The European Disability Forum has issued a statement to coincide with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3 December), highlighting that 28.7% of people with disabilities living in the EU are in, or at risk of, poverty. The EDF noted that persons with disabilities are more likely to be in poverty or unemployed than persons without disabilities, as well as facing additional day-to-day living costs. It is also explained that the poverty is greater for people in rural areas, women, younger people and minority ethnic groups. The statement highlights that since 2010 the rates of people with disabilities who are in or at risk of poverty has increased in 11 countries: Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden.
The EDF calls on the European Union, as well as national and local authorities for stronger measures to fight the poverty of persons with disabilities, including:
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Fixing disability assessment by following an approach that looks at a combination of impairment, functional, social and environmental considerations.
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Stopping the “benefits trap” by ensuring disability benefits provide a stable, liveable income.
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Investing in support structures and services through housing-first solutions that allow people with disabilities to live in the community, as well as improving the accessibility of mainstream services.
The statement concludes by calling on the EU and Member States to honour their commitments under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) to ensure that all persons with disabilities are able to live with dignity in the community, with equal access and rights.
