DISABLED people are almost twice as likely to report being unable to afford to keep their home warm as the non-disabled, the Resolution Foundation revealed today.

Around 41 per cent of disabled people said they could not afford to keep their home warm, as did 23 per cent of people without a disability, the think tank found.

Almost half of disabled adults said they have had to cut back on energy use this winter compared with nearly a third of people without a disability.

And 31 per cent of disabled people reported having to reduce their food spending, alongside 18 per cent of people without disabilities.

Because of the wide range of disabilities, there will be important differences between how people are affected, the foundation said.

Those who are housebound or suffering limited mobility, for example, may be more affected by rising heating bills due to increased time spent in the home.

The foundation said that while recent government support will help millions in the short term, further measures will be needed and should ideally have a broader focus on lower living standards for the disabled population.

Paula Peters from Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) called it an “absolute travesty” that disabled people were paying a “tragic human cost” by having to choose between freezing at home or going without food to pay extortionate energy costs.

She told the Star: “Disabled people are high energy users, many using medical equipment or ventilators, peg feeding to stay alive and needing electricity to charge wheelchairs and mobility scooters to get around.

“Many need to use the washing machine to change soiled bedding and clothing and need a warm space to ease health conditions.”

Ms Peters said DPAC is demanding “greedy chief executives and shareholders” of energy companies be held to account and that energy companies are renationalised.

“No-one should choose between heating or eating, or indeed give up both,” she said.

End Fuel Poverty Coalition co-ordinator Simon Francis said the findings are especially damaging as those with disabilities and long-term health conditions will be most affected by the dangers of living in a cold, damp home.

“If their conditions deteriorate, they will be forced to rely on the NHS, which is already at breaking point,” he said.

“Then if they can’t get the care they need, the complications can become very serious, very quickly.”