The cost of living crisis is causing so much distress, mentally and physically – particularly for people with a learning disability who are often on lower incomes and face higher outgoings than the general population.
People with a learning disability have many additional expenses. Previous
research
Research is a way of finding out information which could come from books, or asking people what they think.
shows that disabled people face extra costs of up to £583 a month more than non-disabled people, to live the same quality of life*, including the cost of social care. In some instances, people pay as much as 40% of their income from benefits to councils through social care charging.
Results from a Mencap
survey
A survey is when someone asks you to answer some questions.
show the true impact that the cost-of living-crisis is taking on the lives of people with a learning disability, and their carers, families and guardians.
Of the 1,000+ individuals surveyed via the Mencap
website
A website is a page you can go to on the internet like Google or YouTube.
**, many said they had been worried about money recently, often going to great lengths to manage rising costs.
People with a learning disability:
-
34% has been concerned about food costs in the last 3 months
-
33% were also concerned about energy bills
-
25% had worried about the cost of hobbies and activities
-
25% had worried about the cost of their rent
Rent is the money that you pay to live in your home when you have a tenancy agreement
A Tenancy agreement is where the person renting a house, and the person who owns the house, agree on things like how much rent to pay, who will mend things like the cooker if they go wrong, and whether you are allowed pets. . Your home belongs to a landlord
A landlord is the owner of a property which they rent out to tenants. They can be a council, a housing association, or an individual person. , but you have a right to live there as long as you follow the rules that are in your tenancy agreement. or mortgage.
Many people with a learning disability have taken drastic action to combat these concerns:
-
35% reporting that they had skipped meals to cut back on costs
-
13% said they had used a food bank
-
38% said they hadn’t put the heating on despite being cold
-
26% reported not switching the lights on to save money
-
26% had not seen friends and family to save money. ***
Parents and guardians of people with a learning disability are also taking drastic action to reduce their bills:
-
52% reported not putting the heating on when cold
-
30% reported not switching the lights on to save money.
As well as calling on government to do more to fix the long term issues that have made people with a learning disability more
vulnerable
Being vulnerable means being at risk of harm, or that you need special care because of your age or disability.
to this crisis, Mencap is also offering free advice and support for people with a learning disability, and their families and carers, including information about energy, money and benefits through its learning disability helpline:
Call: 0808 808 1111
10am to 3pm Monday to Friday
Email: helpline@mencap.org.uk
Go to: www.mencap.org.uk/COL for more advice and support
References
* https://www.scope.org.uk/campaigns/research-policy/cost-of-living-report/
** 1081 people
*** 36% said they had not worried about costs of anything suggested in the last 3 months

How to get help with food, energy and fuel costs
We've created a page about the governments cost of living payments. Find out if you are eligible and how to claim them.
Alternatively, join one of our free webinars.