posted on 2006-10-30, 14:08authored byNoel Smith, Sue Middleton, Kate Ashton-Brooks, Lynne Cox, Barbara M. Dobson, Lorna Reith
The purpose of this study was to investigate the additional needs and
associated financial costs of disability from the perspective of disabled
people themselves. The research took place at a time when it is
recognised that disabled people have a range of additional needs and
costs (Large, 1991) and have a disproportionate risk of poverty (Gordon,
et al., 2000). However, research to date has not provided a clear
measure of these additional costs (Berthoud, 1998). As a result, levels
of nationally provided financial benefits and local services are predicated
on limited evidence. Certain state benefits are meant to offset, at least
partially, the additional costs associated with disability, but the extent to
which these benefits meet additional needs and costs is unknown.
Recently, ‘fairer charging’ policies for local authority domiciliary care
have been introduced with the intention that service charges should take
into account the additional costs that individuals incur because of
disability. Clear guidance for determining these additional costs is
proving elusive. The central aim of this research was to provide clear
evidence on the extent of these additional costs.
Funding
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
History
School
Social Sciences
Department
Communication, Media, Social and Policy Studies
Research Unit
Centre for Research in Social Policy (CRSP)
Pages
307342 bytes
Citation
SMITH, N., et al, 2004. Disabled people’s costs of living : more than you would think. Loughborough : Loughborough University
Publisher
Disabled people’s costs of living : more than you would think
Publication date
2004
Notes
This report is also available electronically at: http://www.jrf.org.uk/bookshop/eBooks/1859352375.pdf