Household bills continue to climb with the cost of food increasing while energy bills and water bills went up from April, and many disabled people have extra costs due to their disability.
David Brewer, from Protect Line, urged Britons to identify their most pressing needs when deciding how to use the money.
He said: “I would advise people to budget their £150 payment wisely by first identifying their most pressing needs.
“This could include paying off any bills or debts, stocking up on essential groceries, or putting the money aside for the winter months to pay for increased energy bills.
“It’s important to prioritise these needs and avoid spending the money on non-essential items.”
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People on these benefits may qualify for the payment:
- Disability Living Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Scottish Disability Benefits (Adult Disability Payment and Child Disability Payment)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- War Pension Mobility Supplement.
The majority of the payments will arrive in eligible people’s bank accounts between June 20 and July 4.
Some payments will go out at a later date, to those who were still awaiting confirmation of their eligibility or entitlement to disability benefits on April 1.
Asked if disabled Britons need more support, Mr Brewer said: “There is no doubt that more cost-of-living support is needed to help those with the extra costs of living with a disability.
“Many disabled people face significant financial challenges due to the additional expenses associated with their disability, such as medical costs, mobility aids, and home adaptations.
“It’s crucial now more than ever for the government to recognise and address these challenges by providing more comprehensive support for disabled individuals and their families.”
Many people who are eligible for the £150 payment will also be eligible for a £900 cost of living payment, which is going out to people on certain means-tested benefits, including Universal Credit.
This payment is being sent out in three instalments with the first £301 instalment paid out recently.
Mr Brewer urged people to check if they qualify for other support. He said: “In addition to the £150 payment, there are other forms of support available for disabled Britons that they may not be aware of.
“This includes disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), as well as discounts on public transportation and other services.”
Several charities told Express.co.uk the £150 payment is not enough to help disabled Britons meet the rising cost of living.
Dan White, policy and campaigns officer at Disability Rights UK, said: “To keep our homes warm, power essential health and mobility equipment, and meet the spiralling cost of food, leaves millions of us without enough for essentials.
“Another round of cost-of-living payments is of course welcome, but unfortunately the amount is woefully inadequate.
“The Government says that it wants to support those who need it most, yet this payment does not come anywhere near achieving that.
“The unwillingness to understand the lives of disabled people with all the evidence of deepening poverty and worsening health is shocking and unacceptable.”
A Government spokesperson said: “We recognise people with disabilities face extra costs which is why we are making an extra £150 disability support payment, on top of £900 of Cost of Living help for those on means-tested benefits and a 10.1 percent increase to disability benefits – having saved the typical household around £1,300 on energy bills last winter.
“Our welfare system provides a strong safety net for people with disabilities, through benefits such as Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance.”
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