From: Anne Harradine [carers_manager@ageconcerndacorum.org.uk]
Sent: 10 February 2011 13:25
To: DWP Consultation DLAReform
Subject: Age Concern Dacorum

Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Completed

Dear Sirs

I am the Carers’ Support Manager for Age Concern Dacorum (covering Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted, Tring and surrounding villages).  I am writing to express our concern about the proposals to scrap Disability Living Allowance and replace it with a new benefit.

I am concerned for a number of reasons:

Many of our clients receive Carers Allowance or have an underlying entitlement to it.   If the person they care for does not receive the new benefit because their condition is changeable, the carer will lose their allowance.  If the carer loses their payment and entitlement, many will be in financial difficulty  – but their caring responsibilities, and related costs, won’t have diminished.

In addition to those people who have conditions that are changeable, there are concerns that clients who have a mental health condition might not be properly assessed, leading to them losing their DLA.

Whilst understanding that the Government does have to make savings, cutting £1billion from disability benefits will have a devastating effect on many older disabled people and carers, like our clients.  They will no longer be able to cope at home and the potential impact to the Government’s budget will be greater if one or both of them need social services care or in the worst case scenario, need rehousing into residential care.

Carers save the UK economy £87 billion every year with the care they provide.  We believe it would be wrong to take away Carers Allowance from some carers by means testing it.  Apart from anything else it would leave some carers without any recognition of their contribution.

Yours faithfully

Anne Harradine

 

Anne Harradine

Carers' Support Manager

Age Concern Dacorum

 

Tel: 01442 259049

 

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Age Concern Dacorum is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Age UK Enterprises Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority for insurance mediation.
Age Concern Registered Charity No:   1098150