“Disabled workers deserve fair pay, equal treatment, and workplaces that value their contribution every day of the year.”
From the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS)
12 November marks Disability Pay Gap Day, the day when the average disabled employee stops getting paid compared with the average non-disabled employee.
The disability pay gap now stands at 15.5%. That means disabled workers are effectively working for free for the last 49 days of the year. In real terms, a full-time disabled employee earns about £4,031 a year less than a non-disabled colleague. Disabled women are hit hardest, earning £3.80 an hour less than non-disabled men.
This gap doesn’t exist in isolation. It combines with the rising extra costs disabled people face just to reach the same standard of living, estimated at £1,095 more each month. Low pay and high costs together make it hard for disabled people to get by, save, or plan ahead.
Hannah David, chair of the PCS national disabled Members’ forum, said:
“We are concerned that not enough progress has been made on shortening the Disability Pay Gap, and there remains much work to be done.
“The increased cost of living is hurting everyone, but disabled people are feeling this acutely, with the disability price tag more than £1,000 a month. Disabled people are being hit with this double whammy of less coming in and more going out.”
The figures show that disabled workers are still being undervalued and underpaid, year after year. The gap between what is earned and what is needed to live on keeps growing, and people are suffering. Without stronger action, disabled people will keep facing the same unfair choice between getting by and falling behind.
Trade unions and disabled people’s organisations are calling for mandatory disability pay gap reporting and clear action plans from employers and government. Disabled workers deserve fair pay, equal treatment, and workplaces that value their contribution every day of the year, not just until November.
- You follow the PCS on Facebook, Twitter/X and Instagram, and their General Secretary Fran Heathcote on Twitter/X.
- This was originally published on the PCS website on 12 November 2025.
