Rutland and Stamford MP Alicia Kearns Questions Disability Living Allowance Extension

Rutland and Stamford MP Alicia Kearns Questions Disability Living Allowance Extension

Rutland and Stamford MP Alicia Kearns recently raised a "Written Question" in Parliament, asking the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions about the potential merits of extending Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children up to the age of 25.

The Government's response, delivered by Sir Stephen Timms, Social Security and Disability Minister, indicated that the Department is indeed considering this matter. The response stated: "Through our Green Paper, Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working, we are consulting on raising the age at which young people move from Disability Living Allowance for children (DLAс) to the adult disability benefit Personal Independence Payment (PIP). The aim of this proposed change is to better align the age at which young people first claim adult disability benefits with other key milestones in the transition to adulthood. It also aims to reduce pressure on still relatively young people going through adult PIP assessments."

Commenting on the response, Alicia Kearns stated, "It's encouraging to hear that extending the Disability Living Allowance for children is being considered. This was a concern raised by many of you at the first Rutland and Stamford Disability Forum I held recently."