Prime Minister promises Universal Credit will protect disabled children who currently receive benefits

9^th March 2012

Campaigners urge Cameron to offer the same protection to  children born after April 2013

This week the Prime Minister wrote to the Every Disabled Child Matters (EDCM) campaign responding to the 5500 emails that have been sent to him over the past few months expressing concern on the impact of the proposed 50% cut to 'disability additions' to many low income and out of work families with disabled children.

'Disability additions' replicate a benefit in the Child Tax Credit system which provide financial support to low income families with disabled children to help them meet costs beyond those met by Disability Living Allowance (DLA). There is an equivalent benefit also available in the out of work benefit system.

In his letter, the Prime Minister states that families currently in receipt of disability additions will not have a reduction in support until there is a change in family circumstance due to 'transitional protection'.  However, he confirms that families applying for Universal Credit from 2013 will only get 50% of the disability additions that disabled children now receive.

EDCM is also concerned that the Prime Minister's letter stated 'Your campaign claims that the proposals put forward in the Welfare Reform Bill would lead to a cut in the standard element of Disability Living Allowance'. However, the letters from EDCM and its supporters only related to a cut in 'disability additions' in Universal Credit, and at no point implied there would be a cut to DLA.

This demonstrates that there is a misunderstanding of benefits for families with disabled children at the highest level of Government. EDCM is concerned that the Universal Credit will not be fit for purpose unless swift action is taken to ensure a better understanding of how it supports families with disabled children.

EDCM has therefore responded to the Prime Minister in this open letter. We have asked him to meet with some families with disabled children to hear about the importance of disability additions in helping families stay financially afloat and allowing parents to remain in employment, and the different roles DLA and disability additions have in helping families meet extra costs.

We will also be calling on Lord Freud, Minister for Welfare Reform, to bring forward the review of 'disability additions' policy which he has committed to undertake in 2015. EDCM sees no value in waiting until two years after the cut comes to undertake the review.

EDCM supporters will be writing to their MPs over the coming weeks reiterating our call for this review to take place immediately.