The ILF, which aids independent living for disabled people, will see its responsibilities transferred to local authorities as a result of the axe.
By Andrew Belt, Nick Bieber and Rachel Mulrenan
Hundreds of disabled people will be affected across South West London following government plans to abolish the Independent Living Fund (ILF).
The ILF, which aids independent living for disabled people, will see its responsibilities transferred to local authorities as a result of the axe.
The high court ruled yesterday that the decision to scrap the £320 million scheme, made by the coalition government in 2010, should be upheld.
ILF Head of Corporate Communications, Dave Smith, said: “Following the outcome of the judicial review we are just focusing on delivering the transfer programme that we launched at the beginning of this month in order to support users over the next two years in preparation for transferring responsibilities to local authorities.
“That remains our priority.”
The scheme will be scrapped in 2015, leaving 213 claimants across South West London without the vital assistance which aids their independent living.
Nationally, this will affect nearly 20,000 people and includes 75 in Croydon, 49 in Lambeth and 26 in Richmond.
“This will come as a huge disappointment to the 20,000 disabled people who will lose support for the basics in life when the Independent Living Fund closes,” said Richard Hawkes, Chief Executive of disability charity Scope.
“Expecting councils to pick up the tab when they are facing the biggest funding cuts in history is an impossible ask,” Mr Hawkes added.
“The government needs to invest more in social care to prevent disabled people being condemned to a life without basic dignity and invisible from society.”
The scheme, which pays out £300 a week on average, was deemed financially unsustainable by the coalition government in December 2010.
Five disabled people are planning to ask the court of appeal to overturn the ruling by the high court.
Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, who has been a vocal opponent to the scheme, last week told The Times that hard-won disability rights are being eroded by the government’s benefits overhaul.
There are fears that the abolition of the fund will force claimants out of independent housing and into residential care.
A spokesperson from Kingston Council said that it was too early to say what effect the switchover would have on them.
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