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Carol_Scope

We're trying to understand how disabled people are feeling about the extra costs of winter and Christmas. We'd love to hear from members of the community about their thoughts on the following three questions:

Are you worrying all of the extra costs this winter and what it means for your Christmas?
Are there any difficult choices or sacrifices you think you might have to make? What might they be?
Comparing this Christmas to last Christmas, how might things be different?

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Comments

C_J

Christmas is a little tough as I spend it alone and I am a little worried about this next winter/Christmas as last year I found it tough with utility prices going up as they did like everyone it hit me hard the worst is my home is all electric as there is no gas supply to my area so keeping it warm was a massive struggle to the point that I found myself sitting in one room with only the heating on in that room but I couldn't take my eye off the smart meter display which caused a lot of anxiety. The worst of this was one of the rooms that had no heating on started to go damp and that was my bedroom.

I'm not looking forward to this winter or Christmas having to decide to turn heaters off in certain rooms of a home and going cold is not something people should be doing especially in this day-&-age.

Due to the cost of living I've had to shop at different shops and change shopping habits by not buying certain foods I use to eat due to the inflated prices of products and at times I have sacrificed one thing to save the money for another. Sorry if I've been rambling.

caz7

C_J said:

Christmas is a little tough as I spend it alone and I am a little worried about this next winter/Christmas as last year I found it tough with utility prices going up as they did like everyone it hit me hard the worst is my home is all electric as there is no gas supply to my area so keeping it warm was a massive struggle to the point that I found myself sitting in one room with only the heating on in that room but I couldn't take my eye off the smart meter display which caused a lot of anxiety. The worst of this was one of the rooms that had no heating on started to go damp and that was my bedroom.

I'm not looking forward to this winter or Christmas having to decide to turn heaters off in certain rooms of a home and going cold is not something people should be doing especially in this day-&-age.

Due to the cost of living I've had to shop at different shops and change shopping habits by not buying certain foods I use to eat due to the inflated prices of products and at times I have sacrificed one thing to save the money for another. Sorry if I've been rambling.

Me too

Superbetty

Hi, I thought it will be survey to fill up, when I saw email. I do not like to talk about private stuff in public, and definitely do not like to complain.
1. I do not like to worry upfront, so gosh, I do not think about Christmas yet. It is my daughter's birthday in Septemeber, and I am trying to do impossible to make sure she has awesome birthday, as always. I am quite determined person, so there is no other option, she WILL have awesome birthday.
2. I got used to not having money, so no, I expect it will be the same Christmas as we had last year, where I made sure my daughter have lovely presents and lovely Christmas, and me and my partner will get under £10 gifts. I am not happy with it, just to make it clear, I would like to get for example nice perfume, which I know my partner would love to buy for me, but it is what it is.
3.I think it will be the same, we are as poor as we were last year:-)Although, I am waiting for health assesement from DWP, so you never know, miracles do happen, maybe I will get an extra money before Christmas. But we are so in debt, it won't make much difference, ha ha.

gvf23

RainbowFluff said:

I actually find these questions quite insensitive because people will either be in the "I'm okay but might need to cut back a little" side, or the "how in the world am I going to survive and not end up on the streets" side of the fence like me. We can't afford to think about Christmas or even acknowledge it this year. I suppose I'm fortunate that I don't have children and me and my husband are in it together so know how things need to be. But I've tried to answer the questions anyway.

Carol_Scope said:

Are you worrying all of the extra costs this winter and what it means for your Christmas?

Last year we couldn't afford our energy bills and our debt is now so high we've had to agree to a pay as you go meter. Christmas won't be about celebration, it'll be staying warm, staying together and having anything to eat. I'm worrying I'll end up in hospital again and worrying how to keep a roof over our head. Christmas just isn't a thing for us this year.
Carol_Scope said:
2. Are there any difficult choices or sacrifices you think you might have to make? What might they be?
Whether we pay our rent or pay for some heating. Whether we "treat" ourselves to food or an extra blanket.
Carol_Scope said:
3. Comparing this Christmas to last Christmas, how might things be different?
Last year's Christmas was already different to our normal because we just couldn't afford it. We made an effort to put up our decorations still and had more of a typical Sunday lunch rather than our normal Christmas spread. We didn't do gifts and told ourselves that we'd make up for it this year and put aside throughout the year in preparation. Sadly in January I lost my PIP making our situation even worse than
last year and meaning every week is a struggle. The past few months we have relied on food banks and I can't see how our situation will change by Christmas.

Sorry you lost your PIP. I've just managed to get it for the first time on 3rd separate attempt with help of CAB. But I'm aware it isn't permanent. My ADHD won't go away. I'm on my own and trying to live on just UC LCWRA and PIP is making my health worse. I hate Xmas anyway as I'm long term single and I've spent the last two on my own very depressed.

janemid

I've read the comments here, some people seem to have terrible money worries , its not right some have so little when others have vast wealth . We have a government that doesn't care .
I dread the Winter because it makes my illness worse , heating costs when your home all day are high . You have to fight for pip , no (payed )career because of the conditions . I have a lovely husband , who works full time and still helps me . Best wishes to all struggling .

Cplife

Yeah I worry too especially heating the house my muscles are painful if I’m cold and so is my arthritis bones ache.

Also excepting my disability just cost more as we have to pay for things to be done that I can’t do myself that just adds to the list of bills

Hannah_Alumni

I've seen many people talk about heating the house. I wanted to pop a comment here to say that Scope have a service called Disability Energy Support. I'd encourage you to have a look at it. We have advisors who can help

sophie_scope

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences. We understand it is a difficult time for a lot of people, but if anyone is interested in finding out more about storytelling at Scope, please get in touch with us at stories@scope.org.uk .

Thanks,

Sophie

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