Bradford families celebrate

1.07.00pm GMT Sun 30th Oct 2005

Parents of disabled children in Bradford will be celebrating as the Government has decided to scrap the means testing of the parents of disabled children who need to adapt their homes to care for their children.

"I welcome the decision of the government to scrap this unfair tax on disabled children" says Councillor Sunderland. "In Idle ward people were raising money to help the parents of a disabled child fund special equipment such as a lift, a special bathroom and essential equipment. We campaigned, along with many others, to get the government to abolish the means test.

"When I first met Harry and his family to talk about them having to raise money to paying for work to help Harry live safely at home with his mum, dad and sister, my immediate reaction was that there must be some mistake. Surely parents like Jill and Gary should not have to find themselves having to raise money through raffles and sponsored events to help their son live at home in safety."

"In Bradford there were just 12 approvals for the DFG in 2003/4. Four sets of parents had to make a contribution which totalled £3522. There were 11 families who are awaiting approval who will have to make a contribution of £24267. That was15 families - just like Harry's - who had to find extra money to help their child because of this unfair means test on the parents. The figures also showed what could be an even bigger heartache. 10 families who were approved as needing "appropriate and necessary" help cancelled applications worth £81695. The exact information as to why these families cancelled their application was not available but parents have told me that they simply could not find the money. They simply struggle on. This affects the whole family; parent's health is put at risk as they carry teenagers upstairs or lift them into the bath. Children become more dependant on their parents and sibling loose out as more of the family's resources go into supporting the disabled child. Some children even end up going into care. Everyone loses out; disabled children, their parents, brothers and sisters and the taxpayer too."

"The Government's decision makes it easier for families to apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) to get funding for help to provide access ramps, stair lifts, level access showers and home extensions."

"The change, which ensures families are entitled to apply for the maximum grant available without having to go through a means test, will mean they can now apply for up to £25,000 for disability improvements to their home."

"The ending of the means test is an important change which will be warmly welcomed by all those who have been pressing for a change. This includes MPs, disabled persons lobby groups such as Mencap and the Joseph Rowntree Trust, and of course the families themselves. I would like to thank all those people in Bradford who signed the petition and sent letters to the government - you really did make the difference" says Councillor Sunderland."