AS thousands of disabled people prepare to march against Government cuts on May 11, we are urging people to take action and support our campaign.
The Government is proposing to remove vital benefits to disabled people living in state-funded residential care which will have a devastating impact on their lives.
Stopping payments for the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), soon to become Personal Independence Payment, would leave 80,000 disabled people without funds to meet extra transport costs such as maintaining an electric wheelchair or leasing an adapted car. This could strip them of their independence, leaving them trapped at home.
Following campaigning from disabled people and disability organisations the Government has delayed the date the cut could come into force until March 2013 and agreed to look again at the proposal - however the campaign is not over yet. We are therefore urging people not to get complacent and help make sure that this devastating cut does not happen.
The Government must continue to provide the essential support that disabled people living in residential care need to meet the extra costs of getting around.
It is also important that MPs vote in Parliament to protect mobility payments for people living in residential care. We urge people to join our campaign by visiting www.hardesthit.org.uk GUY PARCKAR, Acting Director of Policy and Campaigns, Leonard Cheshire Disability MARK GOLDRING, Chief Executive of Mencap SUE BROWN, Head of Public Policy at Sense
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