ABOUT 100 charities and organisations are collectively calling for a social energy tariff to help low-income and vulnerable older and disabled households heat their homes.

In an open letter to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, the groups including Age UK, Fair By Design, National Energy Action (NEA) and Scope warn that many older and disabled people, their carers and low-income households, are struggling with unaffordable energy bills.

Nearly a quarter of over-60s are living in cold homes, rising to 27 per cent for older people with a disability, according to a survey by Age UK.

The letter calls for targeted support for those on means-tested benefits, disability benefits and carer’s allowance, as well as those missing out on welfare support but still struggling with their bills.

It describes “deep concern” that the withdrawal of universal energy support from April “will leave many older and disabled people in an increasingly desperate situation.”

Charities said that they were being inundated with calls from people in “dire need,” including those relying on medical equipment like dialysis machines and who were facing a daily struggle to keep their equipment turned on and stay warm and well.

NEA estimates that the energy crisis has pushed more than 6.7 million households into fuel poverty, up from 4.5 million in October 2021.

It predicts that the figure will jump to 8.4 million households when the government’s energy bills support scheme comes to an end.

Age UK director Caroline Abrahams said: “There needs to be much more protection for those who have no other means of paying such extortionate energy costs.

“The government must introduce a social tariff for the energy market whilst prices are so high, and ensure we never face a crisis like this again.”