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More disabled families go without heating and food

fmilyTHERE has been a sharp rise in the number of families with disabled children going without heating and food over the last two years, says a new report from national charity Contact a Family.

In one of the biggest surveys of its kind with over 3,500 respondents, Counting the Costs 2014, also found that:

36% have taken out a loan (UP from 29% in 2012)
A third are worse off as a result of benefit changes – nearly half by £1,560 a year
60% see their financial situation worsening in the next year (UP from 43% in 2010)

Amanda Batten, chief executive of Contact a Family, said: “Increased living costs and cuts to financial support have left some families with disabled children reeling.

“Despite the economy showing signs of recovery, families with disabled children are not optimistic about the coming years. Instead they feel they are facing an increasingly precarious financial future.

“These money worries are putting huge emotional and mental strain on the families we work with.

“The impact is affecting their health, relationships and in some cases is making their child’s condition worse.

“It doesn’t have to be like this. We all have a role to play in doing something about it. That’s why we are calling on the Government and energy companies to help and for more families with disabled children to get in touch with us for advice.”

More than a quarter of families surveyed have extra costs relating to their child’s disability of £300 or more every month, with the biggest cost being heating and utility bills.

When asked what would help with the extra costs they face, families called for discounts from energy companies (21%) and more support through the benefits system (24%). Some families called for advice about benefits, with almost two thirds (61%) saying they were confused about the recent changes.

As well as going without basics, almost a third of families (27%) told the charity they are going without specialist equipment, adaptations or therapies for their child.

And 9% are missing medical appointments, due to the cost of fuel or transport to get there. Some parents say that the stress they are under is having a knock on effect on their child’s health.

Amanda Batten added: “It is a national scandal that the health of some disabled children and their families is in jeopardy. We must act quickly to address this.”

Contact a Family is calling on the Government to:

1. Increase help towards childcare costs for disabled children via tax credits, Universal Credit and tax free schemes, so families with disabled children do not lose out by having higher childcare costs.

2. Amend the housing benefit rules so that the costs of an extra bedroom are always met where needed due to a disabled child’s condition.

3. Widen the criteria for the higher child disability element in Universal Credit to include children on the middle rate of the DLA care component and those on the high rate for mobility. This would benefit children who have significant care needs or very severe mobility problems but who do not have night time care needs – typically this might include children with cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, autistic spectrum disorders or learning disabilities, as well as children who are profoundly deaf.

4. Increase the Carer’s Allowance earnings threshold in line with any future increases in the national minimum wage and work towards paying Carer’s Allowance to those earning up to £10,000 a year (the rate everyone starts paying income tax).

The charity is also calling on energy companies to:

1. Introduce a fixed monthly discount on all energy tariffs for families who have a child under 18 with a disability.

2. Include disabled children in their eligibility criteria for the Warm Home Discount Scheme.

The Contact a Family freephone Helpline 0808 808 3555 (9.30 – 5pm Mon-Fri) email: helpline@cafamily.org.uk or visit www.cafamily.org.uk

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