News

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