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In October the Government failed to answer a question from DA on which benefits were being considered for 'integration' into care service funding.
Responding to a question raised by Lord Ashley of Stoke on 13 October, Lord McKenzie of Luton stated that the Government are considering all disability benefits as part of the new care and support system review. This is a lot broader than previous indications from the Care Services Minister, Phil Hope MP, who had suggested DLA was 'safe' from reform.
Lord McKenzie also suggested that 'there is a case for bringing some disability benefits and the adult social care system together to provide better support through a new national care service' although did not iterate what the case was on a benefit-by-benefit basis.
Lord Ashley had asked which elements of disability benefit the Government was considering integrating into the wider social care budget in England .
Lord McKenzie (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Department for Work and Pensions) stated:
"My Lords, the Green Paper, Shaping the Future of Care Together, proposed that one way to deal with the challenge of an ageing society may be to bring some disability benefits and the new care and support system together into a single system as a better way of providing support. At this stage, we do not want to rule out any options and so are considering all disability benefits."
Lord Ashley then asked if Lord McKenzie was aware that any attempt by the Government to withdraw these benefits, or any benefits at all, would be "very strongly resisted by disabled people, by their organisations and by many Members of both Houses of Parliament?"
Lord McKenzie replied:
"My Lords, I reiterate that no decision has been made on this matter-it is a consultation-and I acknowledge the benefit that many disabled people see in the current benefit structure, particularly DLA and attendance allowance. However, there is a case for bringing some disability benefits and the adult social care system together to provide better support through a new national care service. We should remember that the social care system and disability benefit system have in many ways developed in isolation from each other-they are separately assessed and have separate applications-and there may be benefits for individuals in bringing them together. However, we have made clear in the Green Paper that should we make a change in this direction, individuals receiving the relevant benefits at the time of the reform will continue to receive an equivalent level of support and protection.
Perhaps I may illustrate the nature of the challenge that we face. There are currently 1.26 million adults who get their care and support needs addressed. Over the next 20 years, 1.7 million more adults will need to be supported. Currently, 20 per cent of cases cost less than £1,000 a year and 20 per cent cost more than £50,000 a year."
You can view the full text from the Hansard link below.
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