News

Disability Alliance, a benefits related national charity, is threatening legal action if the government fails to revise its plans to cut payments by 20% when disability living allowance is replaced by personal independence payment in 2013.

Disability Alliance have been pressing the government on their plans for a year now, having attended meetings, briefings and committees and submitted evidence to a formal consultation. However, they consider that their concerns have been ignored. Their legal advisors, unity Law, believe that the by failing to address these concerns, the coalition government may be guilty of breaches of UK equality legislation and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Neil Coyle, Director of Policy at Disability Alliance says:

“​Disability Alliance has sought to avoid taking legal action and we are still keen to avoid legal processes. Our concern is that disabled people may experience significant hardship, exclusion and ill health as a direct result of DLA cuts. But these concerns have gone unanswered in a year of discussion with DWP. Our options are limited and disabled people’​s anxieties and the potential costs to governments are very real.”​

Unity Law have now sent a letter of claim to the DWP, the first step on the road to court action. Many Benefits and Work members will be delighted to see Disability Alliance taking a more campaigning and assertive role than has been the case in recent years.

More details on Disability Alliance’​s legal challenge are available here