DWP's extra disabled cost of living payment barely scratches the surface

21 June 2023 , 16:19

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Mel Stride (Image: PA)

In a shock to nobody, the Department for Works and Pensions is bragging about how much they are helping disabled people again.

Yesterday the Secretary of State Mel Stride took to Twitter (again, the man loves Twitter) to crow that from this week the DWP will be giving people on disability benefits an extra cost of living payment.

That’s right - the most vulnerable to the cost of living crisis will be getting extra support when we need it most.

The minister marked this momentous occasion by visiting a charity that helped disabled people, and he shared that he’d been speaking to disabled people to find out how it will help with the extra costs, apparently.

“This targeted support is going directly into the pockets of those who need it most” Stride said.

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But don’t get too excited, it’s not an amount that will actually make a difference - we’re getting a grand total of £150.

When it was announced today that inflation is still stuck at 8.7 per cent, meaning interest rates, bills, food and everything else will surely rise again, £150 barely scratches the surface.

Especially when disabled people face extra costs of upwards of £900 a month due to increased energy use, specialist equipment and food.

Just yesterday Stride took to the airwaves on LBC to justify why he abstained from the Partygate inquiry vote. He said it was because the 90 day suspension of Boris Johnson was "going a bit too far".

This was a kick in the teeth to disabled people who’ve been sanctioned by the department and had their benefits stopped for 91 days if they refuse a terrible job offer.

Not long ago both the DWP (and shadow minister for DWP Jonathan Ashcroft) were claiming benefit fraud was the reason COL payments are so low and that if it wasn’t for all us benefit fraudsters and scroungers everyone would be getting an extra payment.

And then they produced an extra payment anyway. So that was clearly a lie, again, to demonise disabled people.

I already know the criticism I’m going to get for this.

“You’re should be grateful” - and that’s the problem, why are we expected to be grateful instead of demanding for my community?

I got this same criticism at Christmas when I pointed out that the £10 “bonus” should be around £165 in line with inflation. In that instance hundreds of people flocked to Twitter to call me, amongst other things, “a dribbling lefty empath” and that we should get nothing.

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But there were also many many disabled people sharing how much they struggled over Christmas.

For too long when disabled people are given the bare minimum to allow us to survive we’re expected to thank our oppressors.

The same people who make it harder for us to qualify for benefits, harder to get into employment if we want to, harder to survive in constant fear that if we work slightly too much or appear slightly too “healthy” we’ll lose what we need to live.

I recognise I’m in a position of immense privilege to be able to stand up and demand better when so many disabled people either physically can’t or are afraid to for fear of losing benefits and support.

So no, I won’t be grateful and neither should other disabled people be expected to be. We should be allowed to voice our concerns and fears about the cost of living crisis without scorn or repercussions.

Rachel Charlton-Dailey