A plan that would see the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provide extra Cost of Living support for low-income households and disabled people this winter has been unveiled by campaigners.
The DWP is also being urged to raise benefit payments in line with inflation rather than wages. The new call for further help comes as new Chancellor Jeremy Hunt cut short the energy guarantee scheme so that the price freeze ends next April rather than being in place for two years.
Mr Hunt has also refused to make any commitments on benefits going up in line with inflation, adding to growing concerns that the rise will be much less.
READ MORE: Millions of UK bank accounts to get £330 cash boost
Campaigners at disability equality charity Scope say ignoring inflation would have a devastating impact and is calling on the DWP to launch more support, reports Birmingham Live. It says that even those disabled people who qualify not only for the £150 disability cost of living payment but also the £650 payment going to low-income households are worried about the costs of energy bills and food this winter.
Scope's survey of 1,000 disabled adults, published today, reveals:
- Two-thirds (63 per cent) of disabled people fear they won’t be able to afford to heat their homes this winter
- Half (48 per cent) of those who will not be able to cover all their energy bills and essentials say this will negatively affect their health
- Half (51 per cent ) say they are concerned about affording food
- Almost a quarter (23 per cent) of disabled people are on pre-payment meters, putting some at immediate risk of being left without life-saving equipment
- 3 in 5 (60 per cent) disabled people feel the government is ignoring them
- Only 1 in 7 (13 per cent) of disabled people feel supported by the government’s support package
Scope is calling for the Government to:
- Uprate all benefits in line with true inflation
- Provide another £325 cost of living payment for those on lowest incomes
- Double the £150 disability cost of living payment
- Create a social tariff for disabled customers
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