Member

The noble Earl, Lord Russell, asked about people on disability benefits. Clearly, disability benefits are not means-tested, but our analysis suggests that over 40% of people on disability benefits are also on means-tested benefits, so this change would make them eligible for the discount. As I have said, we need to balance the needs of people in fuel poverty who need support with bills with the impacts on other consumers’ bills. It is a difficult balance to achieve, and the problem is that, if we supported everybody on disability benefits, it would significantly increase the overall warm home discount cost. This is part of getting that balance right.