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Disabled children's poverty report exposes 'a scar on the UK's conscience', says Unite

7 October 2011

The fact that 40 per cent of disabled children are living in poverty is 'a scar on the conscience of Britain', Unite, the largest union in the country, said today (Friday, 7 October).

Unite called on ministers to act 'immediately and urgently' on The Children's Society findings in its report - 4 in every 10: Disabled children living in poverty - unveiled today.

The report revealed that when the Disability Living Allowance is removed from family income, 40 per cent of disabled children in the UK are living in poverty, rising to about 50 per cent where there is also a disabled adult in the family.

Unite's national officer for children's charities, Mike Robinson said: 'This report highlights a scar on the conscience of Britain - a stark reminder that those in poverty and, especially those children with disabilities in poverty, are destined to a lifetime of lower achievement, poorer health and fewer opportunities, unless something is done urgently.'

'In a caring society, we should be doing all we can to raise the living standards of children with disabilities. The report's recommendations are measured and sensible, and within the power of this government to enact. Whether ministers will bother to do so is a different matter entirely.'

The report's recommendations include: investing more to ensure that all families with disabled children take up their full entitlement of disability benefits; and ministers not cutting the level of support for families with disabled children paid under the Universal Credit, which could adversely affect up to 100,000 disabled children.



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