Contact/Cyswllt:  Sian Cliff
02920 898342 / sian.cliff@wales.gov.uk

Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates has accused the Government of leaving Welsh families with disabled children in poverty by failing to tackle chronically low levels of benefits take-up amongst Welsh households with disabled children.

A programme run by Mencap Cymru to boost benefits take-up by Welsh families with disabled children discovered that the average family was missing out on £2,000 to £5,000 every year in benefit entitlements, and in extreme cases, as much £20,000.

Commenting on the news Mick Bates said:

"Labour's failure to provide proper welfare and support for Welsh families with disabled children is leaving the majority of them living below the poverty line.

"Wales has a high proportion of families with disabled children so improving the welfare of these families is essential in the fight against child poverty and household poverty in Wales.

“Parents in Montgomeryshire suffer a great deal as they cannot access the services they need - so putting some money into vital services such as respite and family aide would be a most welcome relief for many families.

“Despite this, it appears that the Labour-Plaid Assembly Government is using up to £21m of money intended for Welsh disabled children for other things.

“Money can't fix everything but delivering services to families who care for disabled children would be a good start.

"The Government must take major steps to simplify the benefits system and increase the take-up of benefits amongst Welsh families with disabled children. The Assembly Government must also ensure that it is playing its part in providing the additional support that families with disabled children need.”

End / Diwedd



Notes to Editors:


Office of National Statistics revealed that higher than average levels of mild disability and severe disabilities, see p.5: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/Children/downloads/disability.pdf

A Barnardo’s study, submitted to the Work & Pensions Select Committee inquiry into Child Poverty, discovered that:

• 85% of parents of disabled children want to work either full-time or part-time.

• While 61% of mothers work, just 16% of mothers of disabled children work.

• The primary reason was the failure of public services to provide affordable and appropriate childcare.