{"id":12866,"date":"2022-08-24T10:58:02","date_gmt":"2022-08-24T09:58:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/?p=12866"},"modified":"2023-04-20T09:50:32","modified_gmt":"2023-04-20T08:50:32","slug":"cost-of-living-crisis-debt-disabled-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/blog\/cost-of-living-crisis-debt-disabled-people\/","title":{"rendered":"The cost of living crisis is driving us into debt"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Claire Taylor, 57, has a degenerative disc disease, foraminal spinal stenosis, fibromyalgia, bradycardia and anxiety. She was a dance teacher for 30 years. She lives in Northumberland with her partner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I haven\u2019t been able to work since 2020, when my condition worsened. My partner also had to give up work to become my full-time carer. It was a big shock to adjust, but before the cost of living crisis, we were doing well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We used to pay off our credit card straight away every month. Now, we\u2019re having to rely on it to live. I\u2019m up to \u00a32,000 on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re going into debt. It\u2019s terrible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve had to cut back on everything <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The cost of living crisis is impacting us on a daily basis. It\u2019s really scary. We\u2019ve had to make a lot of cuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cost of food, petrol, gas and electricity have rocketed. Our food shop is going up by at least \u00a320-30 every week, even though we\u2019re buying the same things. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re also struggling with the price of petrol. We deliberately bought a car that is economical and used to be able to fill it up for \u00a360. Now it\u2019s \u00a3100. My Mum is in a care home and now I have to get the train to visit her, which is about \u00a387. Otherwise it would cost \u00a3200 in the car.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We used to go out and just do normal things. Like going for a drink at the pub, or going for a Sunday roast. We can\u2019t do any of this anymore unless someone else pays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We used to go on holiday once a year, too. Now, the chances of that are completely remote. So we\u2019re just not getting a break. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cuts are affecting my physical and mental health<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For me, keeping my muscles relaxed is so important for my overall health. I have a degenerative spinal condition which means that my muscles can tense up easily and cause me pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“You\u2019d hope to get the support you need when you\u2019re too ill to work. But this really isn\u2019t the case. It doesn\u2019t seem fair.”<\/p>Claire Taylor<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If I don\u2019t keep the muscles relaxed then it can harm other muscles. When this happens I can be out of action for two weeks. I can\u2019t walk, wash or do anything and am in a lot of discomfort.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I used to have a bath three times a week to help relax my muscles. Now it\u2019s costing too much so I just wash in the sink if I\u2019m not going out, to cut down on costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also used to have a massage once a month to help with the pain and relax my muscles. It cost me \u00a360 and we simply can\u2019t afford it anymore.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m in a really low mood at the moment and don\u2019t have the confidence to leave the house on my own. I can\u2019t go out and about like I used to.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not just me who\u2019s struggling. My partner cares for both me and his mum who\u2019s 88. He hasn\u2019t had a break for years.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government needs to increase disability benefits in line with inflation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s inhumane how disabled people are treated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know we\u2019re actually better off than a lot of people in this situation. Still, you\u2019d hope to get the support you need when you\u2019re too ill to work. But this really isn\u2019t the case. It doesn\u2019t seem fair.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We need reform of the benefits system so that it\u2019s in line with inflation.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also think the government needs to review the assessment process for support. People are waiting for as long as two years just to get an assessment \u2013 how are they supposed to cope in this time?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many disabled people are so low in mood that they don\u2019t have the energy to fight for themselves \u2013 what are they supposed to do?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Demand more support for disabled people<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

During the cost of living crisis, we\u2019re calling on the government for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n