4 in 10 Disabled Children Living in Poverty
Linsay’s advice for other parents and why she set up Little Hiccups
New figures have revealed a high level of poverty amongst disabled families in the UK.
The research published by the Papworth Trust has shown that 40% of families with disabled childrenare living in poverty. This is as many parents are unable to work in order to care for their child. With the cost of raising a disabled child estimated to be three times greater than one without disabilities, it has left many families struggling to support themselves financially.
Children’s charities have been calling upon the government to reconsider some of the decisions they have taken, in cutting the benefits available for disabled people. There is a fear that these cuts will greatly impact upon a disabled child’s quality of life, and possible independent living. With the proposed welfare changes, many more families could also fall below the poverty line.
But the government claims that the support is still there for those who need it, and those who are most severely disabled will receive more under the new system.
Diminishing Support
Linsay Medica, whose son Jack is unable to stand, see or speak and has uncontrolled epilepsy meaning he has up to 40 seizures in a 24 hour period, says that support has declined as he’s got older.
Linsay was forced to give up her job and become reliant on benefits, whilst also re-mortgaging her house to afford the costs in order to make it accessible for Jack.
“Obviously being reliant on benefits is not a position I want to be in, but Jack’s care comes first and I do what’s best for Jack”
“Times have changed since Jack was born, now everyone’s budgets have been cut so much that the support has diminished, and you really are reliant on family and friends for help”
“Charities are now the biggest support ever for equipment, that equipment is vital to a childs health and their life, and the government don’t really realise that. They don’t walk in our shoes and they are bloody tough shoes to wear some days”
Linsay was one of the co-founders of Little Hiccups. This is a parent led support group for children and families with special needs and disabilities, based in Leeds. This group enables people in similar situations to meet each other, and give moral support.
“I really struggled in the early days to appreciate that I wasn’t on my own. It wasn’t until I met another parent and had the hardest conversation of my life, that was a turning point for me – to know that I wasn’t alone”
“I just wanted to say to people that you’re not on your own and I was in the right place at the right time to start up a group. It has gone way beyond anything we anticipated – we now support nearly 200 families!”
The government have already abolished the Disability Living Allowance, changing to Personal Independence Payment and have scrapped Child Tax Benefits. By 2017 Scope estimates that the proposed cuts and a freeze in child benefit could collectively leave families around the country £1.7 billion worse off.
Disability Statistics
- 38% disabled children in workless households
- 1 in 13 receive regular support from local authorities
- 90% parents worried about cuts
- 1 in 7 disabled families go without food
Source papworthtrust.org.uk
Scope Representative Patricia Hill said “Even though we would like to think costs would be the same, parents with disabled children do need to spend more money. They don’t always pick things up in the same was as other children do, and so you need to take them out more, and to do this it costs more money!”
“From the families we have spoken to people are certainly very worried about what the future holds for them. Many of these families depend on the benefits system, and with the cuts that are being proposed it will leave many of them in situations where they will be struggling to afford basic needs”.
“End dependency culture”
Iain Duncan Smith says the support is still there for those who need it Image Courtesy of Guardian.co.uk
However, Secretary of State Iain Duncan Smith claims the UK spends more on sick and disabled people than the OECD average. He said “the best way to escape poverty is to work your way out of it, and the government is putting in support measures to allow people to do this”
“We continue to spend around £50 billion a year on sick a disabled people, and our reforms will make sure the billions spent give more targeted support to those who need it most”
“I believe the support is there for those who need it, but we are trying to change a culture of dependency on the welfare system”
They are also changing the measure of recognising child poverty – this currently being defined as a family where the income is less than 60% of the national average. They claim this measure is no longer relevant and instead it should be measured by looking at educational attainment and worklessness in households.
Parent Trevor Smith, whose son Elliot was born with profound hearing loss, learning difficulties and stunted growth claims that parents need to make more of a fuss, as services are cut. He has looked to charities and support groups to provide the support that has disappeared from the state
Trevor making dinner for his son Elliot
“There’s finite resources in local authorities, there is no doubt support for disabled families is being cut back and it is very worrying.”
“Support doesn’t land in your lap, you’ve got to shout and make your voice heard. If something isn’t good enough you really have got to be a dog with a bone, as there are still places of support through variouscharities and groups, but you have to be prepared to go out and find them”
Welfare reforms are a key element of the government’s changes, and one which they say will help simplify the system and cut out billions of pounds of fraud and incorrect payments. This controversial measure has left many families with disabled children unhappy, as the government looks to cut a further £12billion from the welfare state.
Have Your Say:
Are there enough support networks for families with disabled children?
Related Links:
The Papworth Trust – http://www.papworthtrust.org.uk/
Leeds Disability Support Group Little Hiccups – http://www.littlehiccups.co.uk
Rundown of the Government’s Welfare Policy –https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2010-to-2015-government-policy-welfare-reform/2010-to-2015-government-policy-welfare-reform
Linsay speaking to Radio Aire – http://www.radioaire.co.uk/localnews/thousands-of-disabled-children-in-poverty-in-leeds/
How will benefits changes affect you? – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-33429390
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