From Channel 4 News "Disabled living fund changes challenged at High Court"
This afternoon, in the High Court, a legal fight begins to prevent the closure of the Independent Living Fund (ILF).
The ILF is a £320m fund that helps around 19,000 people with severe disabilities to live independently, and these five men and women - on behalf of thousands of others - are challenging the Government's decision to scrap it from 2015 and devolve it to local authorities instead.
One of the claimants is 73-year old Anne Pridmore, who has cerebral palsy and needs 24 hour care. I've lived in this house for 47 years and didn't expect to have to campaign to stay in my own home at my age.
She has a rota of personal assistants who help her with everything from getting up, to eating, to going out - and to the loo. At the moment, half of that is paid for by the ILF, the rest by the Local Authority.
My daughter, Sarah, and her two friends who share a house of their own, with a rota of support like Anne, depend on ILF income for continuing to live in their home.
"If we can't afford for people to be disabled, what's the plan?" The Guardian
"This is about the most severely disabled people in society, people whose disability brooks no ambiguity, having money stripped from them until they can no longer live dignified, fulfilling, stimulating lives."
"Those with the greatest needs comprise 2% of the population yet are taking 15% of cuts. That's more than a loss of dignity".
