Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress has been made on working with providers of (a) energy, (b) telecoms and (c) other essential services on reducing the extra costs that disability can incur.

A Social Tariff is provided by BT (and KCom in Hull) in relation to telecommunications for those on particular benefits including disabled people.

With regard to energy, a cap on the prices energy suppliers can charge customers on pre-payment meters, many of whom are disabled people and/or on low incomes, came into effect on 1 April 2017. The price cap covers around 4.5m households, saving many dual fuel customers £70 a year

In addition, my colleague the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has written to Ofgem asking the regulator to advise what action it intends to take to safeguard customers on the poorest value tariffs. Ofgem is committed to helping the more disadvantaged in society and has launched work on measures to protect and empower vulnerable energy consumers. This work includes considering extending the current safeguard tariff in place for consumers on pre-payment meters.

To support disabled and other people when asking work coaches in Jobcentres for advice on budgeting and saving money, DWP has prepared ‘Need help managing your money?’ a factsheet which has a section on household bills. It explains you should get in touch with your supplier if you’re having difficulty paying bills or to find out if they offer a cheaper tariff. It signposts to the Money Advice Service for further information on how to save money on household bills, including switching supplier. The factsheet also covers budgeting information, basic bank accounts and the basic phone and broadband packages mentioned above.