Welsh MPs have written to UK ministers over the "pitiful" cost of living support being given to those with disabilities. Plaid Cymru MPs Hywel Williams and Ben Lake wrote to the UK government calling on it to increase support for disabled people hardest hit by the cost of living crisis.
People claiming disability payments such as personal independence payments (PIP) and disability living allowance (DLA) are currently ineligible for either of the government's cost of living payments of £326, which was given out to more than seven million households in July, and £324 to be given by the end of October. Around six million disabled people will receive a £150 cost of living payment next month, it was confirmed earlier this week.
The one-off payment, originally announced in May, will be paid automatically to people who receive certain disability benefits from September 20. But Mr Williams said it was "completely unacceptable" that disabled people were ineligible for the £650 payment, saying many had additional energy needs including relying on equipment like wheelchairs and ventilators as well as suffering from conditions which mean they need to use additional heat to stay warm.
