Fifty disability charities have joined forces to call on Tory leadership rivals Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak to give more cost of living support.
The charities, including Mind and Carers UK, urge the next PM to tackle the inequalities faced by “disabled children, adults and their families”.
Many are “at breaking point” over rising prices, according to a survey.
Disabled people are due get £150 on top of £1.200 for low income benefit claimants.
The one-off payment, exempt from tax, will be made in September.
It is meant to help with additional costs faced by disabled people, such as specialist equipment, specialist food and increased transport costs.
The 50 charities welcomed the extra support in an open letter to Ms Truss and Mr Sunak, who are entering the final stages of the contest to be the next Tory leader and prime minister,
But they say it is a “short term” solution for a “long-term issue” faced by more than 14 million disabled people in the UK.
“Without more support, many disabled people could be driven to cut back on essentials like food, heating and life-saving equipment.”
A spokesperson for Mr Sunak said that he is committed to supporting disabled children and as chancellor invested £2.6bn for new school places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
“As prime minister, he will deliver this support and build on the findings of the SEND review to make sure we’re spending this money sensibly. ”
The SEND review sets out plans to give children with special educational needs in England better help at school at an earlier stage.
More than 2,000 people were surveyed by the disability charity Sense, including 1,000 disabled adults and 1,000 families caring for a disabled child or adult in their household.
The survey suggested 74% of family carers say that if prices continue to increase “they will be unable able to cope”.
One-in-four carers are taking on, or are looking for, additional work with 68% saying the pressure is affecting their mental health.
Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work Chloe Smith said: “We know disabled people can face additional costs, which is why we are acting to help reduce the financial pressures on the most vulnerable.
“This £150 disability payment is on top of the £1,200 most low income benefit claimants will also receive and alongside wider support targeted at disabled people, including help with transport and prescription costs.”
The Truss campaign have yet to respond to a request for a statement regarding the letter.
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A full list of the 50 charities that signed the letter, and the letter itself, is shown below:
25 July 2022 – London, UK: 50 disability charities, including Sense, Contact and the National Autistic Society, have written to the two remaining candidates in the race to become the next leader of the Conservative party, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, to call on them to ensure disabled people are “put at the heart of any plan they make as leader to address the cost of living crisis”.
The letter, signed by members of two major disability coalitions, the Disabled Children’s Partnership and Disability Charities Consortium, highlight the disproportionate impact the cost of living crisis is having on disabled households, with research* by the charity Sense revealing that over half of disabled households are in debt, with nearly a third admitting to skipping meals to save money .
The letter in full:
25th July 2022
Dear Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss,
Re: Support disabled people through the cost of living crisis
Congratulations on reaching the final stage of the Conservative leadership contest.
As the CEOs and leaders of 50 charities we are calling on you to put disabled children, adults and families and the unpaid carers who support them at the heart of any plan you make as leader to address the cost of living crisis.
While everyone is impacted by the current economic situation, disabled households are often hardest hit because of their circumstance. Many are in poverty, less likely to be in full-time work and face additional costs for essentials like specialist equipment, heating, insurance and therapies. Research has found that over half of disabled households are in debt, and nearly a third admit to skipping meals to save money.
Recent steps to support disabled children and adults have been welcome, but they are short term solutions for a long-term issue. With over 14 million disabled people living in the UK today this isn’t something that can be ignored. We hope that you will personally commit to tackling the inequalities that disabled children, adults and their families face.
Yours sincerely,
Richard Kramer, CEO Sense, on behalf of:
AFASIC
AFK Charity
Alex, The Leukodystrophy Charity
Ambitious About Autism
Batten Disease Family Association
Business Disability Forum
Carers UK
Chailey Heritage Foundation
Challengers
Child Poverty Action Group
Contact – for families with disabled children
Down Syndrome UK/Positive about Down Syndrome
Down’s Syndrome Association
Family Fund
Gene People
HFT
Include Me Too
KIDS
Leonard Cheshire
Mencap
Mind
MOVE Europe
NAC
National Autistic Society
National Bobath Cerebral Palsy Centre
Prader-Willi Syndrome Association UK
Rainbow Trust
Rett UK
RNIB
RNID
Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity
Royal College of Occupational Therapists
Scope
Sebastian’s Action Trust
SeeAbility
Sense
Shine
Sibs
SNAP (Special Needs and Parents)
Spinal Muscular Atrophy UK
The Challenging Behaviour Foundation
The Children’s Hyperinsulinism Charity
The Children’s Trust
The Maypole Project
Together For Short Lives
Together Trust
Treloar’s
Tuberous Sclerosis Association
United Response
Whizz-Kids
Young Epilepsy
Young Minds