Review of DLA mobility component seeks views of young people, parents and colleges to investigate ‘double counting’
5th September 2011

The Low Review of personal mobility needs is extended to seek views of young people, their parent’s and residential schools and colleges

The independent review looking at the personal mobility needs of people living in residential care, led by Lord Low, has today published a call for evidence from disabled young people aged 16 and over, their families, and residential schools and colleges.

The Low Review has been created in response to proposals within the Welfare Reform Bill to stop paying the mobility component of the Personal Independence Payment, replacing DLA, to disabled people living in publicly funded residential care homes or colleges.

This proposal is based on the Government’s assertion that schools and colleges are provided with funding for the mobility needs of their students, which is then duplicated by funding through DLA – the ‘double counting’ argument. EDCM has been working with supporters to stress the importance of direct financial support to disabled young to ensure they all able to meet their own mobility needs in the same way as other young people.

Initially the proposed policy will only apply to disabled people aged 16 and over. The Government is yet to make a decision on how mobility funding for under 16s living in residential schools will be met in the future. The Bill has already passed through the House of Commons and is set to move to the House of Lords in September.

The review is seeking evidence on how personal mobility needs of care home residents and school / college residents (post 16) are currently met. The scope of the Low Review includes how disabled people’s needs are met, how they are funded and what responsibilities residential colleges and local authorities have in relation to the mobility needs of residents.

The call for evidence is running until 10th October. The findings from the review will be published in the autumn, enabling Peers to consider the evidence and the review’s recommendations, as they debate the Welfare Reform Bill.

http://www.ncb.org.uk/edcm/news/news_archive/2011_news_archive/sept_2011/5_sept_11_low_review.aspx