DLA benefit reforms challenged by disability activists

A group of disabled campaigners have today launched an in depth report, Responsible Reform (also known as the Spartacus Report), highlighting serious flaws in the Government’s arguments for replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) with a new benefit called Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

The report, which analysed information from the Government’s consultation on DLA reform, outlines the strength of opposition to a large number of the proposals, including:

• new face-to-face assessments would not properly address and support people with fluctuating conditions, like MS
• regular reviews would be unnecessary for people with long-term degenerative conditions
• government changes are motivated by cost savings; there is a lack of clarity and transparency in the Government’s proposals

The report is an important contribution to the debate on benefit changes, and the MS Society strongly encourages the Government to address the questions and concerns set out within it.