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Nearly 100 charities and organisations are calling for a social energy tariff to help low-income and vulnerable people heat their homes amid the ongoing cost of living crisis.
In an open letter to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, groups including Age UK, Scope and National Energy Action (NEA) have warned that the withdrawal of universal energy support from April “will leave many older and disabled people in increasingly desperate situations”.
The letter demands support for individuals on means-tested benefits, disability benefits those receiving carer’s allowance.
The NEA estimates the energy crisis has pushed more than 6.7 million British homes into energy poverty – and believes that the number will only rise to 8.4 million households come April.
Adam Scorer, chief executive of the NEA, has told Sky News that things are about to go from “bad” to “worse”.
He said: “In April what’s going to happen is the support that the government’s been giving everybody, but particularly vulnerable households will end.
“At the same time energy prices will jump by about 40% because the government will change the structure of the energy price guarantee and the price cap will go up.
“So we have this situation where in April a bad situation is going to get a whole lot worse.”
‘Price tags on everything you do’
Anne-Vivian Smith has a neurodegenerative disorder. Over the years – her condition has gradually worsened, and she has not been able to walk in 20 years.
The 52-year-old told Sky News she is having to use her manual wheelchair – as opposed to her electric one – as running costs are simply too high. Tucked away on the side of her chair are hot water bottles – to help produce warmth.
Ms Smith, who lives in Nottingham, said: “To retain heat, you’ve got to generate it, and if you don’t move, then you don’t…
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