Independent living fund comment

Richard Hawkes, Chief Executive of disability charity Scope, comments on the Government’s decision to phase out the Independent Living Fund by 2015.

“This is a rather bemusing decision, which does not sit easily with Government’s stated desire to support disabled people to have greater control over their lives. The fund is comparatively very small and is designed to support disabled people to live at home rather than in care homes. It’s hard to see how phasing out  this fund will do anything but narrow down options and push people towards greater dependence on the state.  

“Alongside hefty cuts to local government budgets and central government budgets, the deletion of the Independent Living Fund is piling yet more pressure on the already stretched support systems for disabled people and will undoubtedly lead to more disabled people having their choices limited - and their opportunities for contribution and participation being reduced.”