Parents of disabled children in between a rock and a hard place with childcare and work

Referring to the recent Working Families Survey, Srabani Sen, Chief Executive of Contact a Family (UK) commented: 'We welcome this report which highlights families with disabled children continue to find themselves between a rock and a hard place when it comes to childcare and work. Like everyone else, parent carers need paid employment for financial reasons; they also face significant extra costs associated with caring for a disabled child. Many juggle complex care arrangements, family life and jobs against the odds.

'However, too often parent carers are forced out of the labour market due to higher childcare costs or unsuitable provision because their child has a disability or medical condition. This leaves already financially disadvantaged families struggling on low income, increasingly accused of being benefits scroungers. 

'The Government's flagship Universal Credit is designed to make work pay. However it doesn't yet make allowances for the higher childcare costs facing many families with disabled children compared to other families.  The Working Families report comes on the back of the Supporting Working Carers Report from Government and businesses that argues for more support to help carers juggle work and care, and to give the economy a much-needed boost. 

'The childcare trap is putting unnecessary additional barriers on families with disabled children wanting and needing to work. Contact a Family would therefore welcome recognition of the higher costs of childcare for disabled children when Universal Credit is introduced.  This would make sense for families with disabled children, the economy and the tax payer.'