Disability Pay Gap Reaches Highest Level Since 2013

In 2017, the average hourly pay for disabled people was £9.90, while non-disabled workers made £11.40. This is according to a new report from the TUC, finding that the disability pay gap has now risen to its highest level in five years – peaking at 15 per cent.

The study also found that disabled people are less likely to be in work in the first place, and when they are employed they’re paid less than their non-disabled colleagues.

Other key findings included that disabled people are more likely to have a job in lower-paid occupations, while there are fewer disabled people with higher levels of education – which may make it more difficult for them to attain jobs with higher rates of pay.

Commenting on the findings, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Too many disabled people face lower pay and worse jobs than their non-disabled peers.

“New rules to make bosses reveal gender pay gaps have been successful at shining a light on the problem. We’d like the government to consider a similar law requiring employers to publish their disability pay gap, along with the steps they will take to close it.

“The government should also reverse cuts to disability benefits, which are making it harder for disabled people to cover extra costs to get to work. And employers should talk to their disabled workers about how to make work more accessible.”

She went on to recommend joining a union, as reps will have experience in negotiating with companies to ensure that people get the support they need.

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ESA Reassessment Rules ‘Relaxed’

The Department for Work and Pensions is to relax the rules regarding reassessment of the employment support allowance (ESA), which was taking place every six months for those with severe and/or lifelong conditions.

Damian Green, work and pensions secretary, has said that the ESA will continue automatically for people who do have such conditions and don’t have any prospects of improvement where their health is concerned, the Guardian reports.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today show, Mr Green said: “I believe in a welfare state where you have got to be hard-headed, but you shouldn’t be hard-hearted. We want the welfare state to work for everyone, just as we want the economy to work for everyone, and there are a group of people for whom constant reassessment is pointless and which does increase their stress and anxiety levels.”

Chief executive at disability charity Scope Mark Atkinson welcomed the development, saying that this will certainly be good news for some people over the short term, adding that it’s also good that the government has now recognised that the Work Capability Assessment scheme does need to be reformed.

He went on to note, however, that Scope would also like to see Whitehall taking this further and launching a consultation with disabled people about the reform of the tests in place to see if people are fit to work. This must take place in order for the government to achieve its goal of halving the disability employment gap by the year 2020, Mr Green added.

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