Analysis from Citizens Advice Scotland laid bare the issues facing many across the country.
There is a “hidden cost of living crisis” for Scotland’s disabled people, Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) said.
CAS analysed polling from YouGov, which indicated that 37% of adults in Scotland are in households where someone is living with a disability or long term health condition.
Of adults in such households 31% - an estimated 527,977 people - needed to keep their homes at a certain temperatures, while 8% - around 136,252 people - have to run medical equipment and thus may incur higher costs.
A further 15% - 255,472 people - have to cook specific meals and thus may face higher costs due to this.
CAS social justice spokesperson, Stephanie Millar, said: “There is a hidden cost of living crisis for Scotland’s disabled people.
“Households where someone lives with a disability or long term health condition potentially face higher costs because of the need to keep their homes at certain temperatures, run medical equipment or cook specific meals.
“We have seen examples of people having to make choices that the larger population might not even conceive of – such as having to choose between charging a mobility scooter or buying food.”
The charity is running Big Energy Saving Winter, a campaign encouraging people worried about energy bills and the cost of living to seek advice.
The CAB network is seeing examples of disabled households facing higher bills as a result of the crisis
The Extra Help Unit, a team of specialist energy caseworkers in Glasgow, is helping a disabled household facing a bill of £6,300 for electricity and now being chased by debt collectors.
The couple had been getting large bill estimates but were unable to read their own meter and the supplier hasn’t sent out a reader since the onset of the pandemic.
The woman is not long out of hospital and uses a machine for her kidneys, a mobility scooter and a nebuliser.
People can get advice in variety of ways, either from a local Citizens Advice Bureau or through various online platforms. People can visit www.cas.org.uk/BESW to find out more.
The network unlocked over £132million for people last year, through things like social security payments and employment entitlements. The average gain for clients who saw a financial benefit was over £4,200.
Stephanie Millar added: “We want anyone worried about energy bills and the cost of living to seek advice. People can visit www.cas.org.uk/besw to find an advice option that suits them best, either one to one in a local CAB, or through a variety of online platforms.
“We are for everyone. We don’t judge, we just help.
“Our advisers get real results. Last year we unlocked £132m for people, and people who saw a financial benefit from seeking advice on average were over £4,200 better off.”
