupid,but I’m frightened to ask about what helps
Are available to me, the reason for this is that I’m ( OLD,I HAVE MANY HEALTH ISSUES AND I’M REGISTERED DISABLED,
So the morale of this story is are we classes as none people,
Like many people i don’t have a driving license// passport// or anything thing else to prove who i am (. BIG PROBLEM ) BY FOR NOW.
I live in a Extra Care Community. I am a 77yr old disabled widow. We have to pay monthly service charge including gas/electric for Communal areas and gas for heating in my small flat. I am on DLA but my costs last financial year 23/24 was £2700. So I am stuck with the costs and have no control over these costs. My landlord is a Charity.
If I had know what I know now would never have moved to a place like this. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
It’s all crap,there to busy advertising boilers and other ads to help us its all a scam!!
I am on p.i.p and I have arrears on my gas and electricity and been told there is no help out there for us how does that work 2 years ago we got 150 homewarm discount and when we moved to a bungalow was told we could not get it anymore because the age of the bungalow how does that work still same size as its smaller to what we lived in before the government are wrong it’s people that have ill health that need it to husband has nebuliser and both have scooters to charge as without them we would not get about
Has british citizens not learned anything you mp’s and pm’s do what benefits themselfs one day it will sink in lol
If this is the case then, put me down for help Trust me I more than need it.
Am on pip and jeezers they still scrutinise me, shocking tbh.was down sized from 2 bed to 1bed bungalow. Am in debt for 5,600. Only been in here 2yrs.Am in n out hospital, Health problems, already had 8,chest infections,also disrepair probs. Believe me av had more than enough. Have Bpd, mental health, C.O.P.D,n 2 spinal Ops. Possibly 3rd still ongoing. Still have carry on regardless.
Sounds a bit of a whitewash with no detail on eligibility criteria other than disability benefits mentioned above.
Myself and partner are on pip,too many illnesses to list.heart failure, diabetes, arthritis, fybromalga, raynards,,systemic lupus,hip and knee problems,poor circulation, bowel trouble. The list goes on.this government are a joke.hope they warm and got no worries like the rest of us,we are both pensioner’s and find it hard to cope.
I have multiple heath issues and circulation issues. My house is 12 degrees as I can’t afford to put the heating on. Octopus energy sent me an electric blanket which is now broke. I can’t get them to help me. My lack of circulation has seen my skin broken down and I’m losing my fingers to the cold. No one wants to know
I am disabled and in a wheelchair, I can’t go out and I can’t afford to keep my heating on all day. I am freezing in my house.
Words are cheap, until we see proactive action this is yet another pie in the sky idea that in the end will not benefit us disabled citizens, the only thing that will is to make sure benefits for disabled ie PIP, DLA and ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE are increased to a level of a basic living wage for the majority of disabled people nothing will change, disabled and pensioners alike are treated as second class citizens which is an utter disgrace.
An extra £1010 a month!!!! That would double my income! It wouldn’t make just a bit of a difference it would be utterly life-changing.
i use a cpap machine its running 10 hours a night thats adding to my bill,but more worrying,what happens if there is a power cut overnight and my machine stops working?
We are in the south of England and are both disabled. My friend needs a sleep machine and nebuliser which cost a lot . We are all electric and spend up £80 a week to keep it going . We don’t even have heaters as it’s all electric.
I would like the help as my gas and electric prices are high..
Brilliant idea however I notice that the south/south west are left out again. Why ? We suffer just as much as those that are covered but organisations seem to think we are rolling in money.
I have hydrocephalus I also have siatica I live on my own for last 11 years I moved here just over a year ago and it is all electric so it’s food or electric so I can’t afford to put my storage heaters on
I am on PIP get no extra help with heating and I suffer with osteoarthritis. Have to keep warm to keep pain away heating on all day as I work from home.
I am on PIP and ESA I need help with gas and energy but I don’t get help from eon next please help
I’m a 72 year old widow on PIP that’s the only benefit I get I live on half my late husband’s pension and a smaller one of mine. I’m registered disabled I have spinal issues that now I can’t walk far. The left leg and foot is very painful. I’ve arthritis in most of my joints my fingers are misshaped and some days do not work. This cold weather doesn’t help! I suffer with depression and Im sure SAD next time I see Dr I’m going to mention this, also I’m suffering with short term memory loss which I am going through tests to find out if it’s not ( please God don’t let it be) dementia! It is such a worrying time. My income is £250 a week but not low enough for pension credits is disgraceful hope we have been treated by this government! My disabled daughter and small child gave up her house to live with me and care for me but doesn’t get cares allowance! Not entitled if you have 2 benefits! We get no help from council tax either. Everything is sky high now! We half the bills but even so there’s not much left over by the time we buy food! My PIP goes towards a Car which I drive an automatic so I don’t use my left leg. I don’t drive far and only use the car to Dr appointments hospital appointments and to shops not far from me for food shopping. I don’t drive at night and spend most of my time in doors. It’s a awful struggle and even it’s heat or eat! How can governments treat us so cruelly! My late husband worked from being 14 and me 15 we put plenty in the pot over the years but I get nothing out the pot! It’s just all wrong!
I suffer from multiple illnesses and receive the full PIP. I’m always cold and struggle to keep warm when the temperature drops . I live in an old stone cottage which takes ages to warm up . Too expensive to have the gas on all day so have a log burner on in one room . It’s miserable being old and ill in this country!
Although I have no equipment to run I have many issues that the cold affects. Osteoarthritis asthma I’m under cardiology and respiratory and the cold really gets to me. I find I can’t have the heating on when I need it so I go to bed to stay warm but remaining sedentary isn’t good for anyone let alone the likes of us with health issues.? Being cold is so bad for muscle and joint problems as being cold we are always tense and that’s so bad for osteoarthritis and other health conditions. Its always been poor treatment of the genuine ppl but now a bad problem has now been made a whole lot worse
I’m on pre pay smart meter and sit here cold but still watch my credit disappear on ridiculous standing charges whether I use gas or not. We are still paying to get nothing in return it’s just outragious I feel doctors don’t see us and the gov just want us dead that’s how most of us feel I’m sure
Thank you to these good kind people out there who want to help us we are all incredibly grateful
I hope someone from our so called Government see these comments,absolutely disgusting,look after the immigrants ??????????????!! Yeah they get everything and us English get FA……… Labour need to watch what they are doing or they won’t have a country left TRUST !!!!
I have rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis , PTSD, bad blood pressure,do I get this
What about us on pip in Wales who are very ill ? We arent.mentioned either. I agree Labour are adisgrace look after our own first !!