Leading disability charities have called on the government to ensure that people will continue to be able to use physical cash in shops. It comes after a government minister said that shops will not be forced to accept cash, despite concerns that millions of vulnerable people rely on it. Disability Rights UK (DRUK) and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) are warning that making card payments the default creates “more barriers” for disabled people.
Reece Kinsman, 31, from Manchester, has Williams Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder characterized by a neurodevelopmental disability. He relies on cash to manage his money, as he struggles to track his spending when using a card. On a recent trip to New Brighton, Merseyside, Reece was left panicked and upset when a fast-food restaurant told him they didn’t accept cash. He says, “I was disappointed really, I didn’t know what else to do. It was just card, and it’s not easy because I’ve got cash only.”
Ann-Marie Kinsman, Reece’s mother, says handling physical money has given Reece a tangible sense of control over his finances – one that could be threatened if cash is phased out. “Reece’s level of understanding is around about a six-year-old. We give him cash because it’s better for him to go out in the community and be able to learn how much money is needed to pay for things.”
Jack Hickinbotham, 29, from Hereford, has autism, epilepsy, and severe learning disabilities. He enjoys the sense of confidence that comes with directly handling cash. “I feel independent and I like speaking to people.” His mum and carer, Nicola, says that without cash, Jack wouldn’t know how much money he had available.
Samantha Smith, 53, from Rotherham, is registered blind and says using cash is a necessity, as she has only 2-3% of her vision left and can’t see the numbers on card machines to verify transactions. “Blind people rely on cash, so this will have an impact on the whole blind community.” She also worries a cashless society could leave her more vulnerable to scams and theft – something she has already experienced. “At Christmas two years ago, I went out to pick up a few last presents. I had my handbag and my purse taken off me. I only lost about £10 in cash that was in the purse. I’d be fearful that if they had taken a card, they would have had access to all of my money.”
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