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| Disabled people vow to appeal against independent living fund ruling | Disabled people vow to appeal against independent living fund ruling |
| (5 months later) | |
| Five disabled people will ask the court of appeal to overturn a high court ruling that on Wednesday upheld the government's decision to abolish a scheme that helps them live independently. | Five disabled people will ask the court of appeal to overturn a high court ruling that on Wednesday upheld the government's decision to abolish a scheme that helps them live independently. |
| Their lawyers had asked Mr Justice Blake, sitting in London, to declare unlawful the consultation process that led to the proposed axing of the £320m independent living fund (ILF). | Their lawyers had asked Mr Justice Blake, sitting in London, to declare unlawful the consultation process that led to the proposed axing of the £320m independent living fund (ILF). |
| Dismissing the application, the judge said many issues relating to the future funding of ILF users remained outstanding, but the consultation process had been lawful. | Dismissing the application, the judge said many issues relating to the future funding of ILF users remained outstanding, but the consultation process had been lawful. |
| Lawyers acting for the five said Wednesday's ruling at the Royal Courts of Justice was flawed and did not reflect the evidence before the court. | Lawyers acting for the five said Wednesday's ruling at the Royal Courts of Justice was flawed and did not reflect the evidence before the court. |
| The solicitors Scott-Moncrieff and Associates said: "All five are adamant that the process was flawed and that the impact of closure will be devastating for very large numbers of severely disabled people. They see it as vital that the decision is quashed and the matter reconsidered on a fair and lawful basis." | The solicitors Scott-Moncrieff and Associates said: "All five are adamant that the process was flawed and that the impact of closure will be devastating for very large numbers of severely disabled people. They see it as vital that the decision is quashed and the matter reconsidered on a fair and lawful basis." |
| The five are among 19,000 people who receive assistance from the ILF, which the government plans to scrap in 2015. The average payout is £300 a week. | The five are among 19,000 people who receive assistance from the ILF, which the government plans to scrap in 2015. The average payout is £300 a week. |
| The money enables disabled people to employ assistants to help them with their personal needs, and to work and play an active part in their communities. Many fear they will be forced into residential care or trapped at home as a result of the abolition of the fund. | The money enables disabled people to employ assistants to help them with their personal needs, and to work and play an active part in their communities. Many fear they will be forced into residential care or trapped at home as a result of the abolition of the fund. |
| One of the five applicants for judicial review was Gabriel Pepper, from Walthamstow, east London, who accused the government of imposing "appalling cuts", which were "a vicious attack on the disabled". | One of the five applicants for judicial review was Gabriel Pepper, from Walthamstow, east London, who accused the government of imposing "appalling cuts", which were "a vicious attack on the disabled". |
| The other applicants were Stuart Bracking, Paris L'amour, Anne Pridmore and John Aspinall, who brought his case with his mother, Evonne Taylforth, acting as his litigation friend. | The other applicants were Stuart Bracking, Paris L'amour, Anne Pridmore and John Aspinall, who brought his case with his mother, Evonne Taylforth, acting as his litigation friend. |
| Lawyers acting for the applicants had argued at a hearing in March that the government had not given clear reasons for closing the fund, that it failed to set out details of how much funding would be devolved and whether it would be ringfenced, and that the impact of the change on people in receipt of ILF support had not been properly assessed. | Lawyers acting for the applicants had argued at a hearing in March that the government had not given clear reasons for closing the fund, that it failed to set out details of how much funding would be devolved and whether it would be ringfenced, and that the impact of the change on people in receipt of ILF support had not been properly assessed. |
| Campaigners have warned that the proposed closure of the fund, and its transfer to local authorities, will have a catastrophic impact on the independence and life chances of severely disabled people. | Campaigners have warned that the proposed closure of the fund, and its transfer to local authorities, will have a catastrophic impact on the independence and life chances of severely disabled people. |
| Richard Hawkes, chief executive of the disability charity Scope, said: "Twenty thousand disabled people will lose support for the basics in life when the independent living fund closes. The government presumes that the shortfall in this care and support will be met by councils, but this just isn't the case. | Richard Hawkes, chief executive of the disability charity Scope, said: "Twenty thousand disabled people will lose support for the basics in life when the independent living fund closes. The government presumes that the shortfall in this care and support will be met by councils, but this just isn't the case. |
| "Local care and support for disabled people is already underfunded to the tune of £1.2bn and councils are already struggling to cope. Expecting councils to pick up the tab when they are facing the biggest funding cuts in history is an impossible ask. Disabled people will lose out as a result. | "Local care and support for disabled people is already underfunded to the tune of £1.2bn and councils are already struggling to cope. Expecting councils to pick up the tab when they are facing the biggest funding cuts in history is an impossible ask. Disabled people will lose out as a result. |
| "Not getting the support to wash, dress and leave your home is unacceptable. The government needs to invest more in social care to prevent disabled people being condemned to a life without basic dignity and invisible from society." | "Not getting the support to wash, dress and leave your home is unacceptable. The government needs to invest more in social care to prevent disabled people being condemned to a life without basic dignity and invisible from society." |
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