A SINGLE mum with two disabled children has criticised the budget announcement, saying families like hers have been "forgotten".
Lorraine Griffin, 53, says Wednesday's announcement (November 26), offered "little comfort for disabled families" like hers, who are struggling to make ends meet and living under the threat of more disability cuts.
Ms Griffin, who lives in Dudley Wood with her two autistic sons, Ben, 13, and Sam, 14, is living with the threat of cuts to the Health Element of Universal Credit, which the government is considering axing for 16-21-year-olds.
This could affect Lorraine’s children as they get older, with the stress and uncertainty looming large for Lorraine.
Ben has more complex needs – he is non-verbal, incontinent and can display aggressive, destructive behaviour – while Sam is quieter, shy and very anxious.
Caring for both boys is a full-time job. Ms Griffin cannot work and relies solely on Universal Credit and Carer’s Allowance to support the family.
“It feels like disabled children are not a priority at all, they’re just being pushed to the side," Ms Griffin said in response to the budget. "There needs to be more support for families like mine, who are barely making ends meet as it is.
"The social care system, the SEND system, the benefits system – these are all public services that disabled families like mine rely upon, but they’re all underfunded and under-resourced.
"I wish the Chancellor had used this Budget to recognise the huge challenges disabled people and their families are facing, and provide even just a bit more support.”
National disability charity, Sense, echoed Ms Griffin's concerns.
While welcoming moves such as the scrapping of the two-child benefit cap, the charity says nothing was announced to "ease the burden" of the additional costs families raising disabled children face.
James Watson-O’Neill, chief executive of Sense, said: "This Budget offers little support to disabled people and their families, who are already facing an unprecedented financial crisis.
"For disabled people with complex needs - who have lower incomes, higher living costs, and less support to rely on - today’s announcements fall far short of what is urgently needed.
“We welcome the decision to end the two-child benefit cap. However, for families raising disabled children - who were already exempt from the cap and are still far more likely to be living in poverty - this change does nothing to ease the pressures they face."
He continued: “The lack of wider investment, combined with uncertainty around potential future cuts, leaves disabled people fearful about how they will cope.
"In this context, it is vital that the Government rules out any cuts to the Health Element of Universal Credit for 16 to 21 year olds.
"Removing this support would push many young disabled people into even deeper hardship.”
Delivering her speech to parliament, the chancellor said: "Today's budget builds on the choices that we have made since last July.
"To cut NHS waiting times, to cut the cost of living, and to cut debt and borrowing.
"No doubt, we will face opposition again, but I have yet to see a credible or a fairer alternative plan for working people.
"These are my choices - the right choices for a fairer, a stronger and a more secure Britain."
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