The Mencap Manifesto: Cost of living

The cost of things people need, like food, gas and electricity has gone up quickly. But wages and benefits have not gone up as quickly.

This makes it difficult for people to pay for the things they need. This is called a cost-of-living crisis. 

Many people with a learning disability use a lot of gas or electricity at home.

This means that they need to pay more money in their energy bills.

Mencap wants all political parties to make sure disabled people pay less for the gas and electricity.

This is called a  social energy tariff.

At the moment, some people can get £150 off their bills through the Warm Home Discount Scheme.

But disability benefits are not included in the scheme anymore. 

Mencap wants political parties to include disability benefits in the Warm Home Discount scheme again and increase the payment amount so that more people with a learning disability can afford their energy bills. 

The Priority Services Register is a list of people who get extra support from different gas, electricity and water suppliers.

Mencap wants the political parties to make a Universal Priority Services Register for all suppliers. 

This would mean that more people with a learning disability get the support they need

Councils have given some people money to help with energy bills and food. 

This is called the Household Support Fund.

Mencap wants all the political parties to make sure that there is more money for the Household Support Fund in the future.

People with a learning disability have also told us that it can be hard to get to banks or to get the right support online. 

We want all the political parties to make sure that people with a learning disability can always get to banks and are supported to manage their money.