Two petitions which called on the UK Government to provide additional cost of living support for people claiming disability benefits are to be debated by MPs in Parliament. Marsha De Cordova MP, a member of the Petitions Committee, has been asked to open the debate on May 22 where MPs from all parties can take part, and the UK Government will send a minister to respond.
The first petition, ‘Make people on disability benefits eligible for the £650 one off payment’, was created by Abigail Broomfield and received more than 24,600 signatures of support on the petitions-parliament website. As reported by the Daily Record, the petition states: “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.”
The DWP response said: “Six million people in receipt of a qualifying disability benefit will receive a £150 payment in September. If they are in receipt of a qualifying benefit, they will also receive the £650 payment.”