Scope: Unintended consequences will hit disabled people

Disability charity Scope’s chief executive Richard Hawkes comments on a Demos study revealing a drastic reduction in disabled people’s income:

“The government has said that disabled people will be protected. The findings of the Destination Unknown: Spring 2011 will make uncomfortable reading.

“The simple fact is that daily life costs more if you are disabled, which means disabled people and their families are vulnerable to the cumulative impact of losing a local service, a wage freeze or seeing their benefits adjusted.

“The government needs to pay close attention to the unintended consequences of its welfare reforms and spending decisions. If families already have to decide between paying their bills and buying food, what will the picture look like this time next year?”