Disability Additions

Disability additions will replace current payments through Child Tax Credits and Income Support that provide additional financial support to low income and out of work families with disabled children.

Currently, low income and out of work families who claim Disability Living Allowance (DLA) on behalf of their child are entitled to a 'disability addition' worth £53.62 per week. Families with a child in receipt of the high rate care component of DLA also receive a 'top up addition' worth an additional £21 per week. Proposals under the Universal Credit will see lower benefit 'additions' drop by over 50%.

EDCM is very concerned about the impact this will have on many families with disabled children.

Over 5500 EDCM supporters have written to the Prime Minister asking him to think again about this cut.Read the Prime Ministers response and EDCM's reaction to it. 

Latest update

On the 1st February 2012, the House of Lords voted to protect families with disabled children from this  50% cut to disabled children's benefits should go ahead. However, the House of Commons then voted to overturn that vote the following day to ensure that this policy still goes ahead. However the Government has committed to undertaking a review of financial support for families with disabled children in 2015. A main focus of this review is likely to be around who is eligibile of the different rates of financial support under disability additions. EDCM would like to work with Lord Freud assisting him in his review.

Take Action

If you are concerned about the impact of a 50% cut to this vital benefit you can write to your MP and ask them to join us in calling on Lord Freud, Minister for Welfare Reform, to undertake his review of the 'disability addition' policy now. 

EDCM's briefings

EDCM has done a lot of work on disability additions throughout the Welfare Refom Bill. You can download some of our briefings below:
Briefing for House of Lords, 12 December 2011
Briefing for House of Lords, 3rd reading, 31st January 2011.