Source: hrmagazine.co.uk
The average disabled worker stops getting paid on 4th November 2019 until the end of the year as a result of the disability pay gap, according to a new analysis by the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The poll of 2,700 workers by the TUC found that the current disability pay gap for all employees stands at 15.5%. This gap means that disabled people effectively work for free for the last 57 days of the year.
The analysis found that disabled workers earn on average £1.65 per hour less than non-disabled workers, which is a gap of around £3,000 per year based on a 35-hour week.
It also revealed that disabled workers are more likely to resort to going without basics to get by than other workers. A third (34%) of disabled workers have cut back on food for themselves and 35% have gone without heating on a cold day, compared to 18% and 17% of non-disabled workers respectively.
Meanwhile, a fifth (20%) of disabled workers said they have put off buying children’s clothes because of a lack of money, compared to 12% of non-disabled workers.
The TUC said the disability pay gap is due to cuts in social support for disabled people. It said the replacement of the Disability Living Allowance with Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has led to fewer disabled people qualifying for financial help. The body said that PIP is frequently wrongly denied to people, with 68% of appeal hearings finding in favour of the claimant.