Call to abolish means testing for Disabled Facilities Grant
A coalition of the UK's leading children and disability charities is campaigning for reform of the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) because it fails even the poorest families.
The action group, made up of 12 leading UK charities including Mencap, ASBAH, Barnardo's and Scope, is calling for MPs to abolish the means testing of the Disabled Facilities Grant.
DFG is a grant that is available to disabled people or families with disabled children to help pay for adaptations to their home such as a downstairs bathroom or a stairlift.
But the campaigners believe the means test is unfair and unworkable as there are many additional and hidden costs to bringing up a disabled child.
The group claims that families with disabled children are already among the worst off, as bringing up a disabled child costs on average three times as much as a non-disabled child.
A recent study showed that families caring for a disabled child face severe reductions in employment status, level of earnings, savings and pensions and incur many additional costs including equipment, transport and medical support.
The abolition campaign has attracted widespread support from voluntary groups, occupational therapists and parents.
More than 100 MPs from all parties have supported a petition calling on the Government to abolish the means test at the earliest opportunity.
Caroline Gordon, National Campaigns Officer at Mencap told ASBAH: “The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently reviewing the DFG process and is due to publish its report to Ministers in May 2005.
“We would welcome further support to ensure that the concerns of families around the country are listened to and acted upon. We would be happy to assist you in raising this issue in the House or to Keith Hill MP, Minister responsible for the DFG, or Lord Rooker, ODPM Minister in the House of Lords.”
ASBAH's Executive Director Andrew Russell commented: “I'm hopeful this time. ASBAH has continually pressed on this issue, in a private meeting with the previous government's Housing Minister, and a meeting last year with the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit.
“It's disturbing that successive governments have failed to act, despite professing concern for disabled people and their families.”
For more information about the campaign to reform the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), visit the Mencap website at www.mencap.org.uk/dfg
Caroline Gordon can be contacted at Mencap on 020 7696 6021 or
caroline.gordon@mencap.org.uk