A new system for providing disability benefits is to be rolled out in northern England on Monday, with the Personal Independence Payments (PIP) replacing the existing Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
Charity Scope warns that 600,000 people will eventually have their support taken away, but the government insists that the reforms are essential and that there will be no actual cut in benefits.
The new system is to be phased in gradually for new claimants in Merseyside, Cumbria, Cheshire and north-east England.
Minister for Disabled People Esther McVey vowed the new system would better help those who needed it the most.
“Disability Living Allowance is an outdated benefit introduced over 20 years ago and needs reform to better reflect today’s understanding of disability,” she said.
“At the moment the vast majority of claimants get the benefit for life without any systematic reassessments and around 50 percent of decisions are made on the basis of the claim form alone.
“The Personal Independence Payment will include a new face-to-face assessment and regular reviews.”
But Scope accused the government of cutting claimants’ “financial lifeline”.
“In 2013 disabled people are struggling to make ends meet,” said Richard Hawkes, chief executive of Scope.
“Life costs more if you’re disabled. But this year living costs are spiralling and income is flat-lining.
“What’s the government’s response? It is cutting a financial life-line for disabled people, which helps them meet the extra costs of day-to-day living when you have a disability. The reform is fundamentally flawed,” he added.
New disability benefit system introduced
