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The end of DLA?
Tuesday 07 December 2010
The government is planning to replace Disability Living Allowance with a new benefit
The government has launched a consultation on plans to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) with a new benefit – Personal Independence Payment.
DLA is a non-means-tested benefit and is paid to over 3 million people. Launching the consultation, Minister for Disabled People Maria Miller said: "Personal Independence Payment will maintain the key principles of DLA, providing cash support to help overcome the barriers which prevent disabled people from participating fully in everyday life, but it will be delivered in a fairer, more consistent and sustainable manner."
Like DLA, the Personal Independence Payment would have two components – mobility and daily living. The government plans to introduce it in 2013/14 by reassessing recipients of DLA of working age. It is considering whether to reassess children and people aged over 65. In most cases the assessment would involve a face-to-face meeting with an independent healthcare professional.
Jane Alltimes, Mencap senior campaigns and policy officer, said: "We welcome the principle of making the new benefit easier to understand and the government's commitment to supporting disabled people to lead independent and active lives. However, the consultation's emphasis on focusing support on those with the highest needs is concerning.
"The government must ensure that people with a learning disability, including those with moderate need, don't miss out on support to carry out everyday activities. It is vital that the assessment takes into account the particular needs of people with a learning disability. As DLA is not paid on the basis of a medical diagnosis, but to compensate disabled people for the extra costs incurred by the effect their condition has on the ability to get around or look after themselves, it will be a challenge for any new medical assessment to assess this."
The consultation on the plans will be open until 14 February 2011. The reform is related to wider plans for welfare reform, including a new Universal Credit.
Mencap has already been campaigning against plans to cut the mobility element of DLA for people living in residential care homes.
Jane Alltimes said: "It isn't entirely clear from the consultation paper how these plans will be carried over to the Personal Independence Payment, but it seems likely that there will be some exemptions for people living in residential homes. We will fight against any reduction in financial support paid to people with a learning disability – which is becoming even more important in the face of cuts to public services."
Find out more and respond to the consultation
Email Minister for Disabled People Maria Miller about plans to cut the mobility component of DLA
Comments
dla i was awarded this for life due to my severe disabilitys tried working too disabled to work in severe pain most of my life helps me buy essentails like mobility scooter and equipment i need in day to day liveing which an able person takes for granted the days of body rebulidng is still not with us as in sci fi films when will h.m govt acept these facts once disabled its for life disabilitys not even make up or turning a blind thoughtfullness will help we can not regenrate our bodys as yet kindly look at yourselves may be ok today tommorow maybe disabled needing care and help
Without DLA my life would hardly be worth living. Looks as though we are going back to the dark ages. So much for Human Rights!
It is an outrage and a national disgrace that yet again the governments spending review is targetting the most vulnerable individuals in our society. The proposed cuts to the mobility component will without doubt have a profound impact on the quality of life for those in receipt of this crucial benefit.
What is the rationale of introducing an Equality Act, Discrimination Act, Human Rights Act and of course the HM Governments 'Valuing People Now' white paper, all of which are supposed to prevent the most vulnerable people from being victimised, when the whole philosophy and ethos of these documents are so blatently disregarded ?
The government should hang their heads in shame.
It is so sad what is happening now. Many of us carers are reading these articles on the changes but those in governments don't seem to understand.
We carers continue to fight until the day we die because we know our children can not speak up for themselves. It is so very wrong. I urge carers to all start telling their stories. Let us all get together and stand up for our beautiful children who have not been given the chances they deserve.My daughter's life has gone wrong by being given the wrong diagnosis and so far I see no help.She deserves a life. They ade he mistake on her life and planned her life accordingly. Now she is stuck at home and praying she does not face disability and poverty.
http://carersfeelings.blogspot.com/
MY daughter has a different type of disability. Turner sydrome with a learning disability. She is lost we can't find anyone who has one. So I am back on Mencap... We must keep fighting the only way is to blog, write comments. The guardian seems to have a few articles we can all comment on. It is disgusting and worse if you have no voice and can't understand what is happening.. They ought to realise the support they give learning disabled is not enough to even give them work.
Fight for our children is a must they have no voice.........we must all unite as one and speak up for those who can't.... people who are running the country have money, comforts and a life. we as carers have got a struggle and it is wrong.
OUR CHILDREN NEED THAT MONEY FOR THEIR BASIC NEEDS AND HUMAN RIGHTS...
My council has sent letters out stating from April, they plan to take 50% of peoples DLA nd 100% of their severe disabled premium to pay for future things you might need. I'm not standing for it. I have an appointment with my MP and because I contacted the local paper and complained I was contacted by the director of social services and he want's to come round to see me!!
Well when he does I will keep my severly disabled daughter, who is 36, has severe learning disabilities and epileptic fits daily, at home. He can see for himself how bad our life is.
I am a widow and am seriously ill myself and need both knees and a hip replaced. I am devestated by this plan. We struggle every day but no one seems to care. Pat
I feel very angry at the thought of stopping DLA mobility for people in residential care. I support people with profound learning disabilities who use their mobility money to engage in physical activities like horseriding, swimming, These activities are vital to them to keep them mobile and active. Why is it again the most vunerable that are being targetted. I urge you to re-think this.
From 28 most vunerable people in Hampshire.
Government will look to the most vunerable groups to make cut backs, in my area one day centre for adults with learning disabilities closed last year, another is closing next spring. There is a consultation on going on increasing transport costs maybe to
i get high care, i went for a assessment for motorbility componant and i was knocked back, i think the goverment should look at those what are able to do things, i struggle to walk. i dont think its fair. people who gets the motorbility part some are more alot more able than me. i cant walk fair it really upsets me.
Over the last 3-yrs it has felt like people with LD and their family carers are under constant attack. I find it really confusing that:
On the one-hand politicains talk about concerns over fragmented society where even families do not appear to stick together AND yet the Community Care policies appear to have been designed to dismantle family units.
I sometimes wonder whethet policy makers see difference between INDEPENDENCE and ISOLATION.
I am really conernced that with the cuts and constantly revising individual components of Community Care policies, both the central and local governments are further fragmenting the local communities and making it IMPOSSIBLE for families to function as a unit.
I think the proposed cut of mobility allowance from DLA for people living in residentiaL care homes strikes at the most vulnerable people in our society. I think it is a cruel, iniquitous and shameful cut and should not be allowed to take place. M.Whitton, Maidstone.
I really think that the government should think about these vulnerable people in the society . All we want is to be able to maximise the children potential and to make them feel happy and love. my child has autism and i need to get him around without a car its impossible i have to be thinking safety. Its a nightmare
I hope there make it fair and every one still gets the money there need as I get mine DLA every 4 weeks from kirk
I really hope that the government takes into consideration the needs of the Learning disabled. This is not a visible disability and I am really concerned that people with this disability will be facing cuts that will be totally unfair. We must speak up now or it will be too late!!
typical of this government to pick on the most vulnerable to fund their cuts,an expensive reassessment process which will be very stressfull for disabled people and carers alike ,makes you think of giving up entirely.Perhaps thats what they want, so much for " valuing people"