At last night’s Executive meeting, members voted in favour of proposed changes to the Disability Related Expenditure Benefit.
In 2003, following a period of consultation, the Isle of Wight Council introduced a system which offered all service users (whether or not in receipt of disability benefits) a weekly allowance of £10 per person regardless of the actual cost of this expenditure to them.
Changes “make the process fairer”
The council say they’re introducing the change – of only those who have been means-tested receiving the £10 per week – in order to make the process fairer to all and achieve the significant savings required to “enable it to continue to provide services to as many eligible people as possible”.
Members said they voted with a heavy heart, but added the changes were necessary. They will come into effect from 1st November 2014.
Service user: “My self-worth is rubbish”
One user of the care service, who preferred to remain anonymous, told OnTheWight she felt the changes were a ploy to deter anyone with disability needs to claim the benefit they’re entitled to.
After the trauma of ATOS means testing for disability benefit, the introduction of the bedroom tax and now this change, she said her feelings of self-worth were at an all time low.
She understood the £10 benefit was still available to those who needed it through means testing, but felt putting those who have difficulty with that kind of situation through the stress and trauma of means testing was unreasonable. “We’re treated like the lowest forms of life,” she added.
The paper
Full details of the proposal can be found in the paper embedded below. Click on the full screen icon to see larger versions.
Image: Images Money under CC BY 2.0
