Stories

Wed, 27 May 2026

Wed, 27 May 2026 'I've given up eating hot meals to pay for equipment to keep my son alive'

More than half of parents of disabled children and young people are skipping meals to pay their bills.

* Samantha Tolmie, a mother in Doncaster, has given up eating hot meals to pay for her son's life-saving equipment due to soaring energy prices.
* Her son Lewis, 22, relies on a ventilator and other machines that cost £400-£845 per month to run.
* The UK government is criticized for not doing enough to support families with disabled children who are struggling to afford the costs of care.
* A survey by charity Family Fund found that 44% of parents and carers said their benefits did not cover essential costs, with over half skipping meals to pay bills.
* Disability charity Scope estimates that disabled households need an extra £1,095 per month on average to cover costs.
* The average Personal Independence Payment (PIP) payment is only £465 a month, leaving a £630 shortfall.
* Charities are struggling to meet demand for grants and support services due to rising costs.
* Many families are having to make impossible choices between heating their homes or eating dinner.
* The government claims to be supporting families through expanded eligibility for the Warm Home Discount and other measures.