Since the introduction of a new government and the promise to overhaul the welfare and benefits system, on December 6th 2010 it was announced that Personal Independence Payment was going to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

The DWP said – Disability Living Allowance needs to better reflect disabled peoples’ needs and extra costs they might incur in society today. The proposals set out in the consultation are centred on creating a clearer, more targeted benefit, with an objective assessment, designed to enable disabled people to participate more fully in society. To mark this important change, Disability Living Allowance will now be known as Personal Independence Payment, and will continue to be paid to people in and out of work.

The reason behind the reform of this benefit is because it needs to follow a social rather than medical model, which is based on a person’s needs and the barriers they face rather than their individual disability. Currently almost 3 million people receive this benefit at a forecast cost of £12 billion per year.

The minister for disability Maria Miller said “We want the views of disabled people to be fully reflected in any change we make to DLA and we remain fully committed to the principles of DLA as a non-means tested cash benefit to assist with the extra costs incurred by disabled people”

At the moment the DWP is in consultation with charities and organizations for disabled people and are looking for input from people whom this will effect. The published consultation can be found at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/2010/dla-reform.shtml

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