Last year, when George Osborne swiftly laid out his benefit cuts on the table, he threw a small bone to disabled people living alone who require occasional overnight help from carers. He passed an exemption that meant from April this year, these people could receive the two-bedroom rate of housing benefit to pay for a room to be used by carers as required. For those who would find this extra allowance useful, it seemed like a small reprieve among the announcements of slashes to housing benefit; maybe those who need the most help and care wouldn’t do so bad after all. Osborne and Grant Shapps, the minister for housing, also said that the worst off and most afflicted would be looked after, and be free of the clampdown on housing benefit. Before the election, David Cameron promised to “protect the most vulnerable” – an assurance he has broken.
Monthly Archives: May 2011
MP Justin Tomlinson and TV presenter Angela Rippon support this year’s Carers Week
MP calls for greater recognition for the UK’s carers
North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson has teamed up with TV presenter Angela Rippon to support this year’s Carers Week from 13 to 19 June which recognises the contribution made by those people in Swindon and throughout the UK who provide unpaid care for someone who is ill, frail or disabled.
The theme for Carers Week 2011 is ‘The True Face of Carers’. It calls for greater recognition for the diverse range of people who have caring responsibilities. The work they carry out is vital for their families and friends, and for their communities.
Hitting the poor and sick again!
Housing benefit cuts undo a positive move on disability
For disabled people, the government is giving with one hand and taking with the other in its changes to housing benefit
- Lucy Glennon
- guardian.co.uk,
- Friday 27 May 2011 14.29 BST