News: Disability campaigner refused DLA: Papworth Trust comments

19/12/2011

Disabled campaigner Sue Marsh has spent the last 18 months trying to show politicians how their decisions could negatively affect disabled people.

On her blog, Sue says, "I am working flat out on major research aimed at protecting 3.2 million vulnerable people from losing benefits that they rely on to survive. I have severe Crohn's Disease. Probably one of the most severe cases in the country [...] Nonetheless, I have just heard from my own Disability Living Allowance application, that it has been rejected."

In August 2011, Papworth Trust surveyed over 2,200 people about the proposed changes to Disability Living Allowance (DLA), which will be called Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Policy and External Affairs Manager Priya Nath says, "Our survey showed that 95% of people are already concerned about how the Government's proposed changes to DLA/PIP will affect them. The fact that a case like Sue's has been rejected could make people worry about who will qualify for DLA/PIP in the future.

"We know that the Government is currently considering the payment thresholds for this benefit. We urge the Government to set these thresholds at a level which accurately reflects disabled people's very real additional needs. Anything less would be a backwards step."

To read more about Papworth Trust's DLA campaign, please click here.

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