People who get benefits such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) could miss out on hundreds of pounds to help with their cost of living.
As part of Chancellor Rishi Sunak's package of measures, around six million people on disability benefits will get £150 in September, whereas around eight million on seven means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit will get a much higher amount of £650, to be paid in two instalments - the first in July, the second in the autumn.
This has led to criticism over the way Government support is being allocated, including a new petition asking for the disabled and chronically ill to be given more money. It has nearly 4,000 signatures at present and will be considered for debate in parliament if it reaches 100,000, reports Birmingham Live.
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The petition, set up by Abigail Broomfield, says disabled people and carers should get the £650 sum too. The £150 payment will go to those who receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance, Armed Forces Independence Payment, Constant Attendance Allowance and War Pension Mobility Supplement.
Ms Broomfield wrote on the petition: "Disabled people should be included alongside carers in the £650 one-off payment as part of the Cost of Living support package. We have larger utilities bills and food costs when compared to non-disabled people. We rely on these utilities and food to stay alive."
She also issued an alarming warning over the impact of the gap in cash support, saying: "Without including disabled people for the full £650 entitlement, many more disabled people could die. We might have to switch off or use our equipment less which is vital for our survival.
"We could be unable to purchase specific food for our dietary requirements. We might be unable to be warm. This could lead to more hospitalisations and death. Most disabled people already suffer from mental health problems and this will only increase. This could lead to more suicides and death."
Those people getting the £150 disability cost of living payment this September will, like all other UK households, also receive the £150 energy rebate through the council tax system and the £400 energy rebate from suppliers from October. They may also be eligible to get money from the Household Support Fund, depending on the rules for their local authority.
Who gets the £650 Cost of Living payment?
The Government says the £650 Cost of Living payment will go to all households receiving the following seven benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Pension Credit
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