Autumn Budget & Disabled People! Why this matters

Budgets are about choices. Right now, the Chancellor is preparing the Autumn Budget, and those choices will decide whether disabled people can live with dignity, independence, and security, or whether they are pushed even further into hardship.

Here in the North East, the stakes could not be higher. More than 1 in 5 people are disabled, the highest rate in England. Nearly a third of disabled people in our region live in poverty, and unavoidable extra costs can exceed £1,000 every month even after benefits. These are not optional costs, they are the basics of life. The result is debt, spiralling hardship, and deepening inequality.

Nationally, disabled people make up over 69% of those who turn to food banks.

This Autumn Budget must not make things worse.

That’s why we are calling on the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves MP, to guarantee that:

• Disabled people’s incomes and support are protected in full.
• No welfare reform is forced through without listening to disabled people.
• Government is ambitious for disabled people’s futures by funding the support that makes equality possible.

Autumn Budget & Disabled People: The open letter

We have written the letter below and are now gathering signatures from disabled people, allies, and organisations. By adding your name, you help show the Chancellor the strength of public demand for fairness and equality.

Dear Chancellor, 
Disabled people must not pay the price for fixing the nation’s finances.
As you prepare the Autumn Budget, we urge you to ensure disabled people are not asked to pay the price of filling the gap in the nation’s finances.
Disabled people have the same rights as anyone else to security, independence, and equal access to life, work, and community. Yet too often, government choices have undermined that right by targeting the very support that makes equality possible.
This year must be different.
In the North East, over 1 in 5 people are disabled, the highest rate in England. Nearly a third of disabled people in our region live in poverty, facing unavoidable extra costs of more than £1,000 every month. These costs come after welfare and benefit payments are received. They are not optional, people cannot avoid them, and the result is debt, spiralling hardship, and deepening inequality. It is no surprise then that nationally, disabled people make up over 69% of those who turn to food banks.
These figures show the reality disabled people already face. 
The Autumn Budget must not make things worse. Instead, it should guarantee that:
Disabled people’s incomes and support are protected in full.
No welfare reform is forced through without listening to disabled people.
Be ambitious for disabled people’s futures by funding the support that makes equality possible.
Budgets are about choices, and you have the power to set a new direction, one where disabled people in this country can plan for the future, and live with dignity and security. We invite you to work with disabled people to make that a reality.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Christopher Hartworth (Director, Difference North East) 
(Open for signatures from disabled people, allies, and organisations)

Autumn Budget & Disabled People: How you can help

👉 Sign the letter today: add your name to show the Chancellor that disabled people and allies across the country demand fairness.

👉 Spread the word: share this with friends, colleagues, and organisations who can also sign.

👉 Become an Ally: when you sign, you can also choose to join as a member of Ally and stay involved in campaigning for equality.

Every signature strengthens the call: disabled people must not be asked to pay the price for fixing the nation’s finances.