Campaign warns that cuts could push thousands of families into poverty
The Every Disabled Child Matters campaign (EDCM) warns that under new Government proposals, disability premiums for thousands of families with disabled children will be reduced by £1358.76 per year.
Last week, the Government outlined plans to change disability premiums within Child Tax Credits or Income Support under the Universal Credit. In a move to align child and adult premiums the Government has decided to dramatically cut disabled children's benefits for up to 88,000 families.
Laura Courtney, EDCM Campaign Manager says:
"Families with disabled children experience very high unavoidable costs. They are also more likely to be on low incomes or be out of work than other families, due to the pressure of caring responsibilities. This cut in financial support will further confound the issues that families with disabled children on low income face and is likely to push many more families into poverty.
We hope that the Government will take the opportunities available during the course of the Welfare Reform Bill to rethink this proposal, and to find a way to ensure a clear transition from childhood to adult disability benefits that does not result in a dramatic reduction of support for disabled children."
Diane Smith, Mum to a 16 year old daughter with special needs says:
"This would be yet another direct cut and a reduction to the income of families who need it most. Why not look at continuing the premium as it currently stands into adulthood? Just because your child has a birthday does not mean their needs change."
These benefit premiums are provided to help thousands of the lowest income families with disabled children to meet the extra costs incurred when raising a disabled child. These costs include higher utility bills, additional laundry requirements, funding safety measures within the household, buying additional clothing for their child, meeting their child's specific dietary requirements. For the time being, the changes will affect new claimants once the Universal Credit is introduced rather than families who are already in receipt of these benefits, but it is unclear how long this protection will last.
Disabled children are disproportionately likely to live in poverty and have poorer life chances than non-disabled children. 'Counting the Costs', a survey by Contact a Family, demonstrated that almost a quarter of families with disabled children are going without heating (23%) and that one in seven (14%) are going without food. EDCM fears that this move will mean that families with disabled children who are out of work or on a low income, will no longer be able to meet the high household costs they face as a result of their child's impairment. As a result, they could significantly increase child poverty in these households.
EDCM - www.edcm.org.uk
Disabled children: a legal handbook is an authoritative yet accessible guide to the legal rights of disabled children and their families in England and Wales.
Peter Limbrick writes -