Number of disabled people in financial trouble doubled, delayed research reveals, days after MPs pass cuts bill

Ministers have published research they have been sitting on for more than a year showing how the proportion of disabled people in financial difficulty doubled in two years, days after MPs voted for £2 billion-a-year cuts to out-of-work disability benefits.

The report is one 12 detailed research reports, nearly all related to disability employment, disability poverty and the benefits system, that were all quietly published on 17 July (see separate story), eight days after the universal credit bill was approved by MPs.

The Impact of the Rising Cost of Living on Disabled People in the UK report was commissioned by the government’s Disability Unit – under the last government – with the research carried out by the Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RiDC) charity.

It was delivered to the government in April 2024, three months before last year’s general election.

But it took 15 months for the report to be published.

It is just the latest example of government departments sitting for months, or even years, on vital research relating to disabled people and the substantial barriers they face in society.

The universal credit bill will now see cuts to spending on new claimants of the universal credit health element of more than £2 billion-a-year by 2029-30.

The bill was voted through by peers – who appeared to be unaware of the new research – on Tuesday (see separate story) and will now become law.

The government’s decision to wait until its benefit cuts bill was approved by MPs before publishing the research will raise fresh questions about the commitment to transparency – and the democratic process – of the Labour government, including the minister for social security and disability, Sir Stephen Timms.

RiDC’s survey – with more than 1,400 valid responses from a panel of disabled people – took place in October 2023.

The report reveals that the proportion of disabled people surveyed who said their financial situation was quite difficult or very difficult had risen from 18 per cent in December 2021 to 27 per cent in March 2023, and then to 39 per cent in October 2023.

In the year up to October 2023, three-fifths (61 per cent) of disabled people surveyed said they could not maintain a comfortable temperature needed for their impairment or health condition, while four-fifths (78 per cent) of people agreed or strongly agreed that their independence had reduced because of the rising cost of living.

More than half (52 per cent) of those surveyed in October 2023 said they could no longer afford to buy everything they needed for their “impairment, condition, or access needs”.

And in the year leading up to the survey, the rising cost of living meant 62 per cent of the disabled people questioned had cut down or stopped using their car or public transport, and 57 per cent of people had been forced to reduce contact with family, friends, or their community.

One in five (18 per cent) said they had started to use a food bank or other emergency food provision in the previous year.

The researchers also found that 64 per cent of those questioned agreed or strongly agreed that they could no longer afford the levels of support or personal care they needed, while 71 per cent agreed or strongly agreed that their physical health had deteriorated, because of the rising cost of living.

One survey respondent said: “Energy price increase, I sit in the dark with a blanket over me instead of moving around my home. 

“I can’t afford to shower as often and haven’t used my pump feeder to save electricity.” 

Another said: “Eating less to save money and cancelling medical appointments to save fuel.” 

A third disabled respondent said: “Can’t go out much, and get lonely as I can’t waste fuel, too far from bus stops, but reluctant to waste fuel on heating, lighting and tv or the radio which would give me company, and a voice to listen to, as well as mental stimulation I used to enjoy.” 

By 2029-30, the universal credit bill will see 750,000 new universal credit claimants who cannot work for disability-related reasons have their health element addition frozen at £50 a week, compared to the £97-a-week that existing claimants currently receive.

Just 80,000 – less than 10 per cent of new claimants – will be protected from this cut because they are terminally-ill or qualify for Labour’s new “severe conditions” group.

DWP did not provide a statement about the delay in publishing this and the other reports, but it said that its research was published in line with the government’s social research protocol, and that, where appropriate, it grouped together publication of reports on similar issues.

Credit for this article goes to John Pring with the Disability News Service