New research from the Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities and Fraser of Allander Institute has found that people with learning disabilities and their families in Scotland are not meeting the minimum income standard needed to live a dignified life.
The Minimum Income Standard is a vision of the living standards that we, as a society, agree everyone in the UK should meet.
The report surveyed 24 individuals with learning disabilities and their families and found that three-quarters were struggling financially. Over half of the households in the research were in poverty when benefits designed to meet the additional costs of disability were excluded from incomes.
Participants most often struggled to afford heating their homes, going out, holidays, food, and phone contracts. Individuals also described difficulties navigating both the social security and social care systems.
Chirsty McFadyen, economist at the Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde, said the research is particularly timely given the recently announced cuts to disability benefits and the upcoming Spring Statement from the UK Government.
He said that changes to benefits were a source of stress for people with learning disabilities and their families, and the government will need to ensure that further changes are communicated clearly, in a timely manner, and in accessible formats.
He added: “Many people with learning disabilities are already going to be transferring from Employment and Support Allowance to Universal Credit over the next two years. The proposed changes to disability benefits may affect people with learning disabilities—both those in work and those seeking employment—in a variety of positive and negative ways.”
Although people with learning disabilities have a right to independent advocacy, a service which can help them get the benefits and care they need, the report found that many participants were not able to access this service. This meant that many families in the study were not receiving adequate care, and they did not feel equipped to manage changes to their benefits.
In some cases, certain elements of benefits were disincentivising progression in work for people with learning disabilities.
The researchers found many participants needed help with budgeting and understanding bills, which was sometimes provided through social care. Those who had access to the help they needed felt more financially secure.
Ruth Callander, Evidence Lead at the Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities, said: “These are results we have seen anecdotally for many years. The research published today provides clear evidence that people with learning disabilities are often not able to do the things they want to do that would help them live a full life.
“If Scotland is to meet its poverty targets for 2030, the government will need to consider the adequacy of disability benefits, as well as how support such as independent advocacy and social care can best serve people with learning disabilities.”
