Victory for Ossett's York House as Government caves into pressure on DLA

The Tory-led government announced on 30th November that it will abandon its plans to scrap the mobility component of DLA for people in residential care homes, after months of pressure from disabled people.

Residents and staff from Ossett’s York House care home met with Mary Creagh MP in July to discuss the government’s unfair proposals and Mary took up their case, pressurising Ministers to think again. On Tuesday, York House resident Simon Davis and his carer Michael Harrison, came to Parliament to watch the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement and meet Mary again.

The mobility component of DLA is used by disabled people to fund powered wheelchairs, accessible taxis and mobility cars. The withdrawal would have affected residents’ ability to live independently and conduct day to day activities such as going to work or college, accessing day centres, visiting their families, seeing their GP and other healthcare professionals, socialising, voting and going on holiday.

Mary said “I am pleased that Simon was able to use his DLA to come to Parliament on the day the Tory-led government finally agreed to drop their outrageous plans. The government’s plans showed just how out of touch they are with the needs of disabled people and have caused a great deal of anxiety and distress to those affected. Scrapping DLA for people in residential care homes would have made people in Simon’s situation prisoners in their own homes. My congratulations go to the campaigners at Livability and York House who have scored an important victory for disabled people in Wakefield and across the country.”

York House manager Helen Holt said “‘’We are delighted that the Government has chosen to abandon the idea of removing the mobility component of the DLA. Without this support, disabled people, including our York House residents, would not be able to fund the specialist transport they need. The benefit is crucial to their independence and allows them to be an integral part of their local community.’’