Disabled people have lower incomes but often have extra costs associated with their impairment. This situation drives two out of five disabled people to seek loans and other forms of credit to meet the demands of higher living costs on a below-average income. The result is that many people are being driven into ‘problem debts’, which are often loans they are left unable to repay.
The Leonard Cheshire disability charity is calling on the UK Government and the credit industry to help alleviate the burden of this debt. A survey by the charity found that nine out of 10 of people found themselves running out of money on a regular basis.
It also found that more than half did not earn enough to meet their basic needs and were on incomes of less than