Scope, the disability equality charity in England and Wales, has released a new report showing how life is more expensive for those living with disability. Their study shows that those with disability spend more on heating, insurance, equipment and other essential goods and services. Scope says
These extra costs mean disabled people have less money in their pocket than non-disabled people, or simply go without. Therefore, disabled people are likely to have a lower standard of living, even when they earn the same.
There are two parts to the report: The Disability Price Tag 2019 Policy Report discusses the key findings and recommendations; The Disability Price Tag 2019 Technical Report drills into the data, showing the detail of the extra costs those with disability incur in daily life. Both reports can be downloaded here.
One of the key findings is that
One in five disabled adults faces extra costs of over £1,000 a month even after they have received welfare payments designed to meet those costs.
The policy report goes on to recommend changes to Universal Credit; Personal Independence Payment assessments; eligibility for Warm Home Discounts; and setting up an Early Intervention and Family Resilience Fund.
The world is not an equal place, but this report has valuable suggestions on how to make it just a little more fair for those living with disability.
* Kirsten Johnson was the PPC for Oxford East in the 2017 General Election. She is a pianist and composer at www.kirstenjohnsonpiano.com.
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One Comment
These are useful studies, Kirsten. Many of the extra costs incurred by the disabled are not readily apparent and not taken into account in determining PIP assessments under Universal Credit.