This seems like a positive piece of news for many facing cuts in their mobility allowance.
Controversial plans to axe some benefit payments to disabled people living in care homes are being dropped.The government had planned to axe the “mobility” part of Disability Living Allowance – worth £51-a-week and currently paid to up to 80,000 people. Disability charity Scope had condemned the move as “callous” and said it would leave people prisoners in their homes. Work and Pensions Minister Maria Miller confirmed in a written statement to MPs that the plan will not now go ahead.
The decision has been welcomed by campaigners.
Chief executive of learning disability charity Mencap Mark Goldring said: “It is fantastic to have the news confirmed that there will be an amendment to the Welfare Reform Bill protecting this vital allowance. This is a positive example of the Government listening to disabled people, who have been among the hardest hit by national and local authority budget cuts.
“We need to continue to have the same open and frank dialogue with Government on the other significant changes that are set to happen – including the replacement of Disability Living Allowance with the new Personal Independence Payment.”
