The Independent Living Fund (ILF) will be closed in 2015 and the funding will be devolved to local government and devolved administrations, the Government has confirmed.
The Department for Work and Pensions says this is to “ensure fair, targeted support to those who need it.”
The ILF was permanently closed to new applicants in December 2010, and the Government recently consulted on the best way for those currently using the fund to become part of local social care arrangements.
Nearly 1.6 million disabled people across the UK already receive support through local authority social care arrangements, and this announcement will mean the 19,000 ILF users receive support under the same system.
Funding will move to local authorities and devolved administrations to ensure they are best able to meet the needs of all disabled people in their areas to live independent lives.
Disabilities minister Esther McVey said: “How disabled people are supported to live independent lives has changed drastically over the past 20 years – and how we provide that support needs to change with it.
“That’s why we want to make sure there’s one simple and fair system – through personal budgets – that gives disabled people the control they need to make the choices right for them.
“We’ll be working closely with disabled people over the next few years to make sure ILF users get the support they need during the transition.”
