Disabled people in the UK are paying a higher price for life crisis costs | Daily News Byte

You know the UK is in a financial mess when Christmas adverts are toned down, focusing on “saving” rather than spending. As the cost of living continues to rise, many retailers have opted for muted campaigns. Retail experts have warned that scenes of lavish buffets in some ads were out of touch, as households in the UK struggle with rising prices.

Traditionally, this is the time of the year during which people spend more than other months, but not this year. The UK is facing one of its most testing times in modern history – first Brexit, then Covid-19, then the political turmoil of the past year and now the cost of living crisis.

Sadly, with each of these crises, people with disabilities are often the hardest hit. Brexit meant that some medicines disappeared from pharmacies, medical equipment was difficult to source and there was a shortage of carers.

When Covid-19 struck, many disabled people felt that their lives did not matter, with many being asked to sign “do not resuscitate” notices. Then, when things started to open up, so many restrictions were lifted that those still at risk didn’t feel safe and were forced to keep shielding. Now, with higher energy and food costs, it is people with disabilities who will likely pay the higher price. Life is more expensive for people with disabilities and their families, many of whom have low incomes. Costs have increased, including paying for essential goods and services, such as heating, insurance, therapies and additional energy for extra care, home adaptations or power wheelchairs.

These extra costs mean that disabled people have less money in their pockets than non-disabled people, or go without. As a result, disabled people are likely to have a lower standard of living, even if they earn as much as their non-disabled counterparts. New analysis published in November by the Trades Union Congress shows that non-disabled workers now earn a sixth (17.2 per cent) more than disabled workers. The analysis found that the pay gap for disabled workers is currently £2.05 an hour – or £3,731 a year for someone working a 35-hour week.

This disparity in wages meant that adults with disabilities were less likely than non-disabled adults to be able to afford their energy bills, rent or mortgage payments.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) more than half (55 per cent) of disabled adults reported finding it difficult to afford their energy bills, and almost a third (36 per cent) found it difficult to afford their rent or mortgage payments. with 40 percent and 27 percent of non-disabled people, respectively, in recent polls.

Prices of pasta, tea, chips and cooking oil have already soared, with vegetable oil up 65 percent in a year, according to new data. Overall, budget food prices in supermarkets rose by 17 per cent in the year to September, according to ONS research. And inflation is at a 41-year high.

Energy to power essential equipment, such as hoists, beds, breathing apparatus, powered chairs and monitors, was already expensive. These are not optional extras that can be cut. They are often life-saving tools.

In many ways, disabled people in Britain are being hit harder by rising prices than non-disabled people. ONS figures show that 42 per cent of disabled adults spend less on food and other essentials, compared with 31 per cent of non-disabled people, due to rising living costs. About 23 percent of people with disabilities said they had to borrow more money or use more credit than usual in the past month, compared with 17 percent of non-disabled people.

Foodbanks are now part of every community in the UK, becoming an essential aspect of British society, such as schools and hospitals. For people to work, many foodbanks reported more people coming to them for help, while more than half reported fewer food donations from donors, as even those who used to donate could no longer afford to do so. .

I started volunteering at the foodbank three months ago. In that period I saw 370 more “guests” or foodbank users, many of them disabled. Foodbanks are also supporting more people for longer, as repeat referrals return months later, as their financial situation does not improve. Prices are rising but their incomes are not. While working at the food bank, I have met young mothers, elderly people, people with disabilities and many people with mental health problems, all of whom need constant help.

In the past, foodbanks were usually for people who needed an urgent parcel when something went wrong or when an unexpected expense arose, perhaps a relationship broke up or a job was lost. They will need help for a while until they get back on their feet. Now that’s a completely different story.

I spoke to a few disabled people – they all asked to remain anonymous – about how they were managing financially. Sarah (not her real name), who lives in Glasgow, worked there charity shop but when Covid-19 struck, she didn’t feel safe enough to return. It became her only outing Driving her adapted car (designed to be accessible by people with disabilities). As the nearest bus stop is a kilometer away from her, she enjoys the freedom of getting into her car with her dog and going to her favorite park, beach, coffee shop or gym.

Now every outing has to be considered due to rising fuel prices. “I only do essential travel and pay for my trips, so if I have a hospital appointment I’ll combine it with going to the grocery store or getting my hair done or running other errands.”

Sarah has had to cancel hospital appointments on two recent occasions because she was unable to put petrol in her car. Getting a taxi is beyond her financial means and public transportation can take hours. Sarah’s car is essential to maintaining her well-being. She told me she misses going out: “I’m becoming a prisoner in my home again, but rather than because of my PTSD and chronic pain, it’s because of the increase in the cost of living.”

Amy (again, not her real name) has been disabled since age 14 and uses a powered wheelchair, which requires charging every night. Charging a wheelchair costs more than using a dishwasher. She also has to keep the heating on in her flat in Norwood, London. To keep warm due to her condition.

Amy said: “It’s quite normal to leave my heating on if it’s below 19 degrees. However, the cost of my utility bill has tripled since last October.” Now he stays home most of the time and orders online to save fuel for the necessary journeys.

Jane, who became disabled at just 20, has had bowel failure for the past 18 years and uses a wheelchair. She said: “Disability comes with a lot of essential equipment most of which require electricity”. She relies on parenteral nutrition (feeding into a vein through a tube) and needs her own extra fridge. She also needs electricity for her feeding pump as well as her adjustable bed, hoist and wheelchair. Jane explains: “None of these things are things I would choose to do without saving electricity.”

Although Jane appreciates the help from the recent government grant for energy costs, it does not cover the amount of additional costs. Her condition also requires her to buy pre-packaged meals. “I cannot prepare food myself, so have to buy pre-prepared items. I can’t even eat dairy so buy from the vegan range.”

Food prices are rising, but there are no cheap alternatives when your diet is restricted by your condition. Jane admits she’s “lucky” because she has a lot of nutrition prescribed, so she can go without a limit, but it’s still hard. “Then [paying for] Things like food and energy, going out are no longer an option.”

Mellie, in her 70s, is paralyzed from the chest down and has a permanent tracheostomy (a surgical tube in the windpipe) after falling down the stairs and breaking her neck at C6/7 more than 10 years ago.

Mellie also has to have a round-the-clock nurse and caregiver with her and her husband, meaning additional expenses. One of her biggest problems is her inability to regulate her body temperature, which means her energy use is high. “I always have to keep the temperature at 26 degrees in the house because when I catch a cold it’s hard for my body to get back to its temperature.” Mellie is at a loss of what to do. “All I can do is try and cut it off, but we don’t know what’s next.” After 60 years working in the care sector she finds herself in need of care and running out of her pension fund.

This is an unfortunate situation for many people with disabilities, forcing them to make tough choices, using food banks and even compromising their health.

I spoke to Anam Hussain, chief executive of the Sufra NW London Foodbank, a local charity that has been working to improve the causes and consequences of poverty in the community since 2013.

Ms. Hussain explained that they provide their “guests” with the food and assistance they urgently need to survive, empower them to learn new skills and improve their well-being, and help them find work and become financially stable. By working together and using the goodwill of our neighbors, we build a stronger community where no one suffers in silence alone.”

When I asked her if poverty affects guests with disabilities more than non-disabled guests, “Some guests with disabilities need access to delivery and/or our prepared meal service. This includes weekly delivery of food parcels or ready meal parcels. We also have guests who are unable to collect due to health reasons such as mobility issues etc.”

“We have generally seen an increase in the number of guests being referred to us over the past year, again some disclosing a disability and some not. “Unfortunately, we do have guests who express mental health issues, if we feel these require further professional support we will signpost guests to more appropriate agencies who can assist with their needs.”

Few of the people I spoke to told me they were simply not coping well. This should not happen in the richest and most powerful countries in the world. Things cannot remain as they are. We need a new action plan, one that includes people with disabilities.

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Published: December 02, 2022, 9:00 am