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The Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP
Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
1 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0ET

30 March 2022

Dear Secretary of State.

Re: Changes to Warm Home Discount Scheme 

I am writing to ask you reconsider proposed changes to the Warm Home Discount Scheme which will see 210,000 thousand disabled people on Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Attendance Allowance (AA) excluded from the Scheme.

Now is the time for bold creative interventions that support people up and down this country during this cost of living crisis, not the time to take support away. Labour would impose a windfall tax on North Sea oil and gas producers; reducing the average household energy bill by £200. Our £6.6bn plan would remove VAT on domestic energy bills for a whole year, and essentially, increase the warm homes discount for those most at risk.

It is my understanding however that after a BEIS consultation, the government’s scheme is set to now exclude many thousands of disabled people on DLA, PIP and AA from getting these crucial payments.

As you will know, people on legacy benefits were recently excluded from the government’s £20 Universal Credit uplift; another exclusion from vital support will push many disabled people further into poverty this winter.

It is appalling that a huge number of disabled people on legacy benefits will be made illegible from the Warm Home Discount Scheme once this legislation is passed. This comes amid hikes in energy and heating costs. Many disabled people rely on energy to power life-saving medical equipment and may be forced to make difficult decisions in the months to come.

It is clear that more support, not less is needed for vulnerable people on DLA, PIP and AA.

Can you please provide clarity on the changes to the Warm Home Discount Scheme, and an outline of what support vulnerable people on these legacy benefits can expect? I would also ask you provide me with the equality impact assessment for this decision.

I look forward to your swift response.

Best wishes,

Vicky Foxcroft MP
Shadow Minister for Disabled People