A disabled man from Stoke-on-Trent has advised how he has stopped showering as the price of residing continues to chunk. Money-strapped Jason Alcock can solely afford to warmth one room and resides in darkness this winter to attempt to fight his rising payments.
The 52-year-old, from Shelton, lives with autism, ADHD, bipolar dysfunction and PTSD and finds it troublesome to depart his residence and work together with others. As an alternative, he depends on expertise to speak.
It means he’s unable to seek out work and he’s left struggling to outlive on his Private Independence Cost (PIP), Employment Assist Allowance (ESA) and a extreme incapacity premium.
With the value of on a regular basis items rising at ranges unmatched in 40 years, he’s confronted with making troublesome selections.
Money-strapped Jason Alcock can solely afford to warmth one room and resides in darkness this winter to attempt to fight his rising payments
The 52-year-old, from Shelton, lives with autism, ADHD, bipolar dysfunction and PTSD and finds it troublesome to depart his residence and work together with others. As an alternative, he depends on expertise to speak
His spouse Paola died in 2018 after being recognized with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and earlier this yr Jason was compelled to boost funds by promoting the treasured gadgets she left behind.
He is among the rising variety of victims of the price of residing disaster affecting folks throughout the nation, with costs outstripping wage and profit will increase.
Jason stated: ‘I am carrying much more garments in the home then I usually would. I am carrying my out of doors garments inside.
‘I am additionally spending most of my time upstairs as a result of warmth rises. I warmth one room upstairs and I am in there more often than not with the doorways shut.
‘I’ve had the radiators on low within the different rooms simply so it does not go damp, as a result of if the temperature goes under 14C you will get issues.
‘I am not showering in the mean time. I am simply wiping myself with a moist rag if I must. I am carrying garments 5 days at a time as a result of I can not afford the price of the electrical energy.
His spouse Paola died in 2018 after being recognized with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and earlier this yr Jason was compelled to boost funds by promoting the treasured gadgets she left behind
‘I’ve put thick blankets on prime of the cover on my mattress upstairs and I bought to mattress at 8pm. I watch TV in my mattress as a result of it is cheaper and I need not have the heating on.
‘My home temperature is about 19C, simply on the sting of it being too chilly.
‘The price of residing for meals has additionally gone by way of the roof. With my incapacity fee I can nearly feed myself and my canine.
‘My meals store was about £60 each two weeks, now it is £120 each two weeks. It is doubled. I used to have the ability to get a 2kg bag of rice for 90p, now it is £2.95.
‘Just a few years in the past I used to spend £30 on electrical and £30 on fuel a month, now I am spending £75 a month on every.
‘I’ve by no means seen it like this. Even on incapacity I’ve by no means needed to fear about turning the lights on. My lounge is principally not used and I’ve shut the TV and all the pieces down in there.’
Jason cared for his spouse Paola at their residence earlier than her dying however he says this yr is the primary time in his life that he is felt glad that she’s not right here to see the present cost-of-living disaster. He stated: ‘I used to be on my pc and I needed to cease as a result of my arms had been so chilly that I could not use the keyboard.
‘I’ve by no means been on this scenario earlier than. My spouse was disabled and I taken care of her till she died in 2018.
‘Seeing all this stuff taking place, I am glad she is not nonetheless round as we needed to maintain the home at 24C for her on a regular basis due to her situation as she was chilly even in the summertime. It is the primary time in my life I am glad she is not right here to see this and that is unhappy.
‘I at all times wished kids, however I am glad I have never bought kids now with all that is occurring.’
Jason purchased a small frozen rooster and spent Christmas Day alone at residence along with his canine. However he worries some folks will not survive this winter.
He added: ‘I believe persons are going to die this winter. Folks aren’t placing the heating on and never consuming sufficient. It will not simply be older folks; it will likely be moms and dads who determine to not eat so their kids can. I believe we’ll lose lots of people in Stoke-on-Trent.’
