There could be drastic affects on people in residential care homes as a result of Government proposals to cut the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

There have been endless news reports on increases in tuition fees from angry student protestors and reductions to child benefit, but there has been an eerie silence about the proposed cuts for disabled people on benefits. Why?

Most people don't want to think about disability or a life altering situation unless it affects them first hand – it is depressing stuff and all too easy to ignore. 

When the cuts were announced last October, the benefit reduction was not explained and so did not attract much media attention. Unless you had personal experience of caring for people with disabilities, its title gave no hint of the potentially devastating consequences the cuts could bring.

What is mobility allowance?

This benefit helps meet some of the extra costs disabled people face when they travel. The Government is proposing that from October 2012 this benefit be removed for those living in residential care.

The highest rate of mobility allowance is currently £49.85 a week. This can be used to fund vehicles exclusively to allow disabled people to be taken out to visit family or friends, on daily walks, for regular swimming sessions, and to all doctors' appointments. You could argue that public transport is available, but if you actually give this some thought it is easy to conclude that this would be completely impractical.

Unless you have first hand experience of disability, society as a whole is not overly tolerant and does not like to be reminded of it.

For example, a disabled person travelling on a public bus could find themselves subject to ridicule and are likely to find it a painful experience. The environment in which they are travelling cannot be controlled either. Many disabled people need to travel with restraints in place which are simply not available on your local bus or train.

Trapped?

The mobility component of the DLA allows disabled people the freedom to visit their family and friends. If that freedom is taken away, they may feel trapped in their residential homes and their health could deteriorate. 

As we all know, life altering scenarios can happen in an instant, and we all need to be alive to the devastating impact that these benefit cuts could have on our society.

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