the-energy-penalty-disability-and-fuel-poverty-pdf

(Liddell 2008). The more calories needed to keep warm, the fewer areavailable for growth and building a healthy immune system. In addition, the‘heat or eat’ pressure on parents’ finances is likely to affect children’snutrition and potentially affect their immune system. Children are alsoespecially vulnerable to respiratory problems if they live in cold conditions.Moreover, adolescents living in fuel poor homes are at significantly greaterrisk of multiple mental health problems when other contributory factorshave been accounted for, according to the same research. One reason forthis is that, where heating is limited to family rooms, this can limitteenagers’ privacy and personal space, putting a strain on familyrelationships and causing them to spend more time in public places wherethey may be at greater risk (Liddell 2008).ConclusionThere is a substantial evidence base which shows that disabled people areat particular risk of experiencing poverty and low income. Moreover, manydisabled people face extra costs which significantly restrict the amount theyhave available to pay for fuel and other essential utility bills. In addition,disabled people and families with disabled children face a high risk of livingin poor housing. Consequently it is clear that households with one or moredisabled members are at greater risk of being in or on the margins of fuelpoverty than other households.18