Persons with disabilities, which comprise 15% of the world’s population, are more likely to be poor, to face catastrophic health expenditures, and to have lower levels of education and economic participation. Barriers to employment and disability-related costs contribute greatly to their higher vulnerability. Social protection is therefore critical for their inclusion, empowerment and sustainable escape from poverty (ILO, UNICEF, UNPRPD, 2020). While in high income countries social protection systems provide a quasi-universal coverage, less than 20% of persons with significant disabilities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have to access disability related benefits (ILO, 2019).

The COVID-19 crisis has magnified those barriers and highlighted the limited capacities of most LMICs’ social protection systems to provide fast relief to persons with disabilities.

To mitigate the risk of further marginalisation of persons with disabilities and their families, an inclusive response and recovery requires additional and continued investments in developing universal and inclusive social protection systems, including floors.