Social tariffs
Social tariffs
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. The Government decide how much tax people should pay and how things like the National Health Service (NHS) 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 and the energy price guarantee limit how much suppliers can charge you for each unit of gas and electricity.
For more information about the energy price cap and the energy price guarantee, 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.