People with disabilities in the UK have been hit hardest by the cost of living crisis, a new report concludes.
The Resolution Foundation, an independent think tank, said Wednesday that more than 40% of people with disabilities can no longer afford to keep their homes warm, compared to 23% of the population without disabilities.
On the other hand, nearly one in three people with disabilities had to cut back on food expenses. Fewer than 1 of her in 5 people without disabilities reported the same problem.
“People with disabilities are not only suffering from skyrocketing energy prices, but also from rising food prices,” the report said.
“[They] They are more likely to worry about the price of essentials and say the crisis is worsening their health,” he added.
Inflation in the UK is now over 10%, the highest level since the 1980s.
But even before a crisis, people with disabilities are far more likely to live in materially deprived homes, says the Resolution Foundation.
33% of adults in the lowest income households had a disability. By comparison, only 9% of adults in the richest UK households had a disability.
About 22% of the UK population, or more than 14.5 million people, have a disability, according to government data.
The Resolution Foundation’s report is based on an analysis of official statistics and a survey of nearly 8,000 working-age people, more than 2,000 of whom reported long-term illness or disability.
income disparity
The think tank noted a 44% income gap between disabled and able-bodied people.
Adults with underlying disabilities earned a median annual income of £19,397 ($23,373), while adults without disabilities earned an annual income of £27,792 ($33,488).
Part of this disparity is due to the relatively low employment rate of persons with disabilities, the report said, with 54% of adults with disabilities in is working.
“However, employment conditions can only explain one-third of the income gap between working-age disabled and non-disabled people,” the foundation said.
The rest is likely explained by “the types of jobs disabled people work – including their typical wages and number of hours worked.”
Recent government moves to provide disability assistance, such as a recurring £150 ($180) cost-of-living payment in 2023 and a commitment to raise disability benefits to match inflation, are helping people with disabilities to endure economic turmoil. He said it would help him get through it. group.
But think tank economist Charlie McCurdy said more needs to be done.
“More policy work will be needed not only through this crisis, but also to close the enormous income gap that already existed between people with disabilities and the rest of the world,” McCurdy said.
In a statement emailed to Al Jazeera, a spokesman for the Ministry of Labor and Pensions said the government recognizes that persons with disabilities face additional costs and is committed to protecting the most vulnerable. I am committed,” he said.
As part of a £37 billion ($44.6 billion) aid package, the government has helped 6 million people with disabilities or health conditions in the past year, a spokeswoman said.
