MPs are set to discuss calls for additional Cost of Living support for for people on disability benefits. Petitions are calling for claimants, including those in receipt of Personal Independence Payments (PIP), to receive a new £650 payment and an energy grant.
A petition entitled ‘Make people on disability benefits eligible for the £650 one off payment’ was created by Abigail Broomfield and received more than 24,600 signatures of support on the petitions-parliament website.
member of the Petitions Committee, Marsha De Cordova MP, has been asked to open the debate where MPs from all parties can take part. The Government will send a minister to respond, Lancs Live reports.
Petitions calling for a new £650 payment and an energy grant for people on a disability benefit will be debated by MPs on May 22.
It comes as campaigners are also calling for state pensioners to be exempt from paying council tax, with the online petition receiving more than 12,300 signatures of support.
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According to the Daily Record, the petition states: “Disabled people should be included alongside carers in the £650 one off payment as part of the Cost of Living support package. We have larger utilities bills and food costs when compared to non-disabled people. We rely on these utilities and food to stay alive.”
The DWP response said: “Six million people in receipt of a qualifying disability benefit will receive a £150 payment in September. If they are in receipt of a qualifying benefit, they will also receive the £650 payment.”
The second petition, "Provide an energy grant to people with a disability or serious medical condition", was created by Rachel Curtis and received more than 16,300 signatures of support on the petitions-parliament website.
The petition states: “The 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.”
The DWP response said: “The Government will provide approximately six million people across the UK, who receive certain disability benefits, with a one-off payment of £150 in September 2022.
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