Parents who look after grown-up disabled offspring face benefit cap.
An article with this headline, by Patrick Wintour in the Guardian’s Society section on 16th December 2012, raises serious concerns about the implementation of the government’s proposed “£500 benefits cap”, especially in the light of comments extracted from ministers Ian Duncan-Smith and Esther MvVey.
According to Wintour “Ministers have repeatedly said disabled people will be exempt from the £500-a-week benefit cap that is due to come into force in April. But they have now accepted that if a parent is still looking after a disabled child after they reach adulthood, even if the child’s mental age is as low as eight, the parent and the child will be treated separately, and the parent will be subject to the benefits cap.”
The article comprises detailed facts and arguments, but should be read in full, especially by those caring for adults with a learning disability in their own home. The comments submitted reflect the strength of feeling on this issue. Rescare would be intersted to hear from any of its members affected by this issue.
A suggestion: Esther MvVey (Minister for Disabled People, Department for Work and Pensions) continues to be very busy explaining official policy and how it will be implemented: unsurprising, given the prominence of the government’s ‘welfare reform’ programme. Anyone with sufficient interest and free-time will be well rewarded if they go to They Work For You website and drill down (using the search utility) to monitor all her recent appearances in the Commons and before Committees.