Make people on disability benefits eligible for the £650 one off payment.

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. 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.

Our help for households with the cost of living helps all households but has prioritised those on low incomes, those with disability and pensioners.

Many disabled people will be eligible for both the £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment and the £650 Cost of Living Payment. However, the £650 payment is only for those people in receipt of a qualifying means-tested benefit. The Government is not changing these qualifying criteria.

The £650 cost of living payment (split into 2 instalments of £326 and £324) is available to those on benefits such as Universal Credit or income-related ESA. This will support millions of low-income households.

The Government recognises that disabled people face particular cost of living pressures. That is why, in addition, up to 6 million disabled people who are in receipt of a disability benefit (including non means-tested benefits like PIP) will receive a one-off Disability Cost of Living Payment worth £150.

The Disability Cost of Living Payment is just one element of the help for households. Disabled pensioners will also benefit from the £300 increase in Winter Fuel Payments.

Nearly 60% of carers on low incomes who are of working age and on Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Element claim either an income-related benefit through which they could be entitled to the £326 and £324 Cost of Living Payment or a qualifying disability payment meaning they are entitled to the £150 disability one off payment.

In addition to the £15 billion targeted Cost-of-Living Support, millions of families will benefit from