Disabled people in the UK face worsening discrimination and a growing risk of poverty as a result of government failures to tackle problems ranging from welfare benefits to employment, according to a human rights watchdog.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said successive UK governments had made little or no progress in addressing 11 policy recommendations identified by United Nations investigators in a highly critical report in 2016, which accused ministers of “systematic violations” of disabled people’s rights.
The EHRC said, in a report to the UN published on Thursday, that disabled people continued to be at disproportionately high risk of poverty, low income and having poor public services, and were still likely to suffer from public prejudice and media stereotyping.
A report drawn up with the EHRC’s Scottish and Northern Irish counterparts said it was disappointing that so little progress had been made on improving disability rights in the UK over the past seven years. “While some commitments have been made, actions have been delayed or don’t go far enough,” the report said.
The pandemic and the subsequent cost of living crisis had exacerbated many of the problems raised in the 2016 report, which focused heavily on the disproportionate impact of austerity cuts and welfare changes on disabled people, the EHRC said.
“There continues to be a disproportionate number of disabled people living on a low income or in poverty. Disabled people experience long waiting periods for benefits eligibility decisions and are more likely to use resources such as food banks,” the report said.
While the government had set aside some one-off financial support for disabled people on low incomes to offset high food and energy bills as a result of Covid-19 and the cost of living crisis, this did not go far enough, the EHRC said, citing official data showing that disabled people were much more likely to struggle to pay gas and electricity bills.
The watchdog said it remained concerned about the ability of the UK welfare system to protect the living standards and mental and physical health of disabled people, despite the introduction of some limited mitigations and protections by devolved governments.
The 2016 UN report highlighted the frequent portrayal of disabled people by the UK public and media as “lazy and putting a burden on taxpayers”. Little progress had been made in combating such hostile stereotyping, the report said.
Kishwer Falkner, the EHRC chair, said: “Alongside other human rights and equality bodies in Britain and Northern Ireland, we urge the governments in London and Cardiff to address the problems faced by disabled people and take action to address the UN’s recommendations from 2016.
“Disabled people must be treated with dignity, respect and fairness. The recommendations made years ago must be addressed if the lives of disabled people are to improve.”
The UK has been a signatory to the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities since 2007. The convention includes the right to live independently, work and enjoy social protection without discrimination on the basis of disability.
A government spokesperson said: “Last month we launched a consultation on our new disability action plan, which is part of this government’s commitment to create a society that works for everyone.
“Significant work is already being taken forward including reforming the health and disability benefits system, boosting disability benefits by 10.1%, investing £2bn to support sick and disabled people back into work, and helping the most vulnerable with record financial support worth around £3,300 per household.
“We remain committed to making our society a more inclusive and accessible place for all disabled people.”
