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Living with Disability and Chronic Illness: The Emotional and Financial Toll
Disability and chronic illness are often discussed in terms of their physical symptoms and medical management, but the emotional and financial toll is just as profound. Living with these conditions brings a cycle of anxiety, stress, grief, and loss, compounded by financial hardships that exacerbate an already difficult situation.
On top of this, the social stigma and lack of understanding around disability can lead to feelings of isolation. Well-meaning friends and family may not grasp the full extent of how chronic illness impacts every aspect of life, leaving individuals to navigate the burden largely alone. This lack of support can make anxiety and stress even harder to manage.
The Financial Burden: Adding Fuel to the Fire
The financial costs associated with disability and chronic illness add another layer of stress and anxiety. Disability charity Scope say the ‘Disability Price Tag means that disabled people need an extra £1010 a month to have the same standard of living as a non-disabled person. Essential equipment, medications, and home modifications often come with hefty price tags, leaving individuals and families struggling to make ends meet.
For those unable to work due to their condition, the loss of income can be devastating. While some may qualify for disability benefits, these are often insufficient to cover the true costs of living with a chronic condition. The process of applying for these benefits can also be gruelling, requiring extensive documentation and facing long waiting periods. Many find themselves caught in a cycle of debt, relying on credit cards or loans just to stay afloat.
Purpl Discounts: With not For
Purpl is the first dedicated discount site for disabled people, we know about the cost of living being tougher on disabled people because we are disabled people, the CEO and founder Georgina lives with MS, and the 2/3 of the core team are disabled people.
Georgina says: “Living with a disability brings significant financial challenges, with extra costs averaging nearly £1,000 per month (ref: Scope). Before I became disabled I had no idea of the financial impact it would have on my life but now I do, I want to help make a difference”.
Purpl already has thousands of verified disabled members and over 150 brand partners offering great savings, plus new brands are being added every week. Purpl aims to reduce the financial burden on disabled individuals by offering exclusive discounts on everyday products and services.
Purpl is more than a discount website; it brings the disabled community together to share advice, access offers from brands, support disabled charities, and ultimately the future plan is to create the Purpl Foundation to offer grants to those who need extra financial support to pay for equipment or services that will make a difference to their day-to-day life. The Purpl blog features community stories, sharing knowledge and experiences and the members only Facebook group gives direct access to offers as soon as they come in.
Breaking the Cycle: Finding Support and Advocacy
While the challenges of living with disability and chronic illness are immense, support and advocacy can help alleviate some of the burdens. Mental health care, including therapy and support groups, can provide a safe space to process grief, anxiety, and stress.
However, recognising these interconnected issues is the first step toward addressing them. By fostering understanding, advocating for systemic change, and building supportive communities, we can work toward a world that values and uplifts individuals living with these challenges.
You can sign up to Purpl with several different documents that prove your eligibility including disability letters, blue badge, disabled bus and train passes, CEA card, Access Card and the Disabled ID (DID Card). If you have any type of disability and you have one of the accepted documents you can join Purpl either for yourself or on behalf of a child/adult as a parent/carer or guardian.
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