The new report entitled: ‘Disability and financial hardship: How disability benefits contribute to the need for food banks in the UK’ notes that the rate of disability among people referred to food banks in the Trussell Trust network is extremely high, with 69% of people referred to Trussell Trust food banks, identifying as Disabled. An even higher proportion, 75%, said that they, or a member of their household is Disabled.
The Trussell Trust found that the majority of Disabled people referred to a food bank in their network are out of work, saying that their health condition or caring responsibilities mean that they cannot work, while others referred to food banks said that they could and wanted to work, however they found it difficult to find any employment that was compatible with their health condition.
The research notes that the increase in food bank use is partly driven by structural issues, particularly highlighting the disability benefits system. Other issues noted that have pushed Disabled people into poverty include the barriers people face when working and the low paid and part time nature of work.
As well as addressing the issues and causes of food bank use increase, the Trussell Trust proposes a range of evidence-based changes to help bring about a more compassionate, person-centred, and fairer disability benefits system which would prevent Disabled people from needing to turn to a food bank in the first instance.
Among the proposals are better employment support, making sure Disabled people are aware of all the benefits they are entitled to and ensuring any decision on any benefit application is quick and correct.
Dan White policy and campaigns officer at DR UK and one of the leads of the Disability Poverty Campaign Group said: “We have known since the cost-of-living crisis took hold that most food bank customers were Disabled. The main reason is obvious to those of us who work and live within the disability community, that is that benefits are not sufficient to meet the extra costs associated with disability and long-term ill health. Benefit payments must match the financial needs of Disabled people, it’s obvious and the proof is in black and white.”
“The trussell trust findings, along with all the other recent reports, paint a terrible picture of how Disabled people are just existing in the UK in the 21st century. The UK Government needs to address the issue of systemic deep poverty, that drives poor Disabled people into financial hardship and mental distress, removing people’s capacity to thrive and flourish. Benefit levels for Disabled people need to be raised to enable basic living costs to be met.”