I think this is a matter of concern to PWME in the UK. At present DLA is=
a regular cash payment to disabled people to help them=20
live better. They can use the money as and when they choose to buy the g=
oods and services they need or want without any need to=20
account for the choices they make. Many PWME have had to fight long and =
hard to prove their entitlement to this benefit.
Attendence Allowance (AA) is the subject of a Green Paper and appears set=
to be changed; some believe that there are plans to=20
include DLA in these changes. My impression is that the new scheme would=
deprive people of choices and flexibility in the way they=20
use their money.
It looks like the campaign to keep DLA unchanged may be having an effect.
Best Wishes,
Peter Kemp
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/latest-news/1110-dla-is-not-under-t=
hreat----be-very-happy-says-government-minister or
In what may represent a dramatic victory for campaigners, Care Services M=
inister Phil Hope yesterday told a reporter at the Labour=20
Party conference that DLA is not under threat by the care green paper.
According to the Disability Now website, Phil Hope, when asked if he woul=
d abolish DLA after the election, replied:
=93No. All the models that we have done have not included DLA. But if peo=
ple were to make a case to integrate DLA into a comprehensive=20
system, then I'm very happy to hear that case and have those arguments.
"DLA is not under threat and people can be very happy".
For more details and our reaction, visit: www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/=
latest-news/1110-dla-is-not-under-thre...
We know that some people will claim that the minister=92s comments are ev=
idence that campaigning to save DLA was unnecessary. It=92s a=20
claim, however, that can only be be made by ignoring such as the followin=
g.
1 Earlier this month the DWP press office said in relation to whether DLA=
would be scrapped: =93It depends on what people say in the=20
consultation. We need to see what people say when they respond.=94
2 The same minister who is now saying DLA is not under threat wrote to ME=
P Liz Lynne just a fortnight ago stating that: =93. . . this=20
is a consultation exercise and no final decisions have been made about wh=
ich disability benefits might be involved, or how they=20
would be affected.=94
3 The same minister also refused to rule out the possibility of DLA being=
axed in an interview earlier this month with Disability=20
Now.
4 Last month CPAG claimed that it had received assurances from =91senior =
sources=92 at the DWP that DLA was not under threat. Just four=20
days later CPAG revealed that it had =93subsequently been contacted by th=
e DWP who have said that no decisions have been taken as to=20
the future of DLA whilst the consultation is ongoing.=94 CPAG then went o=
ff to lobby the Department of Health on the issue.
5 For almost two months national charities such as the MS Society have tr=
ied, but failed, to get clarification from the government=20
as to whether DLA would be affected by the care green paper.
6 Just last week, David Behan, the Director General of Social Care at the=
Department of Health, published a blog post on the Big=20
Care Debate website clearly trying to reduce the flood of hostile respons=
es. He could have easily done so by saying outright that=20
DLA would not be affected by the green paper =96 he didn=92t.
The reality is that, if the government have now stepped back from an atta=
ck on DLA before the care consultation has even ended, it=20
is because of the literally thousands of angry responses on the Big Care =
Debate website, the thousands of signatures on petitions,=20
the torrent of angry letters to MPs, the motions before the Scottish and =
Welsh assemblies and the growing pressure from disability=20
charities who were themselves under enormous pressure from outraged claim=
ants.
It=92s because the focus on the single issue of benefits is fast becoming=
a public relations disaster for a green paper signed by no=20
fewer than six secretaries of state.
Above all, if there=92s been a change of heart, it=92s because you have f=
ought so effectively to protect the benefits of disabled=20
people.
Here at Benefits and Work we don=92t know if the fight is yet over for DL=
A, but we do know for certain it=92s only just begun for AA.
Good luck,
Steve Donnison
LATEST DLA AND AA THREAT ARTICLES
CPAG admits DLA is not safe
www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/latest-news/1104-cpag-admits-dla-is-not-sa=
fe
DLA threat website tries to stem hostile responses
www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/latest-news/1105-dla-threat-website-tries-=
to-stem-hostile-responses
Scrapping DLA is an option confirms DWP
www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/latest-news/1106-scrapping-dla-is-an-optio=
n-confirms-dwp
Is the Big Care Debate being nobbled?
www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/latest-news/1107-is-the-big-care-debate-be=
ing-nobbled
Scottish and Welsh assemblies campaign for DLA and AA
www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/latest-news/1108-scottish-and-welsh-assemb=
lies-campaign-for-dla-and-aa
No 10 DLA and AA petition needs you
www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/latest-news/1109-no-10-dla-and-aa-petition=
-needs-you
=93DLA is not under threat . . . be very happy=94 says government ministe=
r
www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/latest-news/1110-dla-is-not-under-threat--=
--be-very-happy-says-government-minister
Please feel free to forward or publish this email.
Benefits and Work Publishing Ltd
www.benefitsandwork.co.uk
Company registration No. 5962666
(c) 2009 Steve Donnison. All rights reserved.
---------------------------------------------
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