DLA cut fears endure
31 August 2011
Since last year, when the government announced its plans to
replace disability living allowance (DLA) with the personal
independent payment (PIP), claimants have been worried about the
potential adverse effect the change could have on them. These fears
have not been assuaged, if support provider Papworth Trust's survey
is to be believed. Papworth revealed that - if payments were
reduced or stopped under PIP - 86% of their 2,200 respondents said
they would have to cut back on essentials such as food or
transport. Additionally, 64% said they would be less independent.
Only 5% reckoned a cut would not have any effect on them. This
confirms the continuing fear that plagues DLA claimants, and it's
easy to understand why. The government is on record as saying that
it wants to cut 20% from the bill for the benefit as it moves to
PIP, and that all 3.2 million DLA claimants will be reassessed as
part of that process. Many claimants have taken this to mean either
ramping up the eligibility criteria so they no longer qualify, or
reducing the payments. The government has done little to reassure
benefit claimants about the future, although minister for disabled
people Maria Miller has spoken to the BBC
today to say the new assessment process will be "fair" and
undertaken by people who are "independent". That's to be expected,
although critics will wonder how independent these people will be,
especially as she also spoke of "keeping the cost of DLA under
control". Surely, if you are keeping the cost under control, you
have to reduce the level of payment or limit the number of people
receiving it? Miller also trotted out the established government
line about 70% of people claiming DLA having it for life (although
the exact wording is 'indefinite'), with no reassessment in place,
meaning that they could be claiming a benefit they are no longer
entitled to. There is some substance to this. Some people's
conditions do improve, their needs become less and their ability to
cope increases, but it is left to claimants to inform the Pensions
Disability and Carers Service about such changes. Some may have
neglected to do so. Nevertheless, the vast majority of claimants'
conditions will remain the same, if not worsen. Statistics also
show that DLA fraud is substantially lower than for other benefits.
While nothing is set in stone, the direction of travel is clear.
Although there are protests and legal challenges to the DLA
reforms, and investigations such as the Low Review into the mobility component, which
will report back before the end of the year, it's not at all clear
if they will be able to substantially affect current
plans. So, it's pretty clear that the worry for DLA claimants will
continue for some time, probably until after their reassessments
have been completed - and, depending on the results - possibly for
a long time thereafter.
Comments
Write a Comment
Comment Submitted