Liz Lovell
The Welfare Reform Bill proposes replacing Disability Living Allowance with Personal Independence Payments
No one could argue with the government’s stated aim of the Welfare Reform Bill: to make it easier for people to access financial support when they need it. However there are a great number of concerns about the unintended consequences of the Bill, and the fact that changes are being made in the context of needing to find a cost saving of 20%.
Under proposals in the Bill, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) will be replaced by Personal Independence Payments (PIP). DLA is an effective way of supporting some of the most disadvantaged families in theUK. It is available to disabled children and adults to help them meet the extra costs associated with having a disability. Although PIP will initially be rolled out to those aged 16-64, the Bill provides the legislative framework for children under-16 to be moved onto PIP in the future.
The Children’s Society has serious concerns about the impact of these proposed changes on disabled children and young people.
