Disabled people need long-term solutions not stopgaps

In response to today's Budget announcement, our Director of Policy Gemma Hope said:

“It is positive that the Chancellor has recognised that the pandemic’s impact on the jobs market is going to be felt for some time yet. However, disabled people need a long-term solution, not just a stopgap, and it’s disappointing that once again they have been left out of the government’s offer. We cannot be said to be levelling up the country if inequalities are widening for disabled people.

“We found that seven in ten disabled people had seen their work negatively impacted by the pandemic. But the barriers facing disabled employees and jobseekers are structural – they won’t disappear when the current crisis ends.

"Disabled people should be able to expect fairness and equality in work, starting with a disability inclusive recovery plan from the government. This would involve specialised support for disabled people hoping to enter work, and extend eligibility for key programs like Kickstart to help more people at risk of long-term unemployment. We also need to see the gaps in our social care system addressed. Many working aged disabled adults need social care in order to work.

“We must plan for the coming years, not just the coming months, to really end disability discrimination in employment.”

Media enquiries

For further information, interview requests and case studies, please contact Sam Buckley on samuel.buckley@leonardcheshire.org or call 020 3242 0204.