A Monetary Approach to Capability Measurement of the Disabled - Evidence from the UK

In this paper we attempt to assess empirically the capability set of the disabled. We formulate the assumptions under which capability can be interpreted as needs-adjusted disposable household income, and use equivalence scales methodology to estimate it for households in the UK. We identify a positive cost of disability to the households and state, to what extent a disability can reduce an individual's capability set. The use of the derived capability measure instead of traditional income in poverty measures leads to a dramatic increase of poverty among the families with disabled members.