Government U-turn on Disability Benefit

03/01/2012

The Con-Lib coalition Government announced last week that it is no longer planning to axe the mobility component of the disability living allowance for people living in care homes.

Disability groups have welcomed the news after the initial planned cuts caused anger when they were revealed in last year’s spending review.  The decision, which will affect up to 80,000 care home residents, has surprised and delighted many charities who have been lobbying the government to scrap the cuts.

The turnaround comes after an extensive consultation revealed that there was “insufficient evidence” that there was not enough funding to support the benefit.  It means people living in care homes will still be entitled to up to £50-a-week towards the cost of travel in mobility cars, or other methods of transport, to see family and friends.

Welcome Amendment

A statement from the department for Work and Pensions said: “Our aims have always been to ensure not only protection of public funds but also that disabled people who live in residential care homes retain their independence and are not prevented from getting out and about."

The government will now submit an amendment to the welfare reform bill to remove the proposal to cut the benefit.

Chief executive of charity Leonard Cheshire Disability, Clare Pelham, commented: “We applaud the government for listening to thousands of disabled people who have raised this issue.  This allowance is just so important for those who receive it – it can make the difference between being able to get out independently and being trapped inside.”