The Westminster Government's proposed changes to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) risk promoting incapacity rather than independence. This was the stark warning from RNIB Cymru's Chair, Tony Rucinski, when he spoke at a House of Commons Work and Pensions committee event yesterday.
The committee, on a rare trip outside of Westminster, had come to Port Talbot to hear from people who would be affected by the proposal to replace DLA with a new benefit: Personal Independence Payment (PIP). A wide range of organisations and individuals have expressed concerns about how the new benefit will work, and this strength of feeling was evident at the Port Talbot meeting, where 150 local disabled people and carers turned up.
Tony Rucinski, outlining some of the worries of blind and partially sighted people, said: "if you go blind today, you need support today. Introducing a six month qualifying period before people can claim the benefit risks leaving people isolated and at risk, and will have a detrimental effect on people's ability to adjust and adapt to the fact they've lost their sight.
"The Government should be encouraging and supporting disabled people to live full and independent lives, but I am concerned that the proposed assessments and eligibility criteria for the new benefit fail to take into account the significant additional costs incurred by blind and partially sighted people such as myself when we want to take part in activities that others take for granted. Being able to contribute fully - to go to work, to be a parent, to socialise - is not just good for me, but good for society. I hope that the MPs attending this event today take on board the message that any changes to benefits must not be at the detriment of disabled people living full and fulfilling lives."
To find out more about the proposed changes to DLA and other welfare benefits, and what RNIB is doing about the concerns of blind and partially sighted people, please visit our Welfare bill page.