Elaine Kerr, Chief Executive &
Norma Brier, Norwood's Patron of Adult Services
Norwood has welcomed an announcement by the Government that it is withdrawing its plans to remove the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance. In a written statement to MPs, Work and Pensions Minister Maria Miller yesterday confirmed that the proposal will not be included in the upcoming Welfare Reform Bill. It would have affected up to 80,000 disabled people in care homes, including those supported by Norwood, who use the benefit to fund specialised transport to access community facilities and activities.
Norwood campaigned vigorously against the plans, by submitting evidence to the Department for Work and Pensions as part of its review of the decision and meeting with MPs and civil servants. Former Chief Executive Norma Brier even met personally with Maria Miller to discuss her concern that it could result in people with learning disabilities effectively becoming prisoners in their own homes.
The Government had claimed the allowance was being withdrawn because recipients already have their mobility costs paid for by their local authorities. However, Norwood argued this was not the case and the vast majority of the 250 people who live in its residential care homes, receive no contribution whatsoever, as councils insist that the DLA mobility component provides for this.
Norma Brier, who following her retirement earlier this year was appointed Norwood’s Patron of Adult Services, said: “I am absolutely delighted that the Government has been prepared to reflect on the facts regarding the mobility allowance, which is given to people with severe disabilities as part of their Disability Living Allowance. Many national disability charities, including Norwood were at the forefront of the campaign to show that there was no double-funding and that without this allowance, the quality of many thousands of people’s lives would deteriorate.
“The likely changes to welfare benefits in the future will affect people with disabilities harder than many as they are already struggling to cope with very limited resources. However, the retention of the mobility allowance for those in residential homes will at least ensure that those people with severe and complex disabilities can retain their dignity and continue to enjoy reasonable access to their community, friends and family.”
