Take care you don't miss out on helper's allowances

Hundreds of thousands of Britain's 6.5 million carers are not claiming state benefits and allowances for which they are eligible, say campaigners – who also warn about the impact of cutbacks to the disability living allowance.

Almost a third of people looking after an older, disabled or seriously ill family member or friend struggle to cover basic living costs, and more than one in five is in debt and finding it difficult to cope financially, a report published by the Money Advice Service suggests.

Full Article on Guardian Money

Disability welfare changes delayed by assessment process

Disability welfare changes for England, Scotland and Wales have been delayed because the government has been unable to assess claimants in time.

Personal Independence Payments will replace Disability Living Allowance next week only for claimants in certain areas rather than across Britain.

Ministers said assessments were taking longer than expected and the scheme would now be phased in more gradually.

Full Article on BBC News

Disability Living Allowance changes begin

A new system of disability benefits has begun to take effect across England, Scotland and Wales.

Personal Independence Payments (PIPs) are replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) as part of the government's welfare reforms.

The government claims PIPs will target resources more effectively towards those who need it most.

Full Article on BBC News

Disability Living Allowance replaced by PIP scheme

Major changes to disability benefits for new claimants are being introduced in some parts of the UK ahead of a national roll-out of the new measures.

It is the start of the replacement of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) by Personal Independence Payments (PIP).

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said the current "ridiculous" system where people were given benefit with no further checks must end.

But charity Scope says the changes have been designed just to save money.

Full Article on BBC News

Disability payment changes begin

Reforms to disability benefits will end the 'ridiculous' system that gives people lifetime awards, Iain Duncan Smith has said as the disability living allowance is replaced by the new personal independence payment (PLA).

The work and pensions secretary said claims in disability benefit had more than doubled in some parts of the country ahead of the changes.

His comments came as nearly half a million people call on the Tory cabinet minister to live off £53 a week for a year in a petition being delivered to his office on Monday.

Full Article on Guardian Society

EVENT: Changes from DLA to PIP

Wiltshire CIL are holding a meeting for Direct Payment recipients at Salisbury’s Methodist Church on...

Tuesday 5^th February, 11.00-13.00

Marc Reid from Wiltshire Council will be talking about  the proposed changes from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Personal Independence Payments (PIP). Marc will also cover the Spare Room (under-occupancy) Tax. 

He will be happy to take questions and talk to people informally at the end of the presentation. 

This could be of interest to individuals who receive or manage a DP as a carer, or who are considering taking a direct payment.

Contact WCIL on 01380 725400 / 01380 729497 to book a place.

SURVEY: Stop the DLA Takeaway: fairness for families when their child is in hospital

Contact a Family and The Children’s Trust, Tadworth’s campaign 'Stop the DLA Takeaway' highlights that disabled children who spend long periods in hospital are at risk of having their Disability Living Allowance removed. Current regulations mean DLA is removed from a child if their hospital stay is over 84 days. The days do not have to be consecutive so hundreds of severely disabled and sick children, who are regularly in and out of hospital, are affected.

The government argues that when a child spends longer than 84 days in hospital ‘a patient's needs are fully met free of charge'. Contact a Family and The Children’s Trust want to find out if this is true or not.

If you are the parent or carer of a child who has spent a long time in hospital please take five minutes to fill out their short survey.

Disability benefit change needed, says Iain Duncan Smith

Planned changes to disability benefits will go ahead, the Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has said, insisting that reform is needed.

It has emerged half a million people are to lose the Disability Living Allowance over the next four years.

But Mr Duncan Smith told the Daily Telegraph the number of people claiming it had risen by 30% in recent years, with many people "allowed to fester".

Labour said he was approaching reform with "contempt and carelessness".

Full Article on BBC News

DLA reform and Personal Independence Payment - completing the detailed design

This consultation seeks views on the Government’s proposals on some of the benefit rules underpinning Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance, Carer’s Allowance and Attendance Allowance. These rules will inform the development of secondary legislation. It also provides further information on policy decisions that have now been made.

Deadline for responding to the consultation: 30 June 2012

Link to the consultation and how to have your say

New Disability Living Allowance forms for children

The Department for Work and Pensions has introduced a new Disability Living Allowance (DLA) claim form for children. This form is being rolled out across the country for new claimants area by area, and should cover the whole of the UK by the end of March 2012. 

Remember it’s only the claim form that has changed – the rules are still the same. It won’t be any easier to get DLA, but hopefully it will be a bit easier to complete the claim form. Contact a Family’s welfare rights team are updating their Guide to claiming Disability Living Allowance for children to cover how to complete the new form. 

The new guide will be available in March. 

Please call their freephone helpline for a free copy on 0808 808 3555.

Concessions offered over disability benefit changes

Ministers are set to make further concessions over controversial proposed changes to disability benefits.

The government has agreed to halve the time seriously ill or disabled people will have to wait to be eligible for Personal Independence Payments (PIPs) from six to three months.

The move came after peers defeated the coalition over other welfare changes.

No 10 said the government had listened to disability groups' concerns but campaigners wanted further changes.

Full Article on BBC News

500,000 to lose out on disablity living allowance

Half a million disabled people would lose out on benefits through the government's reform to disability living allowance, it revealed today.

Proposals to replace DLA for people with working-age with a new personal independence payment (PIP) would result in 500,000 fewer people receiving the benefit by 2015-16.

Full Article on Community Care

News that thousands of disabled people will no longer lose the mobility component of disability living allowance

According to The Times, the Government has announced that it will not go ahead with previous plans to remove the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which is replacing Disability Living Allowance, from people living in residential care.

The mobility component provides vital support to allow disabled people who live in residential care homes to get out independently by allowing them to meet some of the extra costs of accessing suitable transport or to purchase appropriate mobility aids.

The Low Review, chaired by Lord Low of Dalston CBE, was an independent review into how the personal mobility needs of people living in state-funded residential care are met.

Full Mencap Response

Lord Low: government should not remove DLA mobility benefit

Removing mobility benefits for disabled people living in residential care would be "a serious step backwards for disability rights", according to Lord Low's review of the issue.

The Welfare Reform Bill has proposed the government stop paying mobility benefits to 78,000 people currently living in residential care. It has already passed through the House of Commons and is currently being debated in the House of Lords.

Low's review, commissioned by disability charities Leonard Cheshire Disability and Mencap, concluded that the disability living allowance (DLA) mobility component, worth up to £50 per week, or its successor under personal independence payment (PIP), should be retained.

Full Article on Community Care