The Department for Work and Pensions has today launched a public consultation on the Government's plans to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) with a new benefit – called the Personal Independence Payment.
The Department says that the Personal Independence Payment will continue to be a non-means tested, extra costs benefit. It will help disabled people remove the barriers they face to leading full and independent lives. This consultation asks for views to inform our policy for reforming DLA and introducing a new objective assessment. The consultation applies to England, Wales and Scotland.
The consultation is aimed primarily at disability organisations and disabled people, but we would like to hear from anybody who is interested.
The consultation will close on 14 February 2011.
More details can be found at the DWP website by clicking here.
Hi Tony. I will be interested to hear the MEA’s response to these proposals. Personally, I am still trying to wade through the associated documents. First impressions from the brochure though have led me to question the need for a change. The proposed name ‘Personal Independence Payment’ also seems something of a misnomer. I shall continue to puruse and complete the questionnaire as well as a letter to the old MP. More burden for those of us who are ill and ‘vulnerable’…
In his 2007 speech Mr Cameron said of caring for his disabled son Ivan:
‘”It’s what I do at the start of each day. It’s sharpened my focus on the world of care assessments, eligibility criteria, disability living allowance, respite breaks, OTs, SENCOs, and other sets of initials.’
But I would not dare to call myself a carer. The work that full-time carers or those with little extra help do is unbelievable.”‘
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7909562.stm
I do believe Mr Cameron might be suffering now from ‘cognitive dysfunction’.