Government plans radical changes to disability benefit
On 6th December 2010, the Government proposed to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) with a new ‘Personal Independence Payment’, and will begin to reassess all working age claimants in 2013-14. Key changes to the benefit will include:
The ‘care’ component of DLA will be replaced with a ‘daily living’ component, based on an individual’s ability to carry out ‘key activities necessary to participate in daily life’
The benefit will only be available to people with a long-term health condition or impairment, and there will be no automatic entitlements (except for those who are terminally ill)
A new objective assessment of need will be brought in, which is likely to involve a face-to-face meeting with an independent healthcare professional
All awards will be periodically reviewed
All payments will stop if an individual is in a hospital or a care home
