Rosey, a daughter of Yvette Clements, 59, of Norwich, needs care because she is unable to control her body temperature.
Their bills have increased to £300 a month and they have to turn on their heating most of the time.
“I only eat breakfast and lunch now because I can’t afford dinner,” she stated.
In order to help six million disabled people deal with the cost-of-living crisis, the government paid them £150 in the fall of 2022 and summer of 2023.
It has not disclosed any more plans to assist adults with disabilities, who are twice as likely to be impoverished.
“This is an awful way to live.”
Due to her epilepsy and cerebral palsy, Rosey requires a feeding machine, an electric bed, an electric bath, an electric hoist, and a CCTV system to watch over her during the night.
Rosey, 25, attends a college run by the disability charity Sense, and Ms. Clements is only able to turn off the heating during her time there.
“When she’s not around, I sit in the cold and never turn on my oven, but I can’t risk it when Rosey is here because she could have a seizure.”
“I’d rather starve myself to make sure she’s okay. I know I’m taking excellent care of my girl, but this is a dehumanizing way to live.
“The cost of living crisis is not over and that extra money was a lifeline to me,” she stated.
While Rosey gets personal independence payment, Ms. Clements receives universal credit, which covers housing costs and a carer’s allowance.
Sense provided the family with an emergency payment of £500 in 2022 and £200 in 2023 to assist with paying their expenses.
In a recent survey of over a thousand disabled individuals, the charity discovered that 53% of them were in debt as a result of growing living expenses, and 18% had cut back on using specialized equipment.
Sense’s head of policy, Sarah White, stated that increased financial support from the government was required.
“We support the government’s decision to reinstate the cost of living payment for disabled people, but we also recognize that, in light of growing expenses, this was a drop in the bucket for many.
“We need to see long-term solutions implemented, such as a social tariff on energy bills,” she stated.
