More than half of households with disabled people in Northern Ireland are living on the breadline, new research revealed today.
Their plight is being made worse because of a lack of support services, knowledge of their rights and feelings of isolation, according to a study for the University of Ulster .
Goretti Horgan, from the School of Policy Studies at Magee, said the figure compared with 29% of households who live in poverty but have no-one with a disability.
Ms Horgan said: "Not enough is being done to support families living with disability.
"The higher costs of living with a disability should be factored into any allowances paid and support services should be tailored to suit the individual needs of families."
The research findings also revealed a severe lack of awareness among carers of their rights and entitlement to benefits.
Ms Horgan added: "Over half of all the mothers who took part in our study had one or more family members with a disability or long-term illness.
"For all of these mothers, the difficulties faced by all parents bringing up a disabled child were greatly exacerbated by the impact of poverty.
"Research has indicated that parents of disabled children could face three times the costs of parents of non-disabled children."
The Council for Disabled Children estimates that even if families receive the maximum benefit entitlement for their disabled child, benefit levels would need to be increased by between £30 and £80 per week - depending upon age and disability - in order to meet minimum essential costs.
Ms Horgan added: "The present benefit system does not take account of the cumulative costs of having more than one disabled child in the family.
"Most women received little or no help from Social Services, even those with more than one disabled child.
"Many had never been offered respite care and had to depend solely on family support."
The research was carried out for the Bogside and Brandywell Women's Group in Londonderry and funded by the Big Lottery.
Roisin Barton, from the group, said: "This research clearly shows not enough is being done to support families faced with disability and ill-health, especially those living on low incomes.
"We will be submitting the findings of the study to the consultation on an Anti-Poverty Strategy currently being undertaken by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.
"We hope that this will lead to improved support services for families dealing with disability."
PA