DLA victory confirmed

December 2011

A written statement issued by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on 1st December said: “The government are today announcing that the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance will not be removed from people living in residential care homes.”

The statement also confirmed that the mobility component will continue to be paid under the Personal Independence Payment, which is set to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

The mobility component allows disabled people who live in residential care homes to get out independently, by allowing them to meet some of the extra costs of accessing suitable transport or to purchase appropriate mobility aids.

The government’s decision was partly in response to the findings of this autumn’s Low Review, an independent review carried out by Lord Low of Dalston at the request of Mencap and Leonard Cheshire Disability.

The review, which gathered more than 800 submissions, found no evidence to support the government’s claim that funding for the DLA mobility component is duplicated by local authorities.

The statement from the DWP says: “We have now gathered and reviewed further evidence, including the helpful contribution provided by Lord Low’s review… there was insufficient evidence of overlaps in funding provision to justify the withdrawal of the mobility component.”

Responding to the news, Mark Goldring, Mencap's chief executive, 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.

“Ultimately, the combination of disability campaigners and the Low Review showed there to be a real flaw in the rationale for this proposal and the very negative effect this would have on disabled people. 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.”