Government delays changes to DLA mobility for people in residential care
01 February 2011
The Government seems to be listening to the arguments that Sense and others have made on this issue. The power to remove the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) from children and adults in residential care is in the Welfare Reform Bill. But the date this will come in has been pushed back to 2013 (as opposed to 2012) and there will be a more detailed review.
The Equality Impact Assessment confirmed that "The DLA mobility component for those in care homes will be retained until March 2013, and any subsequent changes will be rolled into the design of the new Personal Independence Payment (PIP)”.
There will now be a detailed review of the way DLA relates to funding of support in care homes. Campaigners have demonstrated that there is no overlap and removing the benefit would be damaging to people’s lives.
This shows that our campaigning can make a difference, which is important because there is more work to be done, both on this issue and on the wider reforms of DLA.
Sense will be campaigning for a disability benefits system that recognises the impact of dual sensory loss on people’s lives wherever they live. Let us know if you would like to support the campaign.