From: Lucy Cole [Lucy@loweandco.co.uk] Sent: 11 February 2011 10:32 To: DWP Consultation DLAReform Subject: REVISIONS TO DLA Dear Sir or Madam 1.My name is Mrs Susan Lowe and I’m a solicitor. I am appointed as professional Court of Protection Deputy for 17 individuals and I look after their financial affairs. Each of these individuals receives DLA. Some live independently in the community with some support and some are in care homes. Some are young, some are elderly. I am extremely concerned about losing Carer’s Allowance because the people whose financial affairs I look after might lose their very necessary benefits 2.I know at least one of my clients is at risk of losing his DLA. One of them has already lost his incapacity benefit although he continues to receive industrial injuries benefit. Most of my clients have good days and bad days and I am concerned, under the ‘independent medical assessments’, that a medical professional might assess them on a good day and fail to take account of the worse times. 3.I manage the financial affairs of several individuals who have either or both a mental health condition and significant learning disabilities which I am equally worried might not be assessed properly by a medical professional?. 4.If those clients who live independently lost their Carer’s Allowance, it will have a profound effect on their lives. They will be worried about paying basic bills, or affording to do anything for themselves. It may even mean that caring becomes unaffordable for them and they would not feel able to carry on. 5.I do not believe – and do not support – the Government’s decision to make cuts of £1 billion to disability benefits because of the devastating consequences it could have for disabled people like my clients and their carers. 6. I believe that Carer’s Allowance must remain outside of the Universal Credit. Carer's save the UK Govt £87 billion every year with the care they provide. It is fundamentally wrong to take away Carer's Allowance from some carers by means-testing it, because this will leave some carers without any recognition of their absolutely vital contribution 7.. Finally, I believe this proposal to be completely at odds with David Cameron’s Big Society proposal because it will devastate those people who already make significant contributions to our Society by helping those less able to help themselves. Lucy Cole Lowe and Co Solicitors 9 Deacon Mews Marston Moretaine Beds MK43 0AQ T: 01234 764731 Consider the environment - think before you print Lowe and Co is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and recognised as Lowe and Co under SRA Number 442367.