Disabled people struggling to pay fuel bills could double

Charities estimate that the number of people with disabilities struggling to pay their energy bills could more than double this year.

Currently, about 900,000 people with disabilities are considered to be energy poor, according to Scope and National Energy Action.

If typical domestic bills rise to £3,000 in October as feared, that figure could rise to 2.1m.

The government has said it is providing support to people facing rising costs.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak, making his spring declaration on Wednesday, has pledged to help “where we can make a difference”.

The charities said people with disabilities often have additional energy needs compared to those without disabilities, as many have medical needs for heating or electricity to run vital appliances.

“People with disabilities are already facing some extremely difficult choices and this will only get worse in the coming months unless action is taken now,” said Mark Hodgkinson, chief executive of Scope, a disability equality charity.

Millions of households will face a 54% increase in the cost of a typical annual gas and electricity bill to around £2,000 when the regulator’s new, higher price cap comes into effect on 1 April.

The war in Ukraine has pushed up wholesale energy costs, prompting fears the typical household bill could rise to as much as £3,000 in October if the cap is adjusted again.

The government has said it is taking “decisive action” to help people with their bills. This includes a £150 tax refund for 80% of households, followed by a £200 rebate on October bills that need to be paid back.

National Energy Action, which works to keep homes warm and dry, has urged the Chancellor to give low-income and vulnerable people an exemption from paying back the £200 grant.

Adam Scorer, chief executive of the charity, said: “While heating bills rise, it is those who are most vulnerable who are suffering the most. A warm, safe home is an absolute necessity for people with disabilities. Their physical health can be disastrous.

“The current level of support is woefully inadequate. Government needs to provide more financial support or some of the most vulnerable in society will put the cost at more than pounds and pence.”