28 Apr Extra costs for disabled people go through the roof
New research published today (26 April) by the disability equality charity Scope finds disabled households now face, on average, extra costs of £975 per month (1).
This means disabled households would have to find an average of almost £12,000 more a year to achieve the same standard of living as non-disabled households.
And the extra cost of disability – on average – equals 63 per cent of disabled households’ income leaving little room to afford a decent standard of living.
For over a decade Scope has been tracking the extra costs facing disabled people through its ‘Disability Price Tag’ research and has been at the forefront of campaigning for change.
The charity’s new findings, based on analysis of the Family Resources Survey 2019/20, show a dramatic increase on previous reports. And the situation is getting worse still. If this figure is updated to account for inflation over the current period 2022/2023, incorporating the pandemic and cost of living crisis, these extra costs rise to £1,122 per month (2).
The extra cost of disability is driven by:
The higher cost of buying specialist equipment, including wheelchairs, hoists, and home adaptations.
The higher usage of everyday essentials like energy.
And paying over the odds for taxis (because of often inaccessible public transport), insurance or accessible food products.
The situation is compounded by a welfare system that isn’t providing adequate levels of financial support.
Disability activist and Scope Ambassador Shani Dhanda said:
“I’ve personally calculated that being disabled costs me an extra £13,000 a year.
“That’s a huge amount of money in anyone’s book and means that I effectively work for 54 days a year for free.
“These extra costs include higher energy bills, and expensive equipment; accessible and specialist clothes; taxis where public transport lets me down; and a premium on insurance.
“Last year my already high energy bills went up by £1,284.
“The price tag that comes with disability should shame us all, and it’s clear that we need action. We all want to live our lives to the full, contribute to society and get on in life. Extra costs make that increasingly difficult.”
The consequences of these extra costs can be catastrophic. Examples that Scope has heard include:
A helpline caller who hadn’t eaten for three days
A family with a disabled child – who has lots of life saving equipment like a feeding pump – facing bills of £6,000 a year.
Disabled people cutting back on showering and only eating cold meals.
Disabled people who have to spend extra on prescriptions and taxis to hospital appointments.
Scope believes that ending the extra cost of disability needs to be an urgent political priority.
The charity is calling for:
A commitment from Government to prioritise tackling the extra cost of disability. This must first focus on designing a welfare system that lifts disabled households out of poverty.
The creation of an Energy Social Tariff for disabled households. A discounted rate for disabled people who need to use more energy, to target financial support to people who need it most.
Action from businesses and regulators to make sure that disabled people don’t pay over the odds for everyday essential services and have fair and affordable access to goods.
James Taylor, Executive Director of Social Change at disability equality charity Scope, said:
“We have known for a long time that life costs more if you are disabled.
“The current cost of living crisis and dizzying price rises for food, drink and energy has only exacerbated the financial challenges faced by disabled households.
“Disabled households are almost £1,000 worse off a month than non-disabled households as a result of the extra cost of disability. And this is after taking benefit payments into account, like PIP.
“Growing numbers of disabled households are falling into poverty as a result of trying to meet their extra costs. Scope’s helplines are inundated. We’re talking to people who are sitting in the dark, eating one meal a day and don’t know which way to turn.
“Action to reduce the cost of disability by government, by companies and by regulators has been promised in the past but has not been delivered. It is clear the system is failing.
“Driving down and ending the extra cost of disability now needs to be a political priority so that every disabled person can participate in society and reach their potential. We can’t shy away from action any longer.”
