A new petition is calling on the UK Government to provide additional financial support for people with a disability or serious medical condition to help them cope with soaring energy costs.
Created by Rachel Curtis and posted on the official petition-parliament website, the ‘Provide an energy grant to people with a disability or serious medical condition’ petition, explains that many people cannot avoid using electricity as they need to use a ventilator, stair lift or bath seat, or charge their mobility equipment.
A sentiment echoed recently by James Taylor, executive director of strategy at disability equality charity Scope, who said: “For many disabled people facing this enormous hike in energy prices, there is simply nothing left to cut back."
He continued: “Life costs more if you’re disabled. Lots of disabled people have no choice but to use more energy to charge vital equipment and stay warm. Many have already been cutting back for months.
“Instead of support, many disabled people are now facing a real-terms drop in income, because the UK Government has refused to increase benefits in line with current inflation.
“The government needs to get a grip of this crisis and provide direct financial support to disabled people and increase benefits in line with inflation.
“Anything less will end up pushing millions more disabled households into poverty.”
Verity Kick, Marketing Director at Middletons Mobility, said: "Disabled people typically have higher energy needs than the wider public, while the use of electric wheelchairs, stairlifts and extra washing due to medical issues can’t be cut back, the rise in energy bills puts into jeopardy the quality and safety of day to day life.”
The petition reads: “Millions of UK citizens have a disability or serious medical condition that means they use more energy. Many people need to use a ventilator 24/7. People use electric pumps to feed through tubes. People need to charge their mobility equipment, such as electric wheelchairs, stair lifts, bath seats.
“The [UK] Government needs to provide a grant, so that people with a disability or serious medical condition can afford to run the equipment, or heating, they need to stay alive. It is not right that people living with conditions that require energy should be punished for it, and sometimes face unmanageable debts with energy companies. What a horrendous situation to face.
“If some people don't run their ventilator, CPAP machine or feeding pump they will die.
“Our Government must help people afford to stay alive.”
The petition is open until September 7, 2022 and has received more than 6,350 signatures of support - it needs 10,000 to trigger an official response from the UK Government - find out more here.
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