09/01/2012

The report investigated responses to the government’s consultation on changes to Disability Living Allowance.

Over 500 group responses were examined, once obtained by disabled people under a Freedom of Information request Act (FOI request 989). The responses revealthe extent of the opposition to the changes to DLA, showing that 90% oppose the introduction of a Work Capability style assessment, while 98% disagree with changing the qualifying period from 3 months to 6.

The report produced by disabled activists including Dr Sarah Campbell and Sue Marsh, reveals that that Boris Johnson, Mayor of London is critical of the DLA reforms.  Published to coincide with return of the Welfare Reform Bill to the House of Lords the research shows that only 7% of respondees support the changes to DLA.

The report also raises concerns that government has misrepresented the results of the consultation and that the consultation itself was started after the Bill started its journey through parliament. It questions government’s evidence for the reform, which focuses on the so called 30% to 38% increase in recipients, (sited by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Minister for Disabled people, respectively). The research in the report indicates that, there has been ‘virtually no change in DLA receipt since 2002’ for those with what can be very ‘loosely be described as ‘physical conditions’. 

The full report can be found at: www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/benefitsinfo/responsible_reform.pdf

The government’s response to the consultation on Disability Living Allowance reform can be found at:
www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/dla-reform-response.pdf

Boris Johnson’s response is available at: 

www.leftfootforward.org/images/2012/01/Mayoral-Submission.pdf

Sources for this article include:
www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jan/06/boris-johnson-attacks-disability-payments-cuts