One month before the High Court is to hear whether the Government acted unlawfully by not giving nearly 2 million disabled people on legacy benefits the emergency £20 per week increase the Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC) has released its new report ‘The Millions Missing Out.’

Based on a survey of over 1800 disabled people on legacy benefits the report lays out just what missing out on this uplift has meant to millions of disabled people. The stark findings reveal that almost eight in ten respondents (78%) have found their financial situation worsen during the pandemic, as the vast majority (87%) face increased household bills and utilities.

Despite the ongoing campaign to #IncreaseDisabilityBenefits, the Government has continued to defend their decision, even claiming they weren’t aware of any increased costs faced by disabled people as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. Respondents to the DBC survey said they felt the Government’s actions were discriminatory (46%), ‘cruel’ (21%), and unfair (21%), with one person saying: “The Government are sending a clear message that the disabled do not matter.”

We are calling on the Government to end this two-tier welfare state, ensuring the almost two million disabled people and those with health conditions are no longer left missing our and being pushed further into poverty and destitution.

You can find the report and the rest of the DBC’s consultation responses here.