A new initiative launched by the disability-focused startup Purpl offers crucial financial relief for people who claim Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and others. This programme allows individuals to save significantly – up to £118 monthly or £1,411 annually – by accessing discounts from various major brands and retailers. However, Purpl cannot be viewed in isolation – and it is a damning indictment of successive governments that disabled people need this additional support in the first place.
Purpl: doing the DWP’s job for it?
Since its inception in July 2022, Purpl has seen over 25,000 individuals sign up for the scheme. The discounts cover a wide range of everyday expenses, from groceries and transport to utilities, making it a valuable resource for disabled people and their families as they contend with higher costs of living and inadequate benefits like DWP PIP.
The platform has partnered with well-known brands including Boots, Currys, and Virgin Media, providing exclusive savings opportunities that can greatly help those on limited budgets.
Georgina Colman, the founder of Purpl and a person living with Multiple Sclerosis and ADHD, articulated the need for such a service.
Speaking about her motivation for creating the scheme, Colman said:
After becoming diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, I realised how expensive life is as a disabled person
She detailed how the financial burden accumulates through necessary therapies, assisted technologies, and the added costs associated with managing her condition, saying:
These are not luxuries for me; they help reduce the inflammation in my body which keeps me able to move more and improves my quality of life.
DWP PIP: not fit for purpose
Many households reliant on disability benefits like DWP PIP face compounded challenges posed by rising living costs and insufficient financial assistance from government support systems. The DWP has been criticised for its welfare policies, leaving many claimants in poverty.
Colman pointed out this troubling financial environment, highlighting that “with the current talks about welfare support, disabled people may have even more financial pressure in the future”.
Purpl is designed to mitigate some of that financial stress by providing accessible savings options and a user-friendly interface.
Prospective members can easily register by submitting documentation that verifies their disability status, including Blue Badges, disability award letters like DWP PIP, and various card types. Assuring users about data safety, Purpl has stated that it takes privacy seriously, ensuring all uploaded documents are deleted after verification.
In addition to financial discounts, Purpl aims to foster a supportive community.
Colman expressed her desire for the platform to not only be about savings:
I want Purpl to also be a platform where people can support charities, find advice, resources, and a sense of community.
This reflects an understanding that those living with disabilities often lack comprehensive guidance on managing the additional expenses that accompany their conditions.
Purpl should not be replacing the DWP
Colman’s vision is clear; she aims to continually expand the array of discounts and resources available to members.
As part of this, she wants to create a space where individuals facing similar challenges can connect and support one another. “When you become disabled, there is no guide telling you what to do or how to fund your new life,” she remarked, underscoring the necessity of accessible support and the role Purpl intends to play in it.
As the cost of living crisis remains a pressing concern and supposed benefits like DWP PIP are still wholly inadequate, the launch of initiatives like Purpl serves to emphasise the necessity for sustained efforts to aid disabled people.
With wilful government failures in providing adequate financial support, solutions like these offer a lifeline, ensuring that disabled people have access to essential resources and community support. Of course, if benefits like DWP PIP were sufficient and accessible in the first place, schemes like Purpl wouldn’t have to exist.
Featured image supplied
