Half of parents of disabled children lose vital benefits due to lack of information

Three leading children’s charities, Child Poverty Action Group, Contact a Family and One Parent Families today called on the Government to take more action on benefits for disabled children.

A new report, Out of Reach: benefits for disabled children, published today by Child Poverty Action Group at a launch seminar, exposes serious problems faced by parents of disabled children accessing vital welfare entitlement.

• 46% believe they have missed out on benefits and tax credits because they have not been told they could apply.
• 43% had not claimed Disability Living Allowance or took more than 2 years to find out their child could be entitled.
• 39% had been put off applying because of claim forms.
• 30% have not had advice about benefits entitlement in over a year.

Based on interviews with parents of disabled children, Out of Reach identifies barriers to accessing benefits for a disabled child and provides recommendations for how delivery of this vital support for vulnerable children can be improved.

The report reinforces the findings of One Parent Families’ evaluation of their specialist service for parents of disabled children, where 63 per cent of calls focused on benefit and tax credit problems. Similar problems dominate the service provided by Contact a Family.

Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group, Kate Green, said:

“The system for delivering disabled children’s benefits is failing. Many of the most vulnerable children are waiting months, or years, to find out they might be entitled to this crucial support. It can then take further months of filling in forms, appeals and tribunals until any benefit is paid.

“Many more disabled children could be lifted out of poverty if the benefits they are entitled to reach them. But the Government must urgently develop a strategy to increase take-up, including targeted provision of specialised benefits advice and a simpler application process. Otherwise it will fail to meet its target of halving child poverty by 2010.”

Notes to Editors

1. Journalists are invited to attend the launch seminar of 'Out of Reach: benefits for disabled children’ at 2pm Friday 1 December, at CPAG headquarters, 94 While Lion St, London N1 9PF (nr. Angel tube).
2. Speaking at the seminar will be: Kate Green, Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group; Francine Bates, Chief Executive of Contact a Family; and Richard Exell, Disability Rights Commissioner and TUC Policy Officer.
3. Out of Reach: benefits for disabled children, is available to journalists as a pdf on request to tnichols@cpag.org.uk and can be ordered by members of the public through www.cpag.org.uk.
4. To access One Parent Families’ service for lone parents of disabled children, parents should call 0800 018 5026, Monday to Friday 9 am to 5pm and on Wednesdays, 9am to 8pm and tell the helpline worker that they have a child who is disabled. The Contact a Family helpline is 0808 808 3555 or Textphone 0808 808 3556 and operates from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.
5. A summary of One Parent Families’ disabled child project can be found on their website:
   http://www.oneparentfamilies.org.uk/dr_media/opf/Additional-needs-evaluation-summary_30-Nov-06.pdf

For further information please contact:
Tim Nichols
CPAG Press Officer
Tel. 020 7812 5216 or 07816 909302
press@cpag.org.uk