Charities have
slammed disability benefit rules which require disabled people to be able to
prove that they cannot walk more than 20 metres before they can secure
entitlement to the highest rate mobility component of Personal
Independence Payment (PIP), which is replacing Disability Living Allowance
(DLA).
In a strong worded letter to PM David Cameron and
Deputy PM Nick Clegg, which is signed by over 50 charities whom collectively
make up the Disability Benefit Consortium
(DBC), the charities claim that the changes will leave large swathes of disabled
people “without vital support and trapped in their own homes”.
The 20 metre rule replaces the earlier 50 metre
rule used when assessing claimants for DLA and means that nearly half a million
disabled people could lose as much as £33.25 per week in financial support, when
they are migrated to the new disability benefit.
Both DLA and PIP are designed to ensure those
living with disabilities can live life as independently as possible, but the
charities claim that the new rules will lead to a disabled people “dropping out
of work and education”, because they will find it more difficult to get about
without the added financial support, and also that the changes could cause
poverty and isolation for some of Britain’s most vulnerable disabled adults.
DBC claim that the cut in benefits will leave many
disabled people unable to make-up the extra costs associated with living with a
disability. Some of these costs include those incurred for a mobility scooter,
electric wheelchair, or a Motability vehicle needed to attend further education
courses and/or go out to work.
Just like its predecessor, PIP can be claimed by
disabled people whether they are in or out of work, but without the extra
financial support the higher rate of the mobility component provides, those who
are in work may not be able to continue to hold down a job if they are unable to
get around after having their benefits cut, the charities claim.
They go on to say that the 20 meter rule would lead
to “increased costs in other areas of government spending”, such as the NHS,
Social Care, the government’s Access To Work Scheme and
unemployment benefits.
The DBC stress in the letter that making it more
difficult for disabled people to qualify for the extra support the higher rate
of the mobility component of PIP would bring “will not make the mobility needs
of these people disappear”. They continue the letter by saying:
“No evidence has been provided as to why the
distance of 20 metres is now being used as a way of gauging the additional costs
individuals face. Indeed, the rule is inconsistent with well-embedded and
researched government guidance which suggests that 50 metres is a more
appropriate measure of significant mobility impairment.
“The use of the 20 metre rule is flawed. In
evidence gathered by organisations representing disabled people, many of those
that can mobilise for more than 20 metres (but less than 50 metres) face the
same ‘extra cost’ as those that can only mobilise for this distance. No longer
qualifying for the enhanced rate of the mobility component of PIP will have a
devastating impact on their lives.”
The charities urged David Cameron and Nick Clegg to
“reinstate the use of a 50 metre qualifying distance for the enhanced rate of
the mobility component of PIP” and called on the government to publish the
responses to the consultation on the changes. They say that they are deeply
disappointed that the government has decided to keep the 20 metre rule in
place.
Co-chair of the DBC, Clair Nurden said:
“We are extremely disappointed that the government
has ignored grave concerns about the 20 metre rule, and has instead chosen
financial savings over the independence of disabled people. The decision is
incredibly short sighted.
“PIP is supposed to help those most in need but it
is exactly these people that are now set to lose. We have been overwhelmed by
the response we’ve had from disabled people who are terrified about what this
rule will mean for them. Many will be at risk of losing their jobs as they’ll be
unable to get to work. Others will not be able to get to medical appointments,
or will have to leave education – they will, quite literally, be trapped in
their own homes”
In related news, the DWP have been forced to amend
its timetable for the rollout of PIP due to delays in migrating existing DLA
claimants to the new benefit. The delays mean that only those in certain
postcodes will be reassessed for PIP come 2013. More details here.
