320,000 disabled children live in poverty in UK,
The Children’s Society, have published new figures reporting that a “staggering” 320,000 of the 800,000 disabled children in the UK live in poverty, with 110,000 of these being in severe poverty. This puts an extra 32,000 disabled children in poverty compared to official poverty rates.
The statistics by the Children’s Society have been calculated to take into account the additional costs of caring for a child with a disability by removing the Disability Allowance paid to families. Once the extra costs of disability were considered, child poverty rates among disabled children increased from 36% to 40% – 10% above the rate for all children – and the equivalent of four in every 10 of disabled children. For those disabled children in a household with a disabled adult, this rose further to 49%.
Bob Reitemeier, chief executive of the Children’s Society, said:
“These findings are staggering and very worrying. It seems that all forms of support for disabled children are seriously hampered when families live on a low income. Hidden costs, such as transport, heating and learning aids, are forcing more disabled children and young people and their families into poverty”.
The charity warn that welfare cuts would see these poverty rates rise further and are urging the government to “rethink” its plans for welfare reform. The introduction of the new Universal Credit would mean that more than 100,000 disabled children would lose as much as £27 a week, equalling almost £1,500 a year each.
More than 30 charities have launched an e-petition, called Don’t let disabled children pay the price of welfare reform, on the government’s website, which has so far received more than 5,000 signatures.
To read the report by The Children’s Society click here
Amanda Frewin
Research & Project Support
