Social tariff for energy
Social tariff for energy

The cost of things people need, like food, gas, electricity and petrol, is going up quickly.

Wages and benefits are not going up as quickly. This makes it difficult for people to pay for the things they need.

Mencap wants
the government
The Government are the people who run the country. They decide how much
tax
Tax is the money that pays for things like schools, hospitals and the police. There are different types of taxes like
income tax
Income tax is the money that is taken out of the money you earn every month. It helps to pay for things we all need like hospitals and schools.
,
VAT
VAT is also called Value Added Tax. VAT is the extra money you pay when you buy things. The money goes to the government to pay for things like schools and hospitals.
and
council tax
Council
A council is also called a
local authority
A local authority is also called a council. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live like schools,
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
(support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
Tax is the money that people pay to the
council
A council is also called a
local authority
A local authority is also called a council. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live like schools,
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
(support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. It helps to pay for things like social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
.
people should pay for things and how things like the National Health
Service
A service gives people what they need, like healthcare services that help people when they are ill, and support services that give people support.
should work.
to let some people pay less for the gas and electricity they need.

This is called a social tariff for energy.
How would a social tariff for energy work?

There are lots of different ways that the government and energy companies can make a social tariff.

We think that people who are on a social tariff for energy should pay less for each unit of energy they use.

A unit is like a piece or block of energy.

If you are on a social tariff, your gas and electricity bills will be cheaper than on a different tariff.

For more information about tariffs, go to our energy tariffs page.
Why do we think there should be a social tariff for energy?

The government has helped to reduce the cost of energy with the energy price cap.

The energy price cap limits how much suppliers can charge you for each unit of gas and electricity.

For more information about the energy price cap, go to our energy price cap page.

The energy price cap is for everyone.

It does not help people who need more help to pay for their gas and electricity.

We think a social tariff for energy will help the people who need more help to pay for their gas and electricity.
Who would be on a social tariff for energy?

We think a social tariff for energy should be for people who find it hard to find the money to pay their gas and electricity bills.

This might be people who use a lot of heat and electricity at home.

It might be people who do not earn a lot of money.

It might be people who get benefits like Universal Credit or Personal Independent Payment.
Why is this important for people with a learning disability?

Some people with a
learning disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
use a lot of gas or electricity at home.

Some people with a learning disability need to have the heating on more to stay healthy.

Some people with a learning disability need to charge equipment to help them breathe or move around.

It is difficult to pay for the extra gas or electricity you need if you do not earn much money, or if you get benefits because you are not able to go to work.

A social tariff for energy would help some people with a learning disability to pay for their gas and electricity.
How to get help

You can get help and advice on our
website
A website is a page you can go to on the internet like Google or YouTube.
at www.mencap.org.uk/COL

If you are worried about money, contact our Learning Disability Helpline:

- Call us Monday to Friday on 0808 808 1111

- Email us at helpline@mencap.org.uk

Thank you to British Gas Energy Trust for funding.