In the UK the coalition government intends to cut the Disability Living Allowance in the near future.
At first the plan was to reduce the allowance. Now it is to replace it with a different form of support. But it will be much harder for people to claim this new benefit, and the proposal to remove the mobility component of DLA from people who live full-time in care homes whose local authorities fund their places shows how ruthless the attack on benefits really is.
DLA is a cash benefit paid to people under 65 who meet its strict eligibility criteria for help with their care and mobility needs. The forms are more than 30 pages long and one must present an incredible amount of detailed information – a lot of it very personal too. Statements are expected from those who know the person claiming – a family member or carer.
Kaliya Franklin puts it really well in her piece in the Guardian, where she notes that disabled people claim this allowance when they are at their most vulnerable. As well, they cannot protest en masse the way students and other members of society can. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/joepublic/2011/jan/13/disability-living-allowance-benefit-cuts-protest.
You can respond to the public consultation before Feb. 14 here: http://bit.ly/g1HdSR.
However, there are concerns that the consultation process itself is seriously flawed and a number of interest groups are keen to have the consultation recalled because they say the questions are skewed. Read more about the recall action here, http://bit.ly/h9ek1P, and you can sign the petion here: http://bit.ly/hZZg61
We urge you to make sure your voice is heard. Sign the petition or write to your MP.
