UK charities are calling for more government support for disabled people, as research highlights “massive” income gaps amid the cost of living squeeze.
A number of organisations have warned that the unprecedented pressure on disabled households and the lack of support will leave many unable to heat their homes and run essential medical equipment.
Research from the Sense charity found that half of the UK families caring for a disabled member were in debt, 61 per cent were unable to afford to keep their home adequately warm and 35 per cent had to skip meals to save money.
Disabled people have much higher energy costs than non-disabled people. This is because many medical and mobility devices, such as breathing machines and feeding pumps, require more electricity to function.
A 2017 study conducted by the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association showed that on average, people with MND and their families spend the equivalent of £9,645 every year in regular and enhanced costs, as a direct result of the disease. The figures would be much higher today.
In November, the government announced new cost of living payments and promised to increase benefits in-line with inflation. However, these will not come into effect until April, leaving millions of disabled people struggling to afford food and energy.
Sally Hughes, assistant director of care at the MND Association, says: “The nature of MND creates a significant financial burden on those living with the disease and their families. The crippling increase in the cost of energy along with inflation running at a 40-year high is only compounding those challenges.
“The threat of power cuts through the winter is incredibly concerning for many people with MND who rely on ventilators to breath and pumps to help take in food.
“Accessing financial support is too difficult and overwhelmingly complex to apply for. This is resulting in some people getting support when it’s too late, in some cases after the person with MND has died.
“We welcome the decision to increase benefits in-line with inflation. However, uprating in April will come too late to help people through the winter, when pressure on household bills is likely to be the greatest due to higher energy usage.”
Joseph Brunwin, public affairs manager at the MS Society, said that while everyone is worried about the costs going up, people with MS are being hit especially hard.
“Many people with MS are at breaking point already. They are more likely to be on a lower income and have a lot of additional costs associated with managing their condition.
“As a result of that, they are being forced to make some really difficult decisions, cutting back on meals and going without treatments and therapies.”
A survey conducted by the charity found nearly two in five people with MS who claim means-tested benefits can’t afford to keep their homes warm and around three in ten have to cut spending by reducing or stopping therapies or treatments.
“People in our community are quite alarmed and worried about the increase in cost of living and that’s reflected in the sheer volume of calls that we’re hearing through our helpline,” explains Brunwin.
“While it’s appreciated that there’ll be extra cost of living support next April, for many that will be too little too late. We need to see that support brought forward.
“People with MS are more likely to be home longer and are sensitive to changes in temperature, which means it’s really important to have the heating on for longer periods of time.
“Another example is physiotherapy which is really critical in maintaining function and quality of life in MS. Stopping paying for it can have really bad negative effects.”
As part of the its #BreakingPoint campaign, the MS Society has organised a petition urging the government to introduce a new cost-of-living support package for disabled people, increase benefits to cover the extra costs of living with MS and pause debt repayments for people on benefits.
“Through our campaign, we want to highlight the disproportionate impact the cost of living crisis is having on people with MS,”says Brunwin.
“We are asking the government to conduct an independent review of benefit rates to make sure that they are adequate and not forcing people into poverty.”
The charity Sense is also calling for more targeted support for disabled people, with the introduction of a new social tariff to lower the cost of energy bills for disabled households who face higher energy usage because of their individual needs.
“Disabled households were under pressure even before this crisis. Now, many don’t know if they will get through winter,” says Sense chief executive, Richard Kramer.
“Targeted support is something we urgently need. Every disabled household should be able to afford food, heat their homes and run essential equipment.”
The charity has provided emergency financial support to families living with a loved-one with complex disabilities.
Similarly, the MND Association has announced a Cost of Living Support Fund of around £300,000 to help people with MND afford food, utility bills and fuel.
A spokesperson for the government said it recognised disabled people face additional costs and it was committed to protecting the most vulnerable by providing one-off cost of living payments and increasing disability benefits in-line with inflation from April.
