Local MP John McDonnell pledges support for RNIB campaign to increase Disability Living Allowance for those with severe sight loss
Local MP John McDonnell today highlighted the RNIB campaign, launched in August 2006, which aims to allow people with severe sight loss to claim Disability Living Allowance (DLA) at the higher rate.
DLA helps disabled people who have difficulty getting out and about safely and independently. However, despite being blind and facing some of the biggest barriers to independent mobility, people with severe sight loss are only able to claim the lower rate mobility component of DLA (£17.10 per week). The RNIB believe this is unfair and that blind people should be able to claim the higher rate like wheelchair users, who receive almost £45 per week.
The RNIB asked people with severe sight loss to record diaries highlighting the day-to-day difficulties they face getting out and about safely on their own and the impact that not being able to claim the higher rate mobility component has on their lives, their health, employment opportunities, choices and independence. Please find a transcript of excerpts from these diaries attached.
The RNIB believe that £17.10 simply is not enough to enable people with severe sight loss to go out to do the things that we all need to; with the higher rate (£45.00) people would be able to do more of the things that others take for granted such as going to the doctor, shopping on their own, looking for work, meeting friends, being a member of groups or attending adult education courses. Not being able to do these things has a profound impact on people’s lives.
Local MP John McDonnell said “It is unfair that people with severe sight loss are unable to gain adequate financial support from the DLA. That is why I am supporting the RNIB campaign to secure justice for this group of my constituents”. John McDonnell MP also wrote to Anne McGuire MP, Minister for Disabled People, to raise this issue in greater detail.
For more information, please go to http://www.rnib.org.uk
DLA helps disabled people who have difficulty getting out and about safely and independently. However, despite being blind and facing some of the biggest barriers to independent mobility, people with severe sight loss are only able to claim the lower rate mobility component of DLA (£17.10 per week). The RNIB believe this is unfair and that blind people should be able to claim the higher rate like wheelchair users, who receive almost £45 per week.
The RNIB asked people with severe sight loss to record diaries highlighting the day-to-day difficulties they face getting out and about safely on their own and the impact that not being able to claim the higher rate mobility component has on their lives, their health, employment opportunities, choices and independence. Please find a transcript of excerpts from these diaries attached.
The RNIB believe that £17.10 simply is not enough to enable people with severe sight loss to go out to do the things that we all need to; with the higher rate (£45.00) people would be able to do more of the things that others take for granted such as going to the doctor, shopping on their own, looking for work, meeting friends, being a member of groups or attending adult education courses. Not being able to do these things has a profound impact on people’s lives.
Local MP John McDonnell said “It is unfair that people with severe sight loss are unable to gain adequate financial support from the DLA. That is why I am supporting the RNIB campaign to secure justice for this group of my constituents”. John McDonnell MP also wrote to Anne McGuire MP, Minister for Disabled People, to raise this issue in greater detail.
For more information, please go to http://www.rnib.org.uk
posted by John at
09:46
