Rise in benefits urged for blind

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Blind and partially sighted people are calling on the UK government to end their exclusion from benefits they argue they should be eligible for.

The group are not considered sufficiently immobile to claim a higher rate of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) if they can walk.

But an amendment to the Welfare Reform Bill which is being tabled next Tuesday could change the situation.

Disability Minister Jonathan Shaw has voiced his sympathy for the campaign.

Ceri Jackson, head of policy at RNIB Cymru, told BBC Wales' The Politics Show: "People that are physically disabled who might use a wheelchair would be entitled to this benefit and that's absolutely right.

"But those people may also be able to use a car. If you're blind or partially sighted you can't drive so you're really reliant on family and friends or taxis.

It would give you so much more freedom to go and visit friends and family, go to the theatre, go to concerts, and have a much better social life Mailyn Campbell

"So I think people are further disadvantaged than other disability groups with regard to this benefit."

The difference between the lower and higher rate of DLA amounts to £29 a week.

Many blind and partially sighted people believe the extra money would make a tremendous difference to their lives.

The lower level of allowance is just £17.75 a week.

Marilyn Campbell, who lost her sight nine years ago, said the high cost of taxis limits her ability to leave the house without assistance.

She said an increase to her DLA would immediately give her more independence.

"It would give you so much more freedom to go and visit friends and family, go to the theatre, go to concerts, and have a much better social life and be part of the community rather than being stuck in the house and relying on friends and neighbours to take you everywhere."

We need to hear something from ministers that they're going to add to their commitment by actually bringing it in and giving what will mean a lot to blind people Alun Michael MP

On Tuesday, MPs will have their first chance to vote in support of the changes to DLA which campaigners like the RNIB want.

An amendment will be tabled to the Welfare Reform Bill by Glasgow North West Labour MP John Robertson.

Cardiff South and Penarth MP Alun Michael, who is backing the move, said: "If the amendment isn't accepted I would hope we would at least hear from ministers that they're going to pick this up and do something about it.

"It may be that the timing won't be quite right. It may be this is something that could be done in the Budget.

"But I think we need to hear something from ministers that they're going to add to their commitment by actually bringing it in and giving what will mean a lot to blind people and people with sight difficulties."

RNIB Cymru are delighted that the disability minister Jonathan Shaw has declared himself sympathetic to their campaign.

They are also encouraged by the cross-party support from hundreds of MPs.

But they're not happy that warm words haven't yet resulted in the Government funding a change.

Ceri Jackson said: "We need the government to invest £45m to really make a difference and we don't think this is a significant sum considering the amount of money that the government has just invested in rescuing the banks."

"There really is no excuse for not providing this additional money.

"We want this isolation to end for people, we want this money to be provided now and not to be in this same place this time next year."