Campaigns

Disability Living Allowance - next steps

Summary: We need your help to keep pressure on the Government at this crucial stage of the DLA campaign.

• You can still get involved!
• Have your say
• Listen to the DLA lobby

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On 15 October over 1,500 people lobbied Parliament about the DLA campaign. This was the largest ever lobby of Parliament by blind and partially sighted people.

Campaigners from around the UK travelled to Westminster to show how angry they are with the Government. The Government has said that, whilst it says it understands our arguments and is sympathetic to our aims, it is unable to make a commitment to extend eligibility to claim the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance to people with severe sight loss at this time.

The Government was left in no doubt about the strength of feeling amongst campaigners. Many MPs met with constituents. Some have subsequently signed Early Day Motion 1982, increasing the number of signatories to 235.

Jonathan Shaw MP, recently appointed Minister for Disabled People, addressed the Lobby. It was clear that he supports the principle of extending the higher rate mobility component of DLA to people with severe sight loss. The issue now seems to be around how the change would be made and when the Government would be in a position to implement it.

However, we must not let this issue slide. We have to ensure that as many of the MPs who are able to do so sign the Early Day Motion and that our MPs do all that they can to support people with severe sight loss.

We are nearing the end of the current Parliamentary Session and have more national and local campaign activity planned for the new session that starts after the Queen's Speech on 4 December.

You can still get involved!

• Ask your MP to sign the new Early Day Motion number 1982.
• Ask your MP to write to the Secretary of State.
• Write to your local newspaper.
• Tell your friends and family and encourage them to support you and the campaign.

Contact RNIB’s DLA Hotline for more information or to be added to our DLA Campaign Supporters database to receive updates on the campaign. Please contact 020 7391 2096 or email: DLAcampaign@rnib.org.uk

Write to your MP

Please write to your MP to ask them to support you by signing the new Early Day Motion and by writing to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to raise their concerns. You can download our draft letter on this page. Remember that letters from you are far more powerful than letters from RNIB. Don’t forget to amend the draft letter to show your experiences.

• Download a draft campaign letter to send to your MP (Word)
• Find out if your MP has sign the EDM
• Find out who your MP is – visit the Parliament website
• Send your MP a fax – via FaxYourMP.com

Write to your local newspaper

Please write to your local newspaper, this lets others know what is happening and encourages people to support you and the campaign. MPs also check out the local paper too! You can use our draft letter.

Download a draft campaign letter to send to your local press (Word)

Talking to the media

If you think your story could help blind people to receive the higher rate mobility component of DLA we'd like to hear from you. Would you be happy to share with the media your experiences of what has happened to you as result of not being able to get out safely and independently because you don't receive the higher rate mobility component of DLA?

Have your say

Read other people's experiences and add your comments about DLA.

Listen to the DLA lobby

Listen to the DLA lobby podcast (mp3)

Subscribe to the RNIB podcast to hear more news and features.

Back to DLA homepage

Content author: campaign@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 20/11/2008 11:13