Ten children a week lose disability benefits in North East

Across the North East, 10 children a week lose access to these welfare payments, prompting calls for more support for disabled teens older than 16.

And according to analysis by the BBC, the majority of disabled teens who lose benefits at this age, lose them because of failing a screening assessment. This includes more than three quarters of Darlington applicants turned down between 2013 and 2024.

A spokesperson for the Department of Work and Pensions said the Government was bringing welfare reform proposals ‘within weeks’, but has faced criticism from disability charities and some of its own MPs about the scope of cuts touted.

James Taylor, the executive director of strategy at disability charity Scope said: “It is worrying that such a big number of young disabled people are losing out on financial support as they reach adulthood.

“The new Government needs to look at the real reasons behind these figures and work with disabled people to fix our broken welfare system.”

Lola McEvoy, Labour MP for Darlington, said: “Thank you to the Northern Echo for bringing this concerning pattern to my attention. It’s clear that this has been affecting many children in Darlington over the past decade.

“I’ve heard some really awful stories from constituents about navigating the benefits system, another legacy of 14 years of the underfunding and chaotic mismanagement of our public services by the previous Government. 

“I will be raising these worrying findings with the relevant minister and would encourage any affected constituents to contact me and share their experiences.”

(Image: UK Parliament) Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit for those who are over the age of 16. It is allocated based on an assessment, which asks questions about what tasks applicants are able to do and how mobile they are.

In a recent report, the Resolution Foundation said the number of young people in receipt of disability benefits fell significantly between the ages of 15 and 17, saying these teens face a ‘financial cliff-edge’.

In Darlington and County Durham, more than a quarter of applications were dismissed, with three-quarters of these being lost because of failing a PIP assessment.

Mary Kelly Foy, MP for City of Durham, said: “It’s hugely concerning to hear that young people are losing their disability benefits at such a rate.

“These benefits are often a vital lifeline for young people and families, especially in the North East, where we know we have more people than any other region with disabilities that impact on their day to day lives.

“The simple fact is that in many cases, it is more expensive living with a disability and, in a region that suffers particularly with health and income inequalities, this can be the difference between just getting by, or slipping into poverty.

“We need to see the Government engage with disability charities to fully understand these numbers, and ensure that the support people with disabilities need is there when they need it.”

(Image: UK Parliament) Disparities are also seen in the differences between disabilities. Eighty-eight per cent of diabetes-related claims were refused since April 2013, with other conditions like inflammatory bowel disease and asthma seeing refusal rates of 60 per cent and over.

For blind teens, loss of these payments can have a ‘major impact’ on their wellbeing according to the Royal National Institute of Blind People.

“People with sight loss face additional, unavoidable costs like taxi journeys, assistive technology and support in the home. These extra costs average between £65 and £174 per week for someone with sight loss,” a spokesperson for the charity said.

“These extra costs are what disability benefits like PIP are there to cover so it’s vital people get the financial support they’re entitled to.

“The criteria for DLA and PIP assessment are different which may account for some people losing out on transition. However, a huge number of decisions are also incorrect and will be changed through challenge.”

Recommended reading

The DWP said reforms to health and disability benefits will be set out in the Spring to ensure the system supports people who can work to remain in or start employment in a way that is “fair and fiscally sustainable”.

A DWP spokesperson said: “Building on our Get Britain Working White Paper, we will bring forward proposals for reforming the health and disability benefits system within weeks, so that it provides children, young adults and their families with the support they need in a way that’s fair on the taxpayer, and helps those who can work secure employment.”