Poor at greater risk of being disabled

Adults living on low incomes are more likely to become disabled,
new research reveals.

A study from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation shows that adults whose
income places them in the poorest fifth of the population are two
and a half times more likely to become disabled than those in the
top fifth.

Also, people with lower educational qualifications are more likely
to become disabled than those with higher qualifications. The
chances of becoming disabled are also greater for people who are
out of work or in low status jobs such as child care, sales or
machine operations.

On average, 2 per cent of adults under state pension age become
disabled each year as a result of a sudden health problem, the
worsening of an existing health problem or an accident.

Tania Burchardt, of the London School of Economics and author of
the report, said: “This study demonstrates an urgent need for new
policy initiatives to target the links between disability and
social disadvantage. They include action to reduce health
inequalities and to direct more resources to enabling disabled
people to stay in work.”

– Being and Becoming from www.jrf.org.uk

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