Call to protect Norfolk’s pensioners from Brown’s plans to scrap benefits

5,110 people could lose their disability benefits across North Norfolk warns Trevor Ivory.  Trevor Ivory, the Conservative Candidate for North Norfolk, yesterday voiced his opposition to Gordon Brown’s new plans to scrap disability benefits for the elderly in Norfolk. The small print of Labour’s plans to create a National Care Service reveals they will scrap Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance for pensioners to pay for it.

An average £3,400 a year will be snatched away from 2.4 million pensioners – equivalent to a quarter of the average pensioner’s income. In North Norfolk alone, this would affect 5,110 pensioners – 3,940 who receive Attendance Allowance, worth an average of £60 a week, and 1,170 who receive Disability Living Allowance, worth an average of £75 a week.

Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance are based on need; they are not means tested and are intended to cover the extra costs arising from the impact the disability has on the life of the disabled person. The key feature of these benefits is that they can be spent by disabled people how they wish, without restrictions, to best support their individual care needs.

Speaking at a meeting of local people in Blakeney last night, Trevor Ivory said, “Gordon Brown has chosen to penalise one of the most vulnerable groups in our society for the sake of another of his eye-catching announcements. As with every Labour initiative, someone has to pay and it is once again those who are least able to afford it who are hit by Brown.”  “These benefits provide vital support for disabled pensioners, giving them the chance to lead an independent life with the freedom to tailor their care to their needs.”

Trevor has long campaigned for a better deal for older people and particularly for the rights of carers.  “I am particularly concerned for elderly people where one is the other’s full-time carer. For those people Gordon Brown’s plans are a double blow because they could lose both benefits making them £125 a week worse off. For many this could mean the difference between be able to heat their homes and not. It is very concerning that the Government does not seem to have thought about this.”

“Of course, we need to do more to help people with their care costs, but it is completely wrong to do so at the expense of disabled pensioners. Conservatives will protect North Norfolk’s pensioners and fight against Gordon Brown’s plan to scrap benefits for the disabled.”  Trevor has long campaigned for a better deal for older people and particularly for the rights of carers.

“I am particularly concerned for elderly people where one is the other’s full-time carer. For those people Gordon Brown’s plans are a double blow because they could lose both benefits making them £135 a week worse off. For many this could mean the difference between be able to heat their homes and not. It is very concerning that the Government does not seem to have thought about this.”