Background to the Research

• This study was the sixth in a series of reports emanating from the PPRU surveys of disability. The surveys were conducted to estimate the prevalence of disability among adults and children. This report details the findings on the financial circumstances of both disabled adults and families containing disabled children. The data presented covers three main aspects of the financial circumstances of disabled people in Northern Ireland: Sources and levels of income. Disability related expenditure. Impact on financial resources and standard of living.

Research Approach

• The definitions and methods used in the PPRU surveys follow those of earlier surveys on disability in Great Britain carried out by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS). The OPCS definitions in turn followed the distinction between disability, handicap and impairment made in the World Health Organisation's Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps (ICIDH).
  
  
• A two stage sampling procedure was used for the survey of adults in private households. A random sample of 40,000 households using the Rating Valuation List was used to identify adults who might be disabled. A sample of these was then interviewed to establish whether they were, in fact, disabled according to definitions used for the surveys. Those who were found to be disabled were subsequently asked to undertake a full interview (N=2,369). The basic design and sampling procedures used for the children's survey were similar to the adults' survey. Once identified, attempts were made to conduct interviews with all of these children's main carers (N-=520).
  
  
• The surveys were carried out between late 1989 and early 1990. This report includes selected comparative data, drawn from Northern Ireland Family Expenditure Survey (FES), on the financial circumstances of adults in the general population for these years.

Main Findings

Characteristics of Disabled Adults

• Well over half of disabled adults in the survey were aged 65 or over. Just over half were married or living with a partner although, among those over retirement age, women were more than twice as likely than men to be single, divorced or widowed.
  
  
• Overall, just over one in five of those under retirement age were in paid employment, although the likelihood of being in employment decreased markedly across successive disability severity categories. Sources and Levels of Income.
  
  
• Almost 60% of disabled adults had net earnings of less than £100 per week. This increased to just under 80% for disabled women, who were more likely than men to be in part-time work. Overall, disabled adults' earnings were around 30 % lower than those of equivalent groups in the general population.
  
  
• Benefit units with dependent children tended to have higher earnings than those without children. Total net benefit unit income was £101.70 per week. The average amount of income from benefits was £62.20, with just over 60% of this total being derived from disability-related benefits. The amount of money received in disability benefits increased across severity categories. Disabled adults also derived a far greater proportion of total income from benefits compared with equivalent groups in the general population. More than 80% of benefit units containing disabled adults had disposable incomes of under £100 per week.

Disability-related Expenditure

• Benefit units containing disabled adults were spending an average of £8.15 per week on disability-related expenditure, which represented an average of 8% of disposable income. Both the amount and proportion of disposable income spent on disability-related expenditure increased across severity categories with a small proportion using in excess of 40% of their income in this way.
  
  
• Just under 60% had at least one item of disability-related equipment and 35% had incurred additional expenditure on such items. Eighty five per cent had used at least one health-related or care-related aid or service and just under half had additional expenditure on these items.
• Almost 60% of benefit units containing disabled adults had also incurred additional expenditure on routine household goods and services as a consequence of disability.

Impact of Disability on Financial Resources and Standards of Living

• Half of all benefit units containing disabled adults had no personal savings and, among those who did, the amount of savings was typically under £3,000. Almost two thirds of disabled adults described their financial situation as 'just getting by', whilst 6% reported that they were 'getting into difficulties'. Just over 30% had experienced at least one of a range of financial problems during the previous twelve months.
  
  
• A fifth reported that that they regularly went without at least one basic item such as a daily cooked meal or a warm winter coat, while around 70% were lacking one or more common consumer durable such as a washing machine or television.

Financial Circumstances of Families with Disabled Children

• Just under half of benefit units containing disabled children had no one in employment. The probability of parents being in work decreased across the severity categories. Just under a fifth of parents or carers who were not working reported that they had been prevented from working by their child's disability.
  
  
• The average weekly income among benefit units containing disabled children was £169. This amount was considerably lower among lone parent units. Among all benefit units containing disabled children, the average proportions of total income derived from earnings and benefits were 40% and 57% respectively. The proportion of total income derived from benefits decreased across children's severity categories.
  
  
• Nearly all benefit units containing disabled children derived at least some of their income from benefits. This was mostly from non-disability-related benefits as almost two-fifths received no disability-related benefits at all. Among those who did, the proportion of total benefit unit income derived from disability-related benefits increased across children's severity categories.
  
  
• Up to 5% of benefit units containing disabled children had incurred additional expenditure on disability-related aids and adaptations. The most costly items were adaptations to accommodation and to motor cars. The average amount spent on all aids and adaptations was £27.33 per week.
  
  
• Up to two fifths of benefit units containing disabled children had incurred additional expenditure on routine household items such as extra clothing or food. Nearly two-fifths also reported incurring additional expenditure on health treatment or care. Both the amount of additional expenditure and the proportion of disposable income used in this way increased across children's severity categories.
  
  
• Relatively few benefit units containing disabled children were without disability-related aids and adaptations which would help their child, although the likelihood of being unable to afford such items did increase across severity categories.
  
  
• More than half of all benefit units containing disabled children were either very or fairly satisfied with their standard of living, whilst just over a quarter were very or fairly dissatisfied.