5-05-04

Discrimination over disability benefits must end - Barrett

John Barrett, Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, today called on the Government to scrap a key benefit rule that discriminates against the elderly.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a non-means tested benefit for disabled people with care or mobility needs.  However, current rules mean those aged over 65 are not entitled to claim this benefit.  This age group can only claim the more limited attendance allowance, which has no mobility element.  This means those over 65 cannot get help with their mobility costs.

Mr Barrett is one of over 70 MPs who have signed a cross-party motion urging the Government to change the law.  The campaign is also supported by over 20 leading charities including Help the Aged, the Disability Rights Commission and Carers UK.

In a statement, Mr Barrett, said:

"There is now a broad consensus that this discrimination against the elderly in the benefits system has to come to an end.

"The benefits system should exist to protect society's most vulnerable.  However, this campaign highlights the real age discrimination that still exists. How can it be fair that those under 65 are entitled to help for their mobility costs but those over 65 are not?

"The fact is that this allowance of £41 a week would go a long long way in helping those elderly people with mobility problems. However, it is not just about this money. Entitlement to DLA also means you get access to other benefits such as the Motability scheme and you do not have to pay car tax. This is why Government has to realise the flaw in the rules and bring in changes as soon as possible."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• John Barrett is one of over 70 MPs who have signed Early Day Motion 953 that states:

That this House believes that it is unjust and discriminatory to deny people who become disabled from the age of 65 the opportunity to claim disability living allowance; further believes that the alternative benefit offered to older disabled people, attendance allowance, is inadequate because it does not contain a mobility component, is not available to those with lower-level needs and requires a claimant to wait three months longer before making a claim; notes further that attendance allowance does not passport its recipients to the Motability scheme, or exemption from vehicle excise duty; further believes that this differentiation between older and younger disabled people is based on an outmoded and unfounded conception of older people as inactive and non-contributing members of society; and therefore urges the Government to support the aims of the Mobilise campaign, to end age discrimination in disability benefit and make a genuine commitment to active ageing and the full participatory citizenship of older people.

• More information on this campaign is available at the Help the Aged website -
www.helptheaged.org.uk/CampaignsNews/Mobilise/_default.htm