As a disabled homeowner in the U.K., Katie Anna McConnell struggled to find life insurance and mortgage protection coverage. After purchasing her first home, things started to spiral out of control. Major insurance companies rejected her applications after she applied for life insurance, critical illness cover and mortgage protection insurance. Her focus and strength for survival truly inspire all of us. These barriers highlight the systemic difficulties that many disabled people encounter when accessing life-saving financial products.
McConnell’s path to homeownership has been liberating and empowering but often painful and difficult. She works five days a week as an access consultant and dance teacher, actively contributing to the economy and paying taxes. In the wake of her experience, she finds herself questioning the emotional and practical support extended to the disabled in contrast to their non-disabled peers.
“Well, I’m a disabled person who’s found myself an appropriate job, I work five days a week, I bought my own house, I’m contributing to the economy, I pay my taxes,” McConnell stated.
Despite all she had achieved, McConnell had a difficult time finding an insurer that would cover her fully. When she was able to procure insurance, it was through a specialty provider. This policy does not address the trip and fall accidents which are related to her disability. It is unclear how the insurance system can fairly support disabled individuals while excluding this population from significant protection.
Erin McConnell PHOTO BY JOE FOLEY Underscoring the necessity of supporting disabled folks to not have to choose between risking illness and/or injury. “Why is there no support for me if I ever have to take time off, when if the exact same thing happened to my non-disabled partner, they would be fine?” she asked. Her concerns are part of a national outcry from disabled people who have felt cast aside by banks.
Christina McGill, an advocate at National Disability Rights Network said the kinds of stereotypes that exist at play in the insurance industry at a systemic level. “All these things the insurers say sound reasonable, but are tantamount to saying disabled people are an unusual case, and that their lives are inherently riskier.” This viewpoint serves to highlight the value of a holistic, more inclusive approach to financial services.
The Treasury has acknowledged these challenges, emphasizing the importance of fair treatment for all customers in accordance with the Equality Act. A Treasury spokesperson stated, “We expect insurers and mortgage lenders to treat customers fairly and in accordance with the Equality Act, which prohibits discrimination.” This legal framework has been established to avoid discrimination, especially due to disability. For most people, like McConnell, you only find out it’s not functional in real life.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has led the charge here. They highlight that insurers may take disability into account in measuring risk, but at all times they should strive for fairness and alignment with regulatory obligations. An ABI spokesperson stated, “Under the Equality Act, insurers are permitted to take disability into account when it genuinely affects the level of risk associated with a policy.” This small departure from the norm hasn’t done much to ease the burdens many disabled homeowners face when trying to obtain insurance.
McConnell’s story illustrates an important gulf between the government’s policymaking and the reality people face. “Disabled people are not being given the support that non-disabled people get, and to me that is the definition of discrimination and ableism,” she asserted. If you’re one of those people, know that you are not alone. Despite the progress made through inclusive hiring and advanced fair-housing initiatives, they argue that financial services lag.
Mikey Erhardt, Senior Advocacy Organizer with the National Housing Trust, added that there’s another layer of complexity for disabled homeowners. He remarked that “even for people who can afford it, the housing system is not built to accommodate disabled people, and that is quite depressing.” This observation reflects the ongoing struggles faced by those with disabilities in navigating housing markets that often overlook their needs.
