Preparing for life after the Independent Living Fund

March 14, 2014   Carers, Social care, ukcuts

The Independent Living Fund is for the chop but what will its demise mean for the disabled people who relied on its help?

By on March 14, 2014

The battle to save the Independent Living Fund is over.

A few months ago it looked as if there was a chance for a last-minute reprieve for the ILF, which helps severely disabled people live independently by providing cash to top-up their social care support.

In November, the Court of Appeal torpedoed the government’s original plan to shut the fund when it ruled the Department for Work and Pensions had failed to fulfil its duty to promote equality when making the decision.

But last week disability minister Mike Penning announced that, following a new equality impact assessment of the plan, the government is going to press ahead with closing the fund.

The only concession was that the fund will now shut in June, rather than March, 2015. After that the responsibility for supporting ILF users will fall to English local authorities and the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The decision was a blow for campaigners and one that many recipients of the fund fear.

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Delight for campaigners after former Norwich day centre saved for community

March 14, 2014   Carers, Older care, ukcuts

Campaigners celebrate winning their campaign to turn the Silver Rooms into a community centre.

Picture: Denise Bradley

Friday, March 14, 2014
6:53 AM

Campaigners celebrate winning their campaign to turn the Silver Rooms into a community centre. Picture: Denise Bradley Campaigners have won their fight to turn a former Norwich day centre into a community centre, after a long-running battle stretching back for years.

And they have a simple message for the community – now the Silver Rooms have been saved, it is up to the community to make a success of it.

The building, off Silver Road in the north of the city, has been empty since Norfolk County Council decided to stop providing day services for elderly people there as part of a shake-up in social care.

A group of older people used to meet in the centre and an initial fight, backed by a Norwich Evening News campaign, focused on saving it for that purpose.

When it became clear the older people would be moved to other venues in the city, in March 2011, the campaigners switched to trying to safeguard the building for use by the local community.

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Widow left to rely on food banks after benefit bosses cut payments

March 13, 2014   benefits, Cancer, Carers

Debbie Hopley’s husband, John, was just 49, when he died from cancer last month

Deborah Hopley from Kirkby holding a picture of her late husband John Hopley.

A widow said she was left reliant on food banks after benefits bosses cut payments and held up funeral bills two days after her husband’s death.

Debbie Hopley’s husband, John, was just 49 when he died on February 11, following a nine-year battle with cancer.

But, in the week between his death and the funeral, Mrs Hopley said she was told the money they and their two children had survived off through his illness was suddenly being stopped.

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