By Local Democracy Reporter Simon Finlay
Residents opposed to changes to disability payments are being encouraged to make their presence felt next week.
Kent County Council (KCC) has come under fire for altering the way benefits are calculated, leaving many vulnerable people out of pocket.
The new charging policy for people who receive care in their homes or in the community came into force on September 2. Benefits are now calculated by means testing a greater proportion of total income and this pushes up personal bills.
Now those affected, families and friends are being encouraged to attend KCC’s full council meeting on September 12 at 10am to register their protest, lobby members or demonstrate outside County Hall in Maidstone.
Thanet dad and former district councillor Ian Driver has vowed to stand for election to Kent County Council next May on a ticket opposing the new rules, which he has branded a ‘tax on the disabled’.’
Mr Driver, 68, claims his 22-year-old daughter Victoria faces a bill of £40 a week if she wants to access day care services. She has learning disabilities and autism and Mr Driver acts as a full-time carer.
He said: “This will effectively imprison her. She won’t be able to socialise or meet anyone – it’s downright unfair.
“People are angry about this. They should get along to the meeting next week and let KCC know the strength of feeling.
“If this is not stopped I will be standing at the KCC election next year on a ticket opposing this. It is a tax on the disabled.”
A cross-party opposition motion has been submitted calling for a delay in the implementation or suspension of the changes until the Labour government details its multi-year council budget settlement.
Cllr Richard Streatfeild, co-author of the motion lodged by him and Labour colleague Cllr Jackie Meade, said the legality and morality of the changes have to be examined.
He added: “We’ve been told that the changes are legal but are open to challenge – but what is legal is not necessarily moral.
“These are the most vulnerable people in society and chasing the most vulnerable, as a council, leaves you in a difficult position politically, ethically, morally and reputationally.
“So, I would encourage anyone affected by this to get down to County Hall next week or drop us a line.”
Matfield resident Bernadette John, mother of a severely disabled 29-year-old son, revealed earlier this week he would lose £35pw or 15% of his income. She claimed vulnerable people might die as a result of the changes.
Chief executive officer of the Kent charity Disability Assist, Sophie Fournel said: “Higher charges will be a major concern to people who are also facing another year of high energy bills and the cost of living remains high.”
She remains concerned the changes will lead to disabled people falling into debt.
Earlier this week, Mrs John claimed: “Severely disabled people will literally die or come to harm if they do not have the funds needed for these expenses, which are not optional for them.”
She said vulnerable people often need to pay for specialised diets, extra heating, sanitation or equipment.
‘276 young people and 2,717 adults’ affected by charging policy
The county authority has been under financial pressure for years as a result of soaring bills and squeezed revenues from central government.
It recently revealed it will have to find more than £100m in savings in the next two years. KCC has become reliant on its reserves to balance the books.
KCC’s new means-tested scheme takes into account the enhanced rate for night-time attendance allowance, the care component of the disability live allowance (DLA) and the daily living part of the personal independence payment (PIP). The county council hopes the changes can shave £4m off its annual budget at a time when it needs to find savings.
KCC said that 276 young people and 2,717 adults have been financially impacted by the new charging policy.
The council cabinet member for adult social care, Cllr Dan Watkins, said: “I can assure residents the decision…was not taken lightly and to help mitigate some of the impact this may have on those most in need, we have included a £900,000 contingency in the budget which will help with increased disability related expenses.
“Faced with increasing demands for complex care, rising costs of care and a lack of adequate funding from central government, we are having to take tough decisions to make sure future essential services are sustainable. It means disregarding these higher or enhanced benefit rates is unfortunately no longer an option and new charges for some will be payable from 2 September.”
