Anna Brandström at the Swedish Down Association says that the financial situation for many in this group is unsustainable:
- These people have lived in poverty for so many years.
Now you go from poor to even poorer and then there is nothing to cut.
According to a new survey from Statistics Sweden, every fifth person with a disability has difficulty making ends meet and 42 percent state that they are worried about their finances.
Requires increased support
Niklas Altermark, researcher in disability issues, believes that the reason for the tough situation is that the calculation of the contributions to this group has not kept up with the rate of inflation.
Now researchers and functional rights organizations are demanding that support for this group be increased.
- Society's support for this group must increase significantly more, believes Nicklas Mårtensson of the cooperation organization Funktionsrätt Sweden.
The planned increase that will come in 2023 is not enough, but is eaten up by inflation and increased overheads.
"We don't really dare to die"
Anna Brandström at the Swedish Down Association believes that this group has no opportunity to influence their finances.
Those who live in group housing cannot move to cheaper housing.
And they cannot apply for other jobs.
They live on relatives.
- There is a saying for us funk moms: "We dare not really die," she says.
Social Security Minister Anja Tenje responds via her press secretary that Sweden is in an economically challenging time, but that the government will continuously evaluate the social security system during the term of office.
She also refers to the previously planned increase in sickness and activity compensation of 8.7 percent.
- It is a substantial increase compared to what most wage earners can count on in this economic situation.