Disability Sheffield
Zoom: A A A A Current Page  »  About  /  Blog  /  Blog Article

Rising Costs Crisis for Disabled People

Rising Costs Crisis for Disabled People

New research by Leonard Cheshire paints a bleak picture of disabled people struggling to pay for essentials and concludes that disabled people must be prioritised for financial support.

  • More than 600,000 disabled people in the UK are estimated to have £10 or less per week to pay for food and other costs.
  • More than half left anxious, depressed or hopeless by financial worries.
  • Around a quarter surveyed in 2022 had missed meals or not heated their homes.
  • the poverty rate among working age disabled adults is almost twice as high as non-disabled working age adults

The charity wants the government to increase benefits in line with inflation and to reverse proposed changes to the Warm Home Discount. Better access to social care would also boost incomes for disabled people, with a quarter (24%) of disabled people surveyed saying they had been unable to work due to inadequate social care support.

“The reality is life costs more if you are disabled. You can’t just switch off essential medical equipment to save on energy bills.Transport costs are often higher due to a reliance on taxis or specially-adapted vehicles. For many, working full time is not an option and that severely restricts earning power. Others are locked out of employment because of caring responsibilities.Many disabled people face impossible choices and are living day-by-day on a financial knife edge. The government needs to recognise this and urgently act to avoid a desperate situation becoming a catastrophe.”

View the research findings in full here

You can also sign in Leonard Cheshire’s campaign on the rising cost of living

Share

Leave a comment

Blog Archive

Articles by Category

Articles by Tag

Articles by Date

* indicates required

Sign up to our latest news on local and national disability related issues and events

Recent Feedback    (We'd love to receive your feedback, please click here to add some)

Very good presentation, brave of the speakers to tell their stories and had a very high impact - feedback from Mate/Hate Crime presentation and video session at Safeguarding Working Together Conference
The service received was rated as:  

feedback training

Disability Sheffield is a forward-thinking, energetic organisation doing a lot of positive work in Sheffield. I have no doubt they will continue to do so for a long time to come.
The service received was rated as:  

Ruth

When I moved to Sheffield nearly five years ago it was my "go to" organisation. I expect it to stay that way. All the staff and volunteers seem to pull out little gems of effort that disabled people like me couldn't do without. Professionally and personally - I love em :)
The service received was rated as:  

Andrew Crooks

A fantastic presentation thought provoking and good questions from the floor around promoting this film/message to the general public not just professionals.
The service received was rated as:  

training feedback