In March 2009 the Government announced it would support a new clause that will amend the 1992 Social Security Act, allowing people with severe visual impairment to claim the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance.
This decision puts right a longstanding injustice and will mean an extra £45m a year for around 26,000 people.
The campaign
August 2006: Publication of 'Taken for a ride' a report showing how blind people were being "cheated" by not being allowed to claim the same level of benefit as wheelchair users. 253 MPs sign an Early Day Motion in support of our campaign.
December 2006: The largest lobby of Parliament ever by blind and partially sighted people takes place with 1,200 blind and partially sighted people travelling to Westminster.
December 2007: MPs talk face to face with people who might benefit from the changes to DLA. Campaigners also record audio diaries explaining things they needed to do or would like to do but could not because they didn't receive higher rate mobility component.
October 2008: Surpassing our own record, we hold our second Parliamentary lobby. This time over 1500 people attended.
Victory at last
17 March 2009: During the Report Stage of the Welfare Reform Bill, MPs debated the changes and the Government accepted the amendment that would deliver them. MPs paid tribute to the way they had been lobbied by constituents and what a difference this had made to their understanding of the issue.
Throughout the campaign, hundreds of campaign supporters wrote to their MPs, encouraging them to write to the Secretary of State, to sign the 3 EDMs, to attend the Lobbies of Parliament and finally, to support the amendment.
Latest news
29 June 2010: the Government laid before Parliament the Regulations covering the change to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) that will allow people with severe visual impairment to claim the higher rate mobility component of DLA. The Regulations outline the eligibility criteria for claiming the benefit and details of how the changes will be implemented.
What is DLA?
For more information on Disability Living Allowance and whether it is a benefit you may be entitled to check out our Disability Living Allowance web page.
You can also read our Disability Living Allowance campaign report