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[GRACELAND]

In the October Spending Review the Government announced that they are going to stop paying Disability Living Allowance (DLA) mobility component to disabled people living in residential care.
DLA mobility component is designed to help meet the extra costs many disabled people face in doing everyday things, such as going to the shops, visiting family and socialising with friends. It pays for things like a powered wheelchair, accessible taxis or a Motability car and supports people who live in residential care to do many of the things that others take for granted.
Without DLA mobility component thousands of disabled people will be left trapped in their homes.
Write to your MP to ask them to call on the Minister for Disability, Maria Miller, to keep DLA mobility component for disabled adults in residential care.

Here you all are please send to your MP


Dear

I am writing to find out what action you are taking to challenge the Government's decision to stop paying Disability Living Allowance (DLA) mobility component to disabled people living in residential care.

DLA mobility component is designed to help meet the extra costs many disabled people face in doing everyday things, such as going to the shops, visiting family and socialising with friends. For people who live in residential care it provides support to pay for things like a powered wheelchair, accessible taxis or a Motability car.

The cuts to public spending were meant to be fair, and to protect those on the lowest incomes, but this change will hit just one group – disabled people in residential care, and it will take away the vital financial support that they need to be active and independent. This cannot be right. Disabled people living in residential care should not be deprived of the same rights that everyone else takes for granted.

'Jos'
Jos lives in a residential care home and after his care fees are paid, all he receives is his DLA mobility component and £22 a week Personal Expenses Allowance. Jos uses his DLA mobility component to pay for his car and it covers all his servicing, insurance, MOT and fuel costs. Jos spends most weekends at home with his family and relies on the car most days. They use it for trips to the theatre cinema, shopping, visiting the Wildlife Trust nearby and for visits to friends and relatives. Having the car also means Jos can pursue his hobby of carriage driving as well as enjoying more everyday activities, such as taking garden waste to the tip! Losing DLA mobility component will mean losing his car, no longer being able to take part in any of these activities, and losing his independence.

Please can you write to the Minister for Disabled People, Maria Miller MP, and call on her to keep DLA mobility component for disabled adults in residential care. I would also like to know what action you personally are taking to challenge this decision.

I look forward to hearing from you.



Yours

[GRACELAND]

[GRACELAND]

bump :)

[Paulines7]

There is nothing like hitting those people who are least able to help themselves.   ::)  >:(

People are usually a bit reluctant to write to their MP's but there are often petitions that can be completed and sent to Downing Street and they can be effective.  Hopefully one will come out shortly. 

The problem is that the Government is made up of millionaires who haven't a clue how the other half lives.   :(

[mat]

trips to the theatre, cinema, shopping, visiting the Wildlife Trust nearby....    ...Having the car also means Jos can pursue his hobby of carriage driving

Without sounding harsh... I cannot afford to do those things every week... the cinema is a rare treat for me... and the theatre... well, that's once every few years...

When my late beloved Gran was in a care home, Mum couldn't believe the payments she still received for her, as everything was pre-paid for her in the home...

I agree people need some of their own money when in residental care, but the country is in a dire state, and we all need to make cuts, else we'll go bankrupt like Greece...  perhaps weekly cinema, theatre trips and carriage driving are a luxury...

Sorry
mat

[asj]

Have to agree with Mat.

Sorry

[lewic]

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perhaps weekly cinema, theatre trips and carriage driving are a luxury...



I am shocked and depressed by comments like this. There is plenty of money to go round, it is just that now it is going to line the pockets of the rich. Thatcher's government started the rot, with privatisation and the sell off of council housing. Blair followed, wasting billions on foreign wars. Pull out of all these countries we are meddling with, and spend our cash on the needy here. And tax the rich til it hurts!

[Paulines7]

Mat, Graceland's post didn't say that Jos went to the theatre or cinema every week.  He may only have gone every few years for all we know.  The point that was being made was that because of Jos's disability, he needed a car.

I used to work with people with learning disabilities and they need money to go out, perhaps to a panto at Christmas or out for a drink, to a zoo, a wildlife park or a trip to the seaside.  Even to buy an ice cream.  Some people are so severely disabled that life stuck indoors all day would be intolerable.  

I have had times in my life when I have been really hard up but at least I could walk, didn't need help with washing and dressing and was not stuck in a wheelchair all day.  Some of the people that can lose their DLA have been disabled since birth and we should all ensure that they lead as good a life as possible given the situation that they are in.  

This is what Mencap have to say about the new proposals:
http://www.salfordonline.com/disability.php?func=viewdetails&vdetails=23885

[picman]

I also agree with Mat, too many handouts...

[Poppy Mole]

Sorry - I think that once again it is just a paper selling story & won't be anywhere as severe as they are making out, yes some people will lose their allowances BUT they will be the ones who don't either need or properly qualify for them.

[betula]

Should we not as a society want to be able to provide the very best in life for people so unfortunate to be in this situation?

I find it quite depressing that this is viewed as a handout.

Yes ,in care to be able to go out is a good thing,As Pauline says most of us can take advantage of life's small pleasures.to go walking,visit a friend maybe.

I want to belong to a society where we endeavour to do the best possible for these people.

Life is so much more than being stuck indoors 24/7

The way we are going we will be saying The Workhouse is acceptable  :( :( :(

[mat]

The way we are going we will be saying The Workhouse is acceptable 

Come on... there's a BIG difference between the workhouse... having enough money to run a car to visit friends... and feeling everyone has the right to regular cinema, theatre and carriage driving trips on other people's salaries... 

When the economy is strong, it's not a problem; but many of us have lost our jobs and have had to tighten our belts to survive, perhaps others are just waking up to the fact Labour have left the country in heavy debt.

Like Poppy Mole, I believe a lot of hype is created by media, and those who need to money will justifiably get it, but those who have been working the system to gain a nice little life thank you on others salaries, will find they can no longer do so.

[grawrc]

I agree that, as a society, we should protect the most vulnerable, but surely families have a responsibility here too? And surely, just like individuals, governments should live within their incomes and balance their books?

e.g. Much as I'd like to take the family on holiday, I know we can't because  there isn't enough money to make ends meet. I know how good a holiday would be for all of us but it's out of the question. So we don't go. But go to the park and play football and go on the swings because that costs nothing.
(Edited to say: I made this up - it is just to illustrate the kind of thing I mean)

Many families care for their vulnerable members at home. Putting someone in a care home shouldn't mean that they cease to exist as far as their family and friends are concerned.  

Sorry I realise that this is only one aspect of this whole question but - and I say this as a left-wing liberal - this government has some very hard decisions to take. The problems were not, in my view, solely caused by the previous government but to a large extent by world events, but the effect is the same.  Before Thatcher we had a strong manufacturing industry which no longer exists. The Chinese now supply much of what we buy. Regeneration will be hard. We can no longer expect things to be as they were before. We have an enormous deficit to be repaid. Over time we are all going to feel the effects of the cutbacks and I think there will be many more before things get better. Let's not continue the blame culture. There are some good government decisions and some not so good ones. I think we all need to stand up for what we believe in and start a much greater dialogue with our representatives so that they become more aware and more proactive. But let's not be confrontational. There is no black and white but a great deal of grey.

[kt.]

Have to agree with Mat.

Sorry

Same here.

[Melbourne12]

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perhaps weekly cinema, theatre trips and carriage driving are a luxury...



I am shocked and depressed by comments like this. ....... And tax the rich til it hurts!

So, as I understand it, you're quite prepared for people to be hurt.  But you'd like it to be someone else.

I'm out of work right now, as a result of this recession.  My much reduced income is still taxed.  I don't think it should be spent on subsidising "Jos" and his carriage driving.

[gp.girl]

£22 a week to run a car seems a bit cheap so I'll guess we all pay for his road tax, the modifications and replacement every three years or less.......

Sorry folks if it matters that much to the family put a bit in the kitty each and pay for it yourselves rather than asking others to pay for it.

Though the carriage driving would be provided by a charity so he doesn't actually have an 'expensive hobby' in that way.

[betula]

If the day ever dawned when I begrudged already disadvantaged people a trip to the cinema or the theatre I think I would really need to have a serious look at how cynical I had become.

Great to see Mr Cameron has employed his own film maker...my my,he really knows how to budget.  ::)

Sorry folks but I think some of you are talking a load of old cobblers.   :P

[grawrc]

Den you are all heart!!

As to  the boy  David, could you please hive me a link for that?
I'd like to know the what, the why and  the how before judging what he has done.

[betula]

Happy to oblige Anne  :)

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ed-miliband-attacks-david-cameron-over-vanity-staff-2124582.html

[mat]

If the day ever dawned when I begrudged already disadvantaged people a trip to the cinema or the theatre I think I would really need to have a serious look at how cynical I had become.

well, I am glad you feel you can afford to pay for others theatre trips.  I cannot.  I know what it is like to not have enough money for food for the week... but no, I didn't get any support because I had a mortgage and a salary, so was not on benefits.  my other half had buggered off to marry someone else.  I didn't have a car as I couldn't afford to run one.  All my salary went on the small house, house bills and a little left over for food...  At one point I lost my £20 note for my weekly food shopping... I had NO money for food that week and survived on toast...  At no time did I expect others to pay out for me.  I got out of the situation by luckily getting a better job and relocating, but I am now out of work due to a company closing the department.  I have had to tighten my belt again, and will now have to sell my house I tried so hard to keep. probably for less than I paid for it...

If someone is in a residential home where everything is paid for them, and has family they want to visit, and wants a car to be able to be used "most days" then surely the family should help pay for the car...

I have no problem with helping the disadvantaged with food and a roof over their head... but I think sometimes people nowadays seem to have their priorities wrong... and feel that luxuries are essentials... when did theatre trips become essential?

interesting debate... 

p.s. this is a debate about the original topic... not on political expenses which is a different kettle of fish... and ALL parties spend money on things we don't agree with...  I believe labour were criticised for some strange expenses...

[betula]

I too could tell you a similar story and I know what hard times are believe me.

However it never honestly occurred to me that because I was in a fix I begrudged making peoples lives that little bit brighter.

In my experience ,life makes you travel many roads and some of them are no more than dirt tracks but things do turn around eventually.I wish you well.