Disability Price Tag

There are so many extra costs involved in having a chronic illness or being disabled. Some that many people will be aware of and some that are less visible or common.
Everyone has different needs and requirements. Requiring different equipment, aids, items, goods or services. However, a common ground is the alarming value of extra expenditure disabled people have.

According to research by the disabled charity Scope in 2019: ‘On average disabled people face extra costs of £583 a month. 1 in 5 disabled people face extra costs of more than £1000 a month. On average, a disabled person’s extra costs equivalent to almost half their income (not including housing costs). Disabled people’s money doesn’t tend to go as far. On average, £100 for a non-disabled person is equivalent to just £68 for a disabled person.’

Disability price tag

This is a huge disability price tag. ‘These extra costs mean that disabled people have less money in their pocket or simply go without.’ Or have to make choices they should not have to.

Some of the extra costs I incur are: a specialist powerchair, a manual wheelchair, repairs to my wheelchairs and ongoing adjustments and maintenance, wheelchair cushions, servicing of my wheelchair and personal accident insurance. Other equipment includes my SAFOs (Silcon Ankle Foot Orthotics), my specialist WAV (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle) and docking plate for locking my powerchair down in the car.

Other costs include extra electricity, something I heavily rely on, having an electric bed and air mattress, powerchair, hoist and electric standing frame! Let us hope there is not a power cut! Extra laundry so extra water and energy.

Then there is extra fuel as I can only travel by car. I cannot use trains or buses etc.
The cost of things getting broken as I drop them, forget and run them over.
The cost of therapy to improve my condition, mobility and symptoms.
The list could go on. There is so much equipment I have had to buy. Luckily, my shower chair, hoist, electric bed and powered standing frame have been provided. However, if I ever have to replace these it would be further extra costs.

I need to get a height adjustable desk and table. The desk to enable me to access the computer and the table to eat at. Standard desks are either too low or have shelves underneath, so I cannot get close enough. Both would be extremely more costly than a standard desk and table.

It worries me as to how disabled people can afford these things, most of which are not luxuries, but essential for maintaining their health, independence and wellbeing. To live!
A wheelchair is an essential not a luxury.

I always joke: ‘you should make sure that you are a millionaire before you become disabled!’, as it is so expensive.

When will disability equipment be more affordable? To me it feels as if yes we get it VAT exempt but the price is trebled, if it can possibly be made out as a piece of disability equipment.

I am lucky that my wonderful parents are able to and do support me. If I didn’t have them, I don’t know what I would do. If they could not support me or would not support me… I suppose I would just go without somethings that I need and have a poorer quality of life.

Hannah x