Thank you to those who have contacted me about support for people with disabilities.
I understand that disabled people and their families can encounter many hidden costs, from specialised equipment to travel expenditure.
Constituents may be aware of the Government’s publication of the National Disability Strategy which focuses on the issues that disabled people say affect them the most across all aspects and phases of life, including education, housing and transport.
Recently, there was the publication of the Health and Disability Green Paper and I look forward to reading the Government's response to the consultation in due course.
The Green Paper considers how to improve the DWP’s current services so they are better and easier to use, explore how extra support can help people navigate the system as well as what can be done to better support disabled people into employment. Spending in this area increased by almost 5 per cent in 2020 from £19 billion to £20 billion.
I welcome the new £500 million Household Support Fund for vulnerable households who need some extra support over the coming months with the cost of essentials. The new Fund has been available to councils in England since October with councils able to distribute funding within local areas to directly help those who need it most.
It is vital that our welfare system supports those who need it and would emphasise that £55 billion is spent per year on benefits to support disabled people and those with health conditions. I know my colleagues across government continue to monitor research and campaigning from a wide variety of sources as they consider the future of welfare and disability policy.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.