A 23-year-old disabled woman may have to move in with OAPs at a nursing home as she can’t afford to pay for electricity to power her life-saving equipment.
Lizzie Ferguson, who is paraplegic, gets in excess of £800 in benefits each month but her energy bill is rocketing from £100 per month to more than £700.
She needs a breathing machine to help her sleep and her social worker has confirmed a place is available at Greenfield Park Care Home, near her home in Ruchazie, Glasgow.
Lizzie’s dad Gary was told by Scottish Power that her electricity bill would increase from £100 to £550 this month and be quickly followed by a new tariff hike, meaning it would rise to at least £700.
Gary said: “We’re in a state of disbelief and have been told the rise is not negotiable. Lizzie has been in tears about it. She’s inconsolable and there is nothing in place to help people like her.
“We’ve been told Greenfield Park might be able to accommodate but it’s not appropriate.”
Gary believes Scottish Power, Glasgow City Council and the Holyrood and Westminster governments should thrash out a rescue package for people in Lizzie’s situation.
He said: “We are obviously not the only family caught up in this kind of crisis. I’m stunned there is nothing in place, This energy price crisis has been in the pipeline for months.
“Lizzie is adamant she won’t be moving. We hope it doesn’t come to her squatting in her own house because of
electricity bills.”
The crisis comes after Lizzie witnessed the death of her mum Lorraine, 59, who had a massive heart attack while visiting her in hospital in June. The pair had been due to jointly move into sheltered housing.
Gary said: “Lorraine and I have been split for six years but had a very good relationship. Lorraine had been Lizzie’s main carer all her life and has taken the loss extremely hard. To heap all this insecurity over her home on top of it is just not fair.”
Lizzie’s home is specially kitted out for her wheelchair so she can access her bedroom and living room. The home also has a ResMed machine – a safeguard against sleep apnoea, which Lizzie suffers from.
Gary added: “Lizzie is in danger of failing to exhale carbon dioxide and that could cause blood clots, which could be fatal. She is effectively being told her benefits won’t cover the cost of the machine that she needs to keep her alive.”
Peter Kelly, director of the Poverty Alliance, said: “This terrible story highlights a shameful growing injustice in our society – caused by an unbalanced economy and a failure of compassion from our politicians.”
Janice Shields, of Lizzie’s landlord, Ruchazie Housing Association, said: “We are eagerly awaiting news of any funding packages that could benefit our residents.”
Scottish Power said: “We really feel for Elizabeth and her family. We’re calling on Ofgem and the Government to freeze prices at the current levels, put in place additional targeted support for people then review how the energy market works so Elizabeth, and all of us, never find ourselves in this situation again.”
A council spokesman said: “We would not consider a nursing home to be a suitable solution for someone in their 20s. Care plans are based on care needs not energy costs.”
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