The Government has announced that it will look again at the criteria for the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
The Disability Benefits Consortium are writing to David Cameron and Nick Clegg to raise our concerns at the changes, including the introduction of the 20 metre qualifying distance for the enhanced rate of the benefit. We believe this could cause large numbers of people to miss out on fundamental support.
The new criteria state that if people can walk just 20m (less than the length of two buses) – even using aids such as sticks – they won’t qualify for the enhanced rate of the mobility component of the benefit. Nearly half a million disabled people will lose as much as £33.25 a week or, crucially, access to their Motability vehicle. The DBC strongly believe that the impact of the policy will include:
- Disabled people dropping out of work, education or volunteering activities
- Increased poverty and isolation of disabled people, with the associated risk of worsening health
- Rising costs elsewhere, such as unemployment benefits, the Access to Work Scheme, social care and NHS
Please join us in writing to David Cameron and Nick Clegg about the 20 metre rule. The more people sign, the stronger chance we stand of challenging the policy.
Disability Benefits Consortium 