Response to ILF latest legal decision
Over the weekend it was reported that ministers will reconsider the abolition of the Independent Living Fund after choosing not to appeal against last week's High Court ruling.
In response, Richard Hawkes, chief executive of the disability charity Scope said:
“We believe the Independent Living Fund should stay open.
“Every disabled person who needs support to get up, get dressed, go out and live independently should get it – and in 2013 the ILF is crucial in making this a reality for nearly 19,000 disabled people.
“The Government deserves credit for listening to disabled people and agreeing to re-think its ILF plans.
“Disabled people's costs of living are spiralling and income is dropping. Across local and central Government, and also across different Government departments, we've been calling for a closer look at the impact of reforms on disabled people.
“We want to see Government departments work together – building on the 'well-being' commitment in the Care Bill – to make independent living for all disabled people a reality.
“The starting point has to be the social care system, which is under-funded; councils are no longer providing support to disabled people who struggle to do basic tasks.”
