Families of disabled children struggling to keep warm this winter are being offered help and advice on how they can cut their fuel bills.
The Energy Assistance Package, is a comprehensive package of support for people at risk of fuel poverty in Scotland. Funded by the Scottish Government and managed by the Energy Saving Trust, the package aims to help households maximise incomes, reduce fuel bills and improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Families of disabled children in receipt of welfare benefits are particularly encouraged to call the free advice line on 0800 512 012 and find out how they can benefit.
Fuel poverty is a very serious problem for both disabled people and the families of disabled children across Scotland. As a member of the Children’s Fuel Poverty Coalition, we are part of the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum which campaigned for the Energy Assistance Package to replace the Central Heating and Warm Deal programmes. We specifically wanted to make sure that families of disabled children were included in the scheme as they had been ignored by previous government initiatives aimed at tackling fuel poverty.
Susie Fitton, Capability’s Senior Policy Advisor, explained: “Fuel is one of the hidden costs of disability. Research we conducted in 2001 showed that over 40% of disabled people were fuel poor, and our fuel poverty review in 2005 showed little improvement to this.
‘Many disabled children, particularly those with multiple disabilities, physical disability or neurological, pain and fatigue conditions can spend a lot of time in the house and may actually require warm or regulated temperatures to manage conditions.
“In today’s climate of soaring energy costs this is putting families at real risk of fuel poverty, particularly because in many cases at least one parent of a disabled child has to give up work completely to care for them. We therefore welcome the Energy Assistance package for disabled children and their families, and are pleased to see this problem tackled through clear advice and benefits checking to maximise household income. It is now important to make sure that families know about the package and where to go for help.”
The Energy Assistance Package is open to everyone in Scotland and offers different levels of advice and support depending on householders’ circumstances such as grants for heating systems and free insulation for eligible people. Call the free advice line on 0800 512 012 or visit www.energyassistancepackage.com to find out how you can benefit.
Capability will also be supporting the Energy Assistance Package through our advice service and by providing information to families on how they can get help and support. We will continue to work as part of the Children’s Fuel Poverty Coalition to monitor the Energy Assistance Package, advise Ministers on further actions required and liaise with the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group for England to ensure Scottish interests are fed into reserved policy areas.