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Research investigates link between food bank and disability benefits

  • Area of Work: Policy and Research
  • Type: News Item
  • Published: 26th October 2023
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The UK's social security system is a significant contributor to need for food banks, particularly for disabled people.

Data gathered by the Trussell Trust, which operates the largest network of food banks across the UK, has previously found that the majority of working age people accessing food banks are disabled. More than two-thirds (69%) of working age people UK-wide who have accessed food banks are disabled, three times the rate amongst the overall population, with Scotland experiencing a slightly higher rate of 73%.

The Scottish Centre for Social Research (ScotCen) were commissioned by the Trussell Trust to delve deeper into why this might be the case. The ‘Disability and financial hardship: How disability benefits contribute to the need for food banks in the UK‘ paper demonstrates the central role played by the disability benefits system in driving hunger and hardship amongst disabled people.

Drawing on interviews with people living with a range of physical and mental health conditions and impairments, the researchers found that food insecurity was almost universal amongst participants. Meal skipping, compromising on quality, and the additional costs of specialist diets were highlighted as some of the issues people were facing.

The research found that economic exclusion, the extra costs of disability, inadequacy of disability benefits and the cost of living crisis all combined to create further demand for food banks. UK benefits including Personal Independence Payment (PIP) were perceived not to be person-centred and designed to catch people out rather than genuinely support them. The assessment process and requirement to share personal information was described as a “source of humiliation” whilst regular reviews “caused dread and anxiety”.

Research participants based in Scotland expressed mixed views about Adult Disability Payment (ADP), which is in the process of replacing PIP in Scotland. Some participants viewed the payment and application process in similar negative terms to PIP, whilst an over-reliance on medical evidence was a concern for some. Other participants expressed positive sentiments, including that ADP better accounted for mental health conditions, the provision of independent advocacy, and the sense that Social Security Scotland were taking a more caring approach.

Amongst the recommendations arising from the research are:

  • Improving awareness of the eligibility criteria for disability payments, as well as ensuring their adequacy
  • Improving the application and assessment processes
  • Offer a choice of payment schedule to recipients
  • Reduce stigma around disability and social security through education, awareness raising and training
  • Provide additional financial support such as grants to help pay for adaptations

You can read the full report on the Trussell Trust’s website.

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