SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

  1. More than half of the local authorities in the UK are charging for day services.
  2. More than half are making charges on Income Support alone.
  3. Income Support is a nationally set MINIMUM an individual needs to live on.
  4. Any charges should NOT reduce a service users income below income support levels.
  5. When Disability Living Allowance levels were set up nationally-they did not take into account ANY DAY SERVICE CHARGES.
  6. Remember to note all additional costs relating to the users disability: heating, hot water, laundry, diets, non-prescription medicines, clothing, aids etc.
  7. Many authorities are treating DLA(care) and Income support as disposable income in assessments—this is widely critisised by the Audit Commission.
  8. Lack of information:- many service users rights are unclear, with many not knowing if the local authority are following correct procedures BEFORE introducing a charge.
  9. The state is the legal guardian of our sons and daughters—How much money have we saved them over the years—how much more will it cost if we suddenly told them to take over ALL the care !!!!!

G.W.SMITH
MIDDLESBROUGH MENCAP CHAIRMAN.

This article first appeared in the January 2003 issue of Middlesbrough Mencap Newsletter

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