Spotlight on Poverty: People with Learning Disabilities

As part of BASW UK's campaign against poverty, each fortnight we will be focusing on a different part of social work practice and the impact of poverty...

People with Learning Disabilities

There are 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK. They may be faced with a lack of equal opportunities for healthcare, housing, education, employment and social pursuits. They are also likely to be at higher risk of the potential health risks and consequences of cold weather and fuel poverty than the general population.

Impact of Poverty

Rising costs of food, fuel, food and other essentials will place people with learning disabilities at greater risk of both immediate hardship, reduce opportunities to participate in society and have a detrimental impact on health and wellbeing.

Spending to pay for extra support, home adaptations or for additional energy to power essential items such as wheelchairs or those that meet sensory needs has also increased. According to a report by charity SCOPE in 2019, it was estimated that people with a learning disability spent £583 more on things like transport, medication and energy than someone without a disability. That is likely to have increased further in the current economic climate. These extra costs mean people with learning disabilities have less money than nondisabled people, or that they go without essentials altogether.

Additionally, people with learning disabilities may find it hard to understand their options and to get advice because they don't know how or where to look for help. They may have difficulties accessing information about where to get help or understanding the information that is available because it is not in an accessible format, such as Easy Read.

According to the Department for Work and Pensions, the employment rate for people with a learning disability is the lowest of any disability or health condition (25%). And analysis by the Trades Union Congress in November 2022 found that that the pay gap for disabled workers is currently at £2.05 an hour – or £3,731 per year for someone working a 35-hour week. 

Key Messages

Much of the media coverage and reporting looks at the impact of poverty on disabled people as a homogenous group. Whilst this is useful in drawing attention to the issues, this approach fails to understand or report the unique challenges facing people with learning disabilities in relation to poverty and the current cost of living crisis. 

The following statements capture the views of people with learning disabilities shared at Lewisham People’s Parliament meeting in December 2022:

  • Disabled people are at a disadvantage due to low employment opportunities and the extra costs that some face, including many paying towards the care and support they receive.
  • The Government need to do more, both the make sure that benefits rise in line with costs and to properly fund health and social care services.
  • There is a concern that a rise in crime due to the cost of living crisis will mean that people with learning disabilities are more often targeted and will be more isolated as a result of this fear.
  • People with learning disabilities find it hard to understand a lot of the information around the cost of living. More Easy Read information helps, but people also need support to understand and act on information, even if it is in an Easy Read format.

The Role of Social Workers

Social workers should be alert to the signs of poverty and ask questions as a part of interaction with people about income and expenditure. As part of the identification of need, social workers need to carry out risk assessments, which identify the impact of poverty on individuals including their physical, mental and psychological health. Support plans should reflect the impact of poverty on eligible needs and the utilise professional judgement to identify the support required to meet eligible needs.

Social workers should also have a good up to date working knowledge of resources and services available locally to support people with learning disabilities, which includes information and advice that is accessible (e.g. available in Easy Read) and challenging barriers to accessing essential support services. It's also useful to develop positive working relationships with other professionals and organisations.

Learning Disability England has been running a cost of living hub since last autumn. There is information on resources, campaigns, advice on staying warm & financial help in there.

Calling for Change

BASW UK has launched a campaign calling on the UK Government to provide greater support for those being hardest hit by poverty.

We have developed a factsheet examining how poverty impacts on people with learning disabilities as a resource for social workers. Read the factsheet here.