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Disabled people living in residential care will continue to have their additional mobility needs met through Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), the Minister for Disabled People, Maria Miller announced today.

Listening to the concerns raised by disabled people and disability organisations, the Government first announced that it would not remove the mobility component of DLA from October 2012 from people living in residential care homes and that it would also gather more evidence before making a final decision for PIP.

Following months of consultation with disabled people and disability organisations and reflecting on the findings on the Low Review, the Minister for Disabled People has now announced her decision.  When DLA is replaced with PIP in 2013, disabled people in residential care will continue to receive any mobility component of PIP they are entitled to.

Minister for Disabled People, Maria Miller said:

"The reasoning behind the original decision was to ensure there were no overlaps in funding leading to double payments. We have spent the last few months gathering information and evidence and visiting disabled people in care homes to find out directly from them how their mobility needs are actually met in practice.

"We found a complex set of overlapping responsibilities have evolved which have allowed different local authorities to deal with the issue of funding of mobility in care homes in very different ways and some practices which have lead to overlaps in funding.

"However, I have always been clear that I would not make any change that would stop disabled people from getting out and about. Which is why after listening to the strong concerns of disabled people and their organisations, I have taken action and decided not to remove the payment."

An amendment to the Welfare Reform Bill will be brought forward to enable this decision to be carried through into PIP.

Notes to Editors:

• The DLA consultation was one of the biggest ever at DWP, with over 5500 people taking part.
• The changes will be paid for through our wider welfare reforms.
• The current rates of DLA Mobility are:
  • Higher – £51.40
  • Lower – £19.95

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