Scope responds to budget - Universal Credit taper rate and SEND funding

Louise Rubin, head of policy at disability equality charity Scope, said:

“The Budget does little to address the fears of many disabled people and families about their finances this winter. The cut to Universal Credit, sky-high inflation and spiralling energy costs will hit disabled households hardest.

“The change to the Universal Credit taper rate is a small step in the right direction for working disabled people.

“But the change will have zero impact on people out of work. With the disability employment gap stuck at close to 30 per cent, it is disabled people who will continue to bear the brunt of the £20 Universal Credit cut.

“We face a bleak winter of soaring prices and sky-high energy costs that come on the heels of a £20 cut to Universal Credit. Those on legacy benefits weren’t eligible for the uplift in the first place.

“Disabled people already face extra costs of £583 a month on average, and this is set to soar this winter.

"Levelling up means nothing if disabled people are left behind.”

On education funding:

“Families with disabled children will be bitterly disappointed that the Chancellor has failed to close the £2.1 billion funding gap for disabled children’s health and social care.
"It leaves millions of disabled children without access to the therapies, treatments and respite care they need.

“We welcome funding for special education needs places and for early years provision, but disabled children cannot thrive in education if they don’t have the right health and social care support in place.”

For more information please call the Scope press office on 0207 619 7200 or email pressoffice@scope.org.uk