New Personal Independence Payment to replace DLA – what do you think? « Learning Disability Bulletin

Amid yesterday’s weather chaos across Scotland you’d be forgiven for not having noticed the announcement of the UK Government’s future plans for Disability Living Allowance (DLA).  The public consultation on Disability Living Allowance reform will take views on a replacement benefit for DLA and a new process for assessing applications.

Disability Living Allowance is a Government benefit which recognises the extra cost of being disabled.  Many people who have learning disabilities and their carers rely on the support of Disability Living Allowance to enable them to live independently.

In June, the Government were clear that the number of people who receive Disability Living Allowance must reduce by 20%.  They have proposed to replace DLA with the Personal Independence Payment – which will only be available to applicants with long-term health conditions or impairments.

As we noted in our response to 21st Century Welfare, ENABLE Scotland is concerned that many people who have learning disabilities are already severely disadvantaged in the labour market and at risk of poverty.  Removing disability benefits could make this even worse.

What do you think about the proposals to replace Disability Living Allowance with the Personal Independence Payment?  What do you think needs to change – or stay the same – about Disability Living Allowance?  ENABLE Scotland will be responding to the consultation.  You can have your say either in the comments section below or by emailing andrew.strong@enable.org.uk

Tags: 21st Century Welfare, benefits, Disability Living Allowance, welfare benefits

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 7th, 2010 at 3:34 pm and is filed under Consultations, What do you think?. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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