Meta description:
In Britain today, being disabled too often means being poor. Rising costs, low benefits, and systemic neglect have turned survival into a privilege.
Summary
For millions of disabled people, poverty isn’t a side effect — it’s policy.
From frozen benefits to inaccessible work, the UK’s systems are built to keep disabled people struggling.
The government talks about “support,” but every form, assessment, and delay proves the opposite.
This is the price of survival in modern Britain — a country that demands resilience while cutting away every tool needed to live.
Introduction: Poverty by Design
Disabled people make up almost a quarter of the UK population, yet they’re far more likely to live in poverty than anyone else.
According to Scope, 38% of disabled adults live in households below the poverty line — compared with 17% of non-disabled adults.
“I’m not poor because I can’t work,” says Hannah, 42, who has lupus. “I’m poor because the system won’t let me live.”
Every part of the welfare state — from benefits to housing, from healthcare to transport — adds another barrier.
It’s not just a lack of money. It’s a lack of dignity, security, and choice.
Poverty doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built into policy — a quiet decision that some lives are worth less.
Section 1: The Disability Price Tag
Disability is expensive. The government knows it. The public rarely hears it.
Scope’s Disability Price Tag report found that disabled people face average extra costs of £975 a month — everything from medical equipment and taxis to heating bills and care.
Even after benefits, they’re still £600 worse off every month than non-disabled people.
“My electricity bill’s double because of my ventilator,” says Daniel, 37. “They told me to switch it off when not in use — I’d be dead.”
The cost-of-living crisis didn’t create this gap; it just exposed it.
While ministers brag about one-off “support payments,” disabled households have been subsidising the state for years — through unpaid care, underpaid labour, and endless patience.
These aren’t “extra” costs. They’re survival costs.
Section 2: Benefits That Don’t Benefit
Welfare is supposed to protect people from poverty. For disabled claimants, it often causes it.
PIP, ESA, and Universal Credit are meant to cover the cost of living, but they haven’t kept up with inflation for over a decade.
Even before energy bills skyrocketed, most claimants were already in deficit.
“They gave me a £150 ‘disability payment,’” says Hannah. “That’s one week of electricity.”
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation warns that benefit cuts and freezes have pushed hundreds of thousands of disabled people into destitution.
At the same time, assessments designed by the DWP routinely strip people of their entitlements, forcing them to survive on appeals and food banks.
These are not safety nets — they’re traps.
And every new reform that claims to “simplify the system” just makes it harder to live within it.
Section 3: Work That Doesn’t Pay
For disabled people who can and do work, poverty still follows them.
According to the Resolution Foundation, the disability pay gap in the UK is now 14% — meaning disabled workers earn almost £3,500 less per year than their non-disabled colleagues.
This gap hasn’t narrowed in over a decade.
“They said work would make me independent,” says Leanne, 29, who has fibromyalgia. “But my wages don’t even cover rent. I’m worse off than when I was on benefits.”
Part-time or flexible work options are often the only viable routes for people with fluctuating conditions, yet employers routinely treat those roles as less valuable.
At the same time, the DWP’s benefit rules claw back income the moment someone starts earning — punishing progress instead of rewarding it.
The government loves to say “work pays.”
For disabled people, it rarely does.
Until fair pay, accessibility, and benefit reform happen together, work will keep people poor instead of freeing them.
Section 4: The Hidden Poverty Line
Official poverty figures hide as much as they reveal.
The government measures poverty by income, not by need. That means it ignores the higher living costs faced by disabled people — everything from adaptive technology to transport to care.
Once those are accounted for, the real poverty rate among disabled people is closer to 50%, according to Scope.
“They said I’m above the poverty line,” says Daniel. “Maybe on paper. Not in my kitchen.”
Disabled people are also more likely to live alone or as single parents — two groups hit hardest by rising housing and energy prices.
And because many are home more due to illness, they can’t cut back on heating or electricity without risking their health.
In policy terms, they’re “managing.”
In reality, they’re barely surviving.
Britain congratulates itself on measuring poverty.
It should try ending it.
Section 5: A Nation That Chooses Who to Save
Poverty isn’t random. It’s the outcome of political choice.
The same governments that slash disability benefits find billions for tax breaks and military contracts.
Every budget, every policy, every “efficiency saving” tells disabled people exactly where they stand — at the bottom of the list.
“They say we’re all in this together,” says Leanne. “Then why am I always the one left behind?”
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation calls this “destitution by design.” Cuts to housing support, benefit sanctions, and inaccessible services have created a permanent underclass of disabled people — punished for existing in a system that calls itself fair.
This isn’t mismanagement. It’s prioritisation.
When a government knows a policy will hurt disabled people and pushes it through anyway, that’s not an accident — it’s cruelty by consent.
Section 6: Dignity as a Right
Fixing disability poverty doesn’t start with more charity. It starts with justice.
It means a benefits system that reflects the real cost of living.
It means accessible, fairly paid work that values contribution beyond productivity.
It means housing that’s safe, care that’s funded, and politicians who see disabled lives as equal.
“We don’t need inspiration,” says Hannah. “We need equality.”
Poverty isn’t a test of character — it’s a measure of what a nation believes people deserve.
And if Britain believes in fairness, it’s time to prove it.
Conclusion: The Price of Survival
For too long, disabled people have been told to be resilient — as if endurance were a substitute for justice.
They’ve been told to budget better, try harder, stay hopeful.
But hope doesn’t heat homes or fill cupboards.
“I’m tired of surviving,” says Daniel. “I want to live.”
The price of survival shouldn’t be your dignity, your health, or your future.
Yet for millions of disabled people, it still is.
Until that changes, Britain’s real measure of success isn’t growth or GDP.
It’s how many people it leaves behind.
Support Forgotten Rights
If this story spoke to you, please consider supporting Forgotten Rights.
Independent journalism survives because readers like you refuse to look away.
👉 Support on Ko-fi
👉 Join on Patreon
Together, we can keep demanding a country that doesn’t just help disabled people survive — but lets them live with dignity, equality, and power.
Sources & Further Reading
- Scope – The Disability Price Tag 2024
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation – UK Poverty Reports
- Resolution Foundation – Disability Pay Gap Data
- Equality and Human Rights Commission – Disability and Living Standards
- Health Foundation – Poverty and Health Inequality Reports
Charities We Support
Support Forgotten Rights – Copy & Paste Affiliate Banners
Pick a banner you like, copy the code, and paste it into your WordPress post, page, or widget.
Privacy & Accessibility Policy
Last updated: 29 October 2025
Forgotten Rights (“we”, “our”, “the site”) is committed to protecting your privacy and making this website accessible to everyone. This page explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the rights you have under UK data-protection law.
1. Who We Are
Forgotten Rights is an independent UK blog highlighting the treatment of sick and disabled people under government policy.
Contact email: forgottenrightsblog[at]gmail.com (replace [at] with @)
2. What Personal Data We Collect
We collect only the data necessary to operate this blog and respond to enquiries, including:
- Information you provide voluntarily (name, email address, and message content) through the contact form or email.
- Technical information such as IP address, browser type, and pages visited — collected automatically through cookies and analytics tools.
- Comments or form submissions left on posts (if enabled).
We do not request or store sensitive information such as National Insurance numbers, medical records, or payment card details.
3. How We Use Your Data
- To reply to messages or enquiries you send us.
- To monitor and improve website performance and security.
- To manage comments, prevent spam, and maintain community safety.
- To meet our legal obligations under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
We will never sell, rent, or trade your personal information.
4. Legal Basis for Processing
We rely on the following lawful bases under Article 6 of the UK GDPR:
- Consent: when you contact us or accept cookies.
- Legitimate Interest: to maintain and secure our website.
- Legal Obligation: when required to cooperate with lawful requests.
5. Data Retention
We keep correspondence only as long as needed to reply or resolve your query. Analytics data is retained in aggregated form only. You can request deletion of any personal information by emailing us at the address above.
6. Your Rights
Under UK GDPR you have the right to:
- Access the personal data we hold about you.
- Request correction or deletion of that data.
- Withdraw consent at any time.
- Complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) if you believe your data has been mishandled.
7. Cookies and Analytics
This site uses cookies — small text files stored on your device — to ensure functionality and gather anonymous usage statistics. By continuing to browse, you agree to our use of cookies.
Types of cookies used:
- Essential cookies: required for core features such as navigation and comment submission.
- Analytics cookies: e.g. Google Analytics or Jetpack Stats, to help us understand which posts are most read and improve accessibility.
You can disable cookies through your browser settings or refuse non-essential cookies using our on-screen banner.
For information on managing cookies, visit AboutCookies.org.
8. Third-Party Services
We may use reputable third-party tools that process limited data on our behalf:
- WordPress.com / Automattic – hosting and security.
- Google Analytics – anonymised traffic analysis.
- Ko-fi / Patreon – voluntary donations; handled through their secure platforms.
- Mailchimp (if newsletters are enabled) – email subscription management.
Each provider has its own privacy policy and complies with UK GDPR or international adequacy standards.
9. Accessibility Commitment
Forgotten Rights aims to be usable by everyone. We follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) wherever possible. Our site supports screen readers, keyboard navigation, and text resizing.
If you experience any accessibility issues, please email us at [email protected] and we’ll do our best to fix them promptly.
10. Children’s Privacy
This website is intended for adults. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 16. If you believe a child has submitted information, please contact us to remove it.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy periodically. Any significant changes will be noted at the top of this page with the revised date. Continued use of the site indicates acceptance of the updated policy.
12. Contact
Questions about this Privacy & Accessibility Policy can be sent to:
Email: forgottenrightsblog[at]gmail.com (replace [at] with @)
Location: United Kingdom
We take your privacy seriously and will respond as soon as possible.
— title: “Disclaimer & Legal Notice” slug: disclaimer date: 2025-10-29 —Disclaimer & Legal Notice
Last updated: 29 October 2025
Forgotten Rights is an independent UK-based blog dedicated to highlighting the treatment of sick and disabled people, government policy, and social justice issues. All opinions expressed are those of the author(s) unless stated otherwise.
1. General Information Only
The content published on Forgotten Rights is provided for general information and discussion purposes only. It reflects personal views, lived experiences, and public reporting on UK disability and welfare issues.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal, medical, or financial advice. Readers should always seek independent professional guidance before acting on any information contained here.
2. Accuracy of Information
We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our posts at the time of publication, using trusted news outlets, government documents, and verified data sources. However, policies and regulations can change without notice. We cannot guarantee that all information remains current, complete, or error-free.
Forgotten Rights assumes no responsibility for loss, harm, or damage arising from reliance on material published on this site.
3. External Links
Our articles often link to external websites for reference, context, or additional reading. These links are provided for convenience only. We do not control or endorse the content, privacy practices, or accessibility of third-party sites.
Visiting external links is at your own discretion and risk. We are not liable for any issues that arise from third-party websites.
4. User Contributions & Comments
Comments (if enabled) are moderated to maintain a respectful environment. We reserve the right to edit or remove comments that contain discrimination, hate speech, spam, or defamation.
By submitting a comment or message, you grant us a non-exclusive licence to display, reproduce, and moderate that content on our site. Do not post personal, medical, or confidential information that you would not wish to appear publicly.
5. Intellectual Property
Unless otherwise credited, all original text, graphics, and images on Forgotten Rights are © 2025 Forgotten Rights. You may quote short excerpts for non-commercial use provided you give full attribution and a working link to the original article.
Content may not be republished, sold, or substantially reproduced without written permission from the author(s).
If you believe your intellectual property has been used on this site without permission, please contact us at forgottenrightsblog[at]gmail.com and we will investigate immediately.
6. Donations & Affiliate Links
Forgotten Rights may include voluntary donation links via Ko-fi or Patreon to support our independent journalism. These platforms are operated by third parties under their own terms and privacy policies.
We do not collect or store any payment information ourselves. Any contribution made is entirely voluntary and non-refundable.
7. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Forgotten Rights and its authors disclaim all liability for damages or losses arising from use of this website or reliance on any information provided herein.
This disclaimer applies to all forms of liability, including negligence, except where excluded by UK consumer or data-protection law.
8. Governing Law
This website is operated from the United Kingdom. Any disputes arising from or relating to the use of this site will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.
9. Accessibility Statement
We aim to ensure that all content on Forgotten Rights is accessible to every reader. If you experience difficulty accessing our articles, please email [email protected] so we can improve your experience.
10. Contact
Questions regarding this Disclaimer & Legal Notice can be sent to:
Email: forgottenrightsblog[at]gmail.com (replace [at] with @)
Location: United Kingdom
By using this website, you agree to this Disclaimer & Legal Notice.
— title: “Terms of Use” slug: terms-of-use date: 2025-10-30 —Terms of Use
Last updated: 30 October 2025
Welcome to Forgotten Rights — an independent UK blog highlighting issues affecting sick and disabled people under government policy. By using this website, you agree to comply with and be bound by the following Terms of Use. If you do not agree with any part of these terms, please do not use this site.
1. Acceptance of Terms
Your access to and use of Forgotten Rights (the “Site”) constitutes your acceptance of these Terms, our Privacy & Accessibility Policy, and our Disclaimer & Legal Notice. These may be updated at any time without prior notice.
2. Purpose of the Site
This website provides news commentary, personal opinion, and analysis relating to disability rights, welfare policy, and social justice. It is intended for informational and discussion purposes only. It does not provide legal, medical, or financial advice.
3. Use of Content
All original articles, text, graphics, and images are © 2025 Forgotten Rights unless otherwise stated.
- You may quote short excerpts for non-commercial purposes with full attribution and a visible link back to the original post.
- You may not reproduce, republish, or distribute our content in full without written permission.
- Commercial or media use requires prior consent from the author(s).
Where we share external images, press excerpts, or data, copyright remains with the original creators under fair-use exceptions for reporting and commentary.
4. User Conduct
When interacting with this website (via comments, forms, or emails), you agree that you will not:
- Post defamatory, discriminatory, or abusive material.
- Upload or share content that violates any law or third-party rights.
- Attempt to hack, disrupt, or damage the website or its infrastructure.
We reserve the right to remove or block any comments or users who breach these terms.
5. Donations and Support
Forgotten Rights may include voluntary donation links (e.g. Ko-fi or Patreon) to help fund our independent journalism. These are entirely optional and processed securely through third-party platforms under their own terms and privacy policies.
We do not store or process any payment information directly. All contributions are considered voluntary and non-refundable.
6. External Links
This website contains links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for their content, accuracy, or privacy practices. Following external links is at your own risk.
7. Data Protection
Your privacy is governed by our Privacy & Accessibility Policy. By using this site, you consent to the collection and use of data in accordance with that policy.
8. Accessibility
We are committed to making Forgotten Rights accessible to all users. If you experience barriers, please contact us at [email protected] and we will do our best to resolve them.
9. Disclaimer of Warranties
All information on this website is provided “as is” and without warranties of any kind. We make no representations about the accuracy or completeness of the content and accept no liability for errors or omissions.
10. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by UK law, Forgotten Rights and its authors will not be liable for any damages arising from the use or inability to use this website or reliance on any information provided herein.
11. Governing Law
These Terms of Use are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
12. Changes to These Terms
We may revise these Terms of Use periodically. The updated version will be published on this page with the date of revision at the top. Continued use of the site after any changes means you accept those changes.
13. Contact
Questions about these Terms of Use can be sent to:
Email: forgottenrightsblog[at]gmail.com (replace [at] with @)
Location: United Kingdom
By continuing to use this website, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to these Terms of Use.
Forgotten Rights Calling out the UK’s mistreatment of sick and disabled people — loudly, honestly, and without apology. © 2025 Forgotten Rights. All rights reserved. Built with frustration, fury, and the demand for better. Support the blog: Ko-fi | Patreon | Donate Contact: [your email]