The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently dismissed calls by an online petition calling on the UK Government to give all disabled people and unpaid carers the £650 means-tested cost of living payment.
However, it has now been officially asked by the Petitions Committee, the group of MPs who oversee the petitions system, to provide a “revised response” as they felt the DWP “did not directly address the request” of the petition.
The ‘make people on disability benefits eligible for the £650 one off payment’ petition on the petitions-parliament website was created by Abigail Broomfield and highlights how disabled people and unpaid carers - some 12.5 million in total across the UK - have higher utility bills and food costs than most people. Since it was created last month, more than 18,617 people have shown their support for the petition calling for change.
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.
“Without including disabled people for the full £650 entitlement, many more disabled people could die. We might have to switch off or use our equipment less which is vital for our survival. We could be unable to purchase specific food for our dietary requirements. We might be unable to be warm.”
And it ends with a stark warning: “This could lead to more hospitalisations and death. Most Disabled people already suffer from mental health problems and this will only increase. This could lead to more suicides and death.”
However, in its July 1 response, the DWP said that while it “recognises that disabled people face extra costs” this year due to the ongoing crisis, it has no plans to change eligibility for the current financial support package worth £37 billion, which includes £15 billion in “targeted support for those with the greatest need”.
The DWP responded: “The [UK] Government recognises that disabled people face extra costs which is why 6 million disabled people who are in receipt of a qualifying disability benefit will receive a one-off Disability Cost of Living Payment worth £150. Households will receive a payment for each eligible disabled person.”
It also pointed out that many disabled people will be eligible for both the £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment and the £650 Cost of Living Payment, while disabled pensioners will also benefit from the £300 increase in Winter Fuel Payments from this November.
Addressing financial support for unpaid carers, DWP said: “Nearly 60% of carers on low incomes who are of working age and on Carer’s Allowance claim either an income-related benefit through which they will be entitled to the £650 or a qualifying disability payment meaning they are entitled to the £150 disability one off payment.”
It also highlighted that the package of support is in addition to the £1.3 billion investment announced in 2021 to help those with disabilities get into and stay in work and ongoing work on reform through the Health and Disability White Paper due to be published later this year.
This week, the Petitions Committee told Ms Broomfield in an email: “The Petitions Committee have considered the Government’s response to this petition.
“They felt that the response did not directly address the request of the petition and have therefore written back to the Government to ask them to provide a revised response.
“When the Committee have received a revised response from the Government, this will be published on the website.”
Speaking to the Daily Record, Ms Broomfield said: "I welcome this review and I hope the Uk Government will actually read the petition this time and acknowledge the help needed for the millions of vulnerable people who will be missing out."
You can read the full response to the petition, which closes on December 6, 2022, on the petitions-parliament website, here.
To keep up to date with the cost of living crisis, join in the conversation on our Money Saving Scotland Facebook page here, or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out three times each week - sign up here.
