Yahoo News Mum of disabled teen backs demands for terminally ill people to be given energy bill support
THE mum of a disabled teenager has backed new demands from Scotland’s consumer watchdog for terminally ill people to be given support to pay their energy bills.
Carolynne Hunter’s 14-year-old daughter Freya has severe cerebral palsy and requires full-time oxygen from an at-home life support machine resulting in soaring electricity consumption.
The family’s rising cost crisis was highlighted two years ago when Hollywood superstar Kate Winslet donated £17,000 to cover her annual bill after reading about their plight.
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But Carolynne has told the Sunday Mail she and many other families cannot be left to rely on charity from wealthy stars.
She is supporting a campaign by Consumer Scotland demanding the Scottish Government introduce payments for people being plunged into energy poverty as a result of serious illness.
The mum, who is 51, and from Tillicoultry in Clackmannanshire, said: “It was hugely appreciated that Kate Winslet helped me, but we are now two years on and things are just as bad again.
“It was always incredibly expensive to run this equipment but then prices went through the roof in 2022 which made things completely unmanageable and they have never really come down much.
“That was when I realised I had to start campaigning to make people see the desperate position families living with serious illnesses were being left in.
“It is clear the government just doesn’t understand the hardship and heartbreak this is causing and how urgent it is that they take action now.
“People cannot be left to rely on charity for the basic necessity of electricity to keep an ill child or themselves alive and in a warm home.”
Carolynne has spoken out in the wake of a new report from Consumer Scotland highlighting the cost of running essential medical or mobility equipment such as oxygen concentrators, home dialysis machines and electric wheelchairs or hoists.
The watchdog - which was established by the Scottish Parliament in 2022 - has written to both the UK and Scottish Governments calling for action.
Chief Executive Sam Ghibaldan said: “Disabled people and those with severe health conditions are a group who often have to spend higher amounts of money on their energy needs with the potential for significant detriment if they have to raton their energy use, particularly during the colder months of the year.
“The introduction of an energy affordability scheme targeted at disabled people and those with health conditions would lead to significant benefits.
“Targeted energy support would lead to better health and wellbeing for disabled people, which in turn reduces the burden on the NHS.
“Improved affordability would also lead to the prevention of debt and arrears, self-disconnection from energy supplied by prepayment meters and improvement in debt-related mental health issues.
“The Scottish Government also has a role to play and we are asking them to consider energy affordability support targeted at those who are terminally ill.”
Consumer Scotland has made clear that extra support could be easily administered to seriously ill people as they are already easily identified through the benefits system and extra money could be delivered via those benefits.
Many disabled people and those with severe health conditions may also need to keep their homes warmer to manage conditions such as pain, respiratory illnesses and fatigue.
End of life charity Marie Curie has estimated energy bills increase as much as 75per cent after a terminal diagnosis.
However, income-related support does not take account of the higher expenditure plunging many into financial crisis at their most vulnerable moment.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “No parent should ever have to worry about how they will afford essential care for their children. We have urged the UK Government to introduce a social tariff mechanism which could benefit terminally ill people who are struggling with their energy bills. We have established a working group which will aim to design a social tariff that would welcome cross-sector support and demonstrate the viability of the policy.
“We are investing more than £12 million this year for the provision of free income maximisation support, welfare, and debt advice. This includes the Citizens Advice Scotland Money Talk Team service, who provide free, confidential advice, helping people to deal with their money worries and ensure that they are receiving all the payments and grants they may be entitled to.”
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