The Assault on Living Standards: How Disabled Gypsies and Travellers Are Being Left Behind

The UK’s poorest are facing yet another wave of economic hardship, as outlined in the recent article Living Standards for the Poorest Under Continuing Assault. But for Gypsy and Traveller communities—particularly those who are disabled—the impact of these cuts and rising costs is even more devastating.

A Community Already on the Brink

Gypsies and Travellers are already among the most disadvantaged groups in the UK. They have lower life expectancy, worse health outcomes, and higher rates of disability compared to the general population. Many live in insecure housing—whether on council sites with inadequate facilities, roadside with no access to basic services, or in bricks and mortar housing that doesn’t meet their needs. The rising cost of living, coupled with a social security system that increasingly fails to provide a safety net, is pushing many to breaking point.

For disabled members of the community, the challenges are even more severe. Many rely on Personal Independence Payments (PIP) or other disability benefits to survive, but with growing delays, harsher assessments, and increasing thresholds for support, many are being denied the help they need.

The Rising Cost of Being Disabled

Being disabled in Britain has always been expensive, but the cost-of-living crisis has made it unbearable. Research shows that disabled people face extra costs averaging £975 per month. This is even higher for those living on Traveller sites or in mobile homes, where energy prices are extortionate due to reliance on bottled gas, electric meters, or generators.
    

    •    Many disabled Gypsies and Travellers need medical equipment such as oxygen machines or electric wheelchairs, which require constant power—something that’s unreliable or unaffordable on many sites.
    •    Poor site maintenance means that disabled residents are often living in unsafe conditions, with no proper access to sanitation, heating, or even smooth paths to move around.
    •    For those in bricks-and-mortar housing, the lack of culturally appropriate support often leads to isolation, poor mental health, and difficulties accessing services.

Cuts to Benefits and Services: A Death Sentence for Some

With changes to disability benefits and ever-tighter eligibility criteria, many disabled Gypsies and Travellers are being forced to survive on less. The push toward means-testing benefits, alongside increased scrutiny and reassessments, means that even those with lifelong disabilities are at risk of losing vital financial support.

The impact?
    •    More disabled people are unable to afford heating, food, or transport to medical appointments.
    •    The mental health crisis among disabled people—already at shocking levels—is worsening, with many struggling to see a way forward.
    •    Some are being forced into unsuitable housing or even left homeless due to rising costs and lack of accessible accommodation.
 

A System That Doesn’t Work for Gypsies and Travellers

One of the biggest issues facing disabled Gypsies and Travellers is the inaccessibility of the benefits and social care system. The move toward digital applications and online-only support services excludes those who cannot read or write, have no fixed address, or lack access to the internet.

Many Gypsies and Travellers who are disabled or caring for disabled family members struggle to get the support they are entitled to because of systemic discrimination, complex bureaucracy, and a lack of cultural awareness among professionals.

The Government’s Responsibility

The government cannot claim to be ‘supporting the most vulnerable’ while simultaneously making it harder for disabled people to live with dignity. For disabled Gypsies and Travellers, the situation is critical. There needs to be:
    •    A review of how disability benefits assessments impact nomadic and site-based communities.
    •    A commitment to ensuring all social security and support services are accessible to those with literacy barriers or no fixed address.
    •    Targeted financial support for disabled people facing the highest energy costs, particularly those on Traveller sites.
    •    Proper maintenance and investment in site infrastructure to ensure disabled residents have access to the same basic living standards as everyone else.

A Fight for Survival

For disabled Gypsies and Travellers, these cuts and rising costs are not just an inconvenience—they are a fight for survival. Unless urgent action is taken, more people will be pushed into extreme poverty, worsening health conditions, and even premature death.

This isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet. It’s about real people—elderly residents who can’t afford to heat their caravans, disabled children going without vital equipment, and families struggling to care for their loved ones in impossible conditions.

We, at GaTEssex and Drive 2 Survive, are directly affected by these cuts

"The government’s policies are not just failing disabled Gypsies and Travellers—they are actively harming them, and unless we stand up and demand change, this crisis will only get worse," says Jake Bowers, co-founder of Drive 2 Survive.

“I have a daughter with mild learning difficulties who has defied the odds in finding work as a carer and is now studying to continue the Romany craft of floristry," adds Jake.

"Being able to get a limited amount of PIP has allowed her to lead an independent life that has done wonders for her self-esteem. If she loses it, the disadvantage she faces as a disabled young woman from a marginalized community will simply increase. It’s awful that this government is trying to balance its books off the backs of the most vulnerable. There’s a simpler and far better solution and that is to TAX THE RICH!”

By Claire Rice for GaTEssex and Drive 2 Survive

(Stock photo by Josh Appel on Unsplash)