Adrian Sanders MP has welcomed Health Secretary Andy Burnham’s decision to cancel proposals to abolish Disability Living Allowance, the benefit paid to severely and terminally disabled people.
The Government recently launched its Social Care Green Paper to set out proposals on how care services should be run and funded. The option was left open to remove disability benefits for all ages and give the money to local authorities. There was fierce opposition from disability groups and the Minister has now backed down in the face of lobbying from Adrian and other MPs.
The option still remains to take away Attendance Allowance, which is paid to hundreds of pensioners in Torbay who need extra help with care and mobility.
Adrian said: “I have been contacted by many local disabled people recently, who are at their wits end worrying that the Government was going to take away their livelihood. The vast majority of this group are unable to work and rely on this fixed income to get by.”
“The Government now needs to end its proposals to take funds away from pensioners who have mobility problems, which is causing considerable stress and anxiety to this vulnerable group.”
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