That there are higher poverty rates for disabled people than non-disabled people is an issue that has remained consistent for years. Currently, the poverty rate for disabled people is at 30%, ten points higher than it is for non-disabled people. High levels of poverty amongst disabled people have been repeatedly tied to a lack of access to benefits, and the new cuts are estimated to push 350,000 disabled people into poverty. Although the proposals in the Pathways to Work Green Paper do suggest funding for employment support, there is no information on how this will impact the employment rate of disabled people, and the full funding won’t be delivered until years after the cuts to PIP are put in place.Â
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Disabled people face a higher cost of living than non-disabled people. Research from Scope has suggested that households with at least one disabled person on average require an extra £1,010 a month to meet the same living standards as households without any disabled people. Personal Independence Payment is a key benefit which is used to help meet some of these impairment-related expenses, paying for essentials which disabled people would have to find the money elsewhere or go without essential equipment and support.Â
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Employment is not a guaranteed route out of poverty. Although employment rates of disabled people have risen since 2010/11, this has not been reflected in the poverty rates of disabled people, which have remained high. When a disabled person is at work, that work is more likely to be limited hours and low wage. There is little tackling in-work poverty; two-thirds of adults in work in the UK live in poverty. Those who are self-employed or employed on a part-time basis are more likely to be in poverty than those who are employed full-time. These proposals force disabled people into poverty and being told to find work as a solution, without addressing the issue that work is no longer a guarantee out of poverty, particularly if you already have higher essential costs than other workers.Â