Independent Living Fund Consultation Response
Disabled people receiving care and support to lead independent lives will from 2015 do so under one local streamlined system.
Disabled people receiving care and support to lead independent lives will from 2015 do so under one local streamlined system, Minister for Disabled People Esther McVey announced today.
The Independent Living Fund (ILF), set up over twenty years ago, will be incorporated into local social care arrangements over the next two years, to ensure fair, targeted support to those who need it.
Esther McVey said:
How disabled people are supported to live independent lives has changed drastically over the past 20 years - and how we provide that support needs to change with it.
That’s why we want to make sure there’s one simple and fair system - through personal budgets - that gives disabled people the control they need to make the choices right for them.
We’ll be working closely with disabled people over the next few years to make sure ILF users get the support they need during the transition.
The ILF was permanently closed to new applicants in December 2010, and the Government recently consulted on the best way for those currently using the fund to become part of local social care arrangements.
Nearly 1.6 million disabled people across the UK already receive support through local authority and devolved administrations social care arrangements, and today’s announcement will mean the 19,000 ILF users receive support under the same system.
Funding will move to local authorities and devolved administrations to ensure they are best able to meet the needs of all disabled people in their areas to live independent lives.
The Government, local authorities and devolved administrations will work closely with disabled people and disability organisations over the next two years to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible for current ILF users.
All disabled people, including those transferring from the ILF, will continue to be protected by a local authority safety net that guarantees disabled people get the support they need.
Notes to Editors:
The Government response to the ILF consultation can be found here: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/2012/future-of-ilf.shtml
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