Blind plan to lobby over cash payments (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Blind plan to lobby over cash payments

9:06am Tuesday 9th September 2008

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(1)

A delegation of blind and partially-sighted people in Bradford will travel to London to lobby the Government over discrepancies in Disability Living Allowance.

The Bradford Association of Visually Impaired People (BAVIP) will join the Royal National Institution for the Blind to protest at their exclusion from higher rate DLA.

The RNIB and others are calling for an increase on the rate of mobility payments made to blind people who receive only the lower payment of £17.75 per week. They argue that other disabled people are able to claim the higher amount of £46.75 per week but that blind people, who often have to spend much more on transport, are being discriminated against.

Last December saw the largest ever lobby of Parliament by blind people. The event on Wednesday, October 15, will be the second such attempt.

Imtiaz Naqvi, of BAVIP, said: “The Government is now in the process of making its decision about whether or not to make these changes. It could go either way. The changes can be made and there is strong support from DWP Ministers, but as we all know, the Government is under significant financial pressures. “While it makes its decision we need to ensure that it is reminded just how strongly people in this area feel about this issue.

“It is absolutely vital. We cannot allow it to delay making a decision nor can we let it think that we will just go away.

“We must go on fighting until it makes the right decision, until it puts right this injustice. I know that some blind people, who can’t drive and in many cases find it impossible to use public transport, are missing vital hospital appointments and job opportunities because the benefit they receive doesn’t cover the cost of taxis.

“On a day-to-day basis not being able to get out independently stops many blind people from doing basic things like getting their own shopping, meeting up with friends and joining local clubs. “This has a massive impact on the quality of people’s lives.”

Bill Alker, of RNIB, said: “We are arranging this second lobby to Parliament to show our anger at what we see as a Government betrayal. Following our last lobby in December we have been in negotiation with the Government but it has led us down the garden path.

“We have huge support from the public and MPs across the parties but the Government is not moving an inch.”

The BAVIP will be taking a coach to London. Call Mr Naqvi on 07703 048314 or 07889 254236, or e-mail imtiaznaqvi@hotmail.com.

e-mail: paddy.mcguffin@telegraphandargus.co.uk

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(1)