The disability price tag: why is having a disability expensive?

Posted: 28/02/2025

Living with a disability often comes with hidden costs that many people may not appreciate. The charity Scope has termed this phenomenon the ‘disability price tag’. According to a recent survey by Scope, households with disabilities require an additional £1,010 per month to achieve the same standard of living as non-disabled households. This article outlines some of the expenses that contribute to this disparity, shedding light on the true cost of living with a disability.

Housing

One of the most important concerns for anyone, especially those with disabilities, is finding somewhere to live. Our clients and their families sometimes live in completely unsuitable accommodation for their needs, and a key aim of a clinical negligence claim is to help recover the costs of finding and/or adapting their home.

People with disabilities have additional housing needs for many reasons. This may include more space for equipment such as electric wheelchairs, room for live-in carers, more security, and/or adaptations to enable access to rooms like the bathroom. The BBC recently reported on concerns that some people with disabilities are waiting for simple adaptations to their homes, such as grab rails in the bathroom and walk-in showers. The article points out how these relatively simple adjustments can be life-changing for the recipient.

A previous article from the clinical negligence team covers accommodation claims, and how they are calculated, in more detail here.

Care and case management

Another of the most important aspects of a clinical negligence case is the claim for care and case management. Parents of children with disabilities often provide care themselves, which involves dedicating significant time and effort above and beyond normal parenting responsibilities. However, they frequently worry about what may happen to their child after their deaths or when they are older and no longer able to provide the same level of care. Professional care packages, which include services from trained caregivers, can alleviate this burden, but may be prohibitively expensive for many families.

Case management is just as crucial as care but is often overlooked. Case management involves co-ordinating various aspects of a disabled person's life, to ensure that all their needs are met. This includes tasks such as planning journeys, making appointments, managing finances, and overseeing the care team. These administrative tasks can be time-consuming, detracting from the individual's quality of life. This recent BBC article features a young woman who estimates that she spends around four hours per day on what she terms ‘disability admin’.

Employing a case manager can alleviate this burden and allow parents and caregivers to reclaim their time. In clinical negligence claims, we often seek compensation for both care and case management. This ensures that the client receives comprehensive support, addressing both their immediate and long-term needs.

Technology and communication

Most of us understand that people with disabilities require certain equipment, such as a wheelchair if they are unable to walk. However, there is a wealth of other more technical equipment that can also be hugely important and useful, if it can be accessed.

For clients whose disabilities affect their communication, some of this technology can be life changing as it enables them to communicate when previously they had been unable to do so, thus opening up their lives and relationships. The BBC recently reported on a new piece of wearable technology that, the inventors claim, turns thoughts into speech.

We often seek to claim for communication devices as well as therapies such as speech and language therapy, which helps clients to communicate to the best of their potential.

Of course, there are numerous other additional costs related to disability which can be claimed as part of a clinical negligence case. See a previous article here for further information on what losses can be claimed.

Where can I find out more?

Living with a disability should not mean facing insurmountable financial burdens, but, as Scope identifies, there are significant additional costs associated with disability. Pursuing a clinical negligence claim can help recover some of these costs, ensuring that the necessary support and resources are available to improve the quality of life for those affected.

You can read more about the disability price tag here.

If you or a loved one would like more information about making a clinical negligence claim, please do get in touch with our specialist team by email or on 0800 328 9545.

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