'I've given up eating hot meals to pay for equipment to keep my son alive'
Summary
A mother in the UK, Samantha Tolmie, is skipping hot meals and reducing energy use to afford the electricity needed to keep her son alive, who depends on medical equipment. Many families caring for disabled children face similar struggles due to rising energy costs and insufficient government support.Key Facts
- Samantha Tolmie’s son Lewis, age 22, relies on machines like a ventilator and oxygen concentrators that must run constantly.
- Energy bills have risen from about £100 to over £400 monthly because of these medical machines.
- Samantha has stopped cooking hot meals and limits energy use to save money.
- Some nurses bring her hot food because they see her skipping meals.
- Disability charity Scope says disabled households need about £1,095 more monthly to cover extra costs.
- Government disability benefits in the UK average £465 per month, causing a gap of about £630.
- Family Fund charity reports a doubling in demand for grants and many families skipping meals to pay bills.
- Nearly half of carers say benefits don’t cover their essential costs, and many feel ashamed to claim help despite working hard.
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