Last chance to have your say in Counting the Costs 2012 research

Contact a Family is calling on parents and other family members caring for a disabled child to take part in important research about the financial situation for families with disabled children in 2012. The deadline is 11^th March, so it’s vital to make your views heard by the end of this week.

Counting the Costs 2012 is a repeat of a survey and report Contact a Family carried out in 2008 and 2010. Your collective responses will give a snapshot of families’ current financial situation and whether it has improved or worsened over the last four years.

Please help to build that picture by completing the survey which should not take more than 15 minutes. Thank you.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CountingtheCosts2012

If you would like a hard copy of the survey or need help to complete the survey please ring Contact a Family on 020 7608 8700.

“Don't let disabled children pay the price for welfare reform”: sign our petition

The Government have announced plans for a substantial cut to welfare support for disabled children under the Universal Credit.  The new system will result in many of these children losing up to £1400 per year (£27 per week) compared to the current system - by the time a disabled child reaches 16, this could cost the family £22,000.

In total the Government estimates that 100,000 disabled children would lose out under this change - other estimates suggest the number could be considerably higher. 

Financial support is crucial to help these families with the costs of raising a disabled child and manage their extra caring responsibilities.  £27 is more than half the average family’s food budget - enough to mean the difference between a family meeting their child’s basic needs, and being left simply unable to cope.

We have joined forces with 24 other major charities and other organisations to call on the Government to change these damaging plans.    

Please take action with us by:

> Signing our petition

> Promoting our campaign on your facebook, linked in and twitter accounts