Vulnerable households to receive £150m towards cheap energy by 2011 - 24/02/2009
Vulnerable households across the UK are to receive £150 million towards cheap energy rates over the course of the next two years.
The UK Autism Foundation recently wrote to the government asking for the Winter Fuel Payment to be extended to autism sufferers as well as to elderly residents and the organisation received a response from Rosie Winterton, the department of work and pensions minister.
Government officials have made special arrangements with energy suppliers to increase assistance for autism sufferers, many of whom live in fuel poverty.
Ivan Corea, of the UK Autism Foundation, said: "Life is hard in any case on a daily basis and the deepening recession is making matters worse. Parents, carers, children and adults with autism and Asperger's Syndrome in the UK need urgent financial help and support."
Mr Corea added he was glad that the organisation's cause was being scrutinised by the government.
As a result of energy price rises last year, the number of households living in fuel poverty in the UK is thought to have passed five million in recent months.
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