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Should disabled people be charged for personal care or not?

Over the next 12 months there is going to be a general election. ESDA is trying to put together a policy document that we would like different political parties to sign up to, to address disability discrimination.

This month we have decided to hold a controversial forum on whether disabled people should be charged for personal care or not. If they should be charged, what should they be charged. If you are in receipt of personal care, is it value for money and why?

The view of ESDA is that personal care should be free. We believe that it is a tax on disability. People get community care services because they have a need for those services because they do have support needs and we see those as about people's basic human rights, this isn't a luxury item and this is about just literally being able to get out of bed and being able to live every day independently. It's about being able to get out of bed, get washed, get dressed and take part in the life of the community. So we feel that it is a legitimate cost for the Government to pay for.

We are looking for your views on: Should disabled people have to pay for personal care, if so why?

If your comments are to say disabled people should have to pay for this care what parts if any should they not have to pay for?

What is your experience of receiving community care services and is it value for money?

Disclaimer :Any posts on ESDA forums are posted by individuals acting in their own right and do not necessarily reflect the views of ESDA.

Your Comments

"I do not think anyone (disabled or not) should have to pay for care or treatment on the NHS. I have to pay £7.20 every fortnight!!!"

Tom Parker, Hastings Posted 13 June 2009 10:05:50

"Is that for Prescriptions?"

Peter, Bexhill Posted 15 June 2009 11:55:13

"in a reasent legal case B v Cornwall County Council the court found that Cornwall had not assessed the Disablated Related Care properly

The Judge Justice Hickinbottom said " The Community Care Assessment Directions 2004 and the 2003 Guidance require that an athority engages with, and tries to agree with a service user and his carers, both the steps that the authority will take in relation to identified eligble needs and also in Assessment of charging"

The case strongly stressed the need for charges to be agreed with people needing support.

It is unlawfull if the local athority does not have your disability related expenditure assessed fairley and fully. This includes Holidays and other costes that disabled people have to incure to live independtley.

It would be intresting if disabled have had there disablity related expenditure propley calculated and was holidays Included in that Calculation"

Bob, Seaford Posted 16 June 2009 17:06:41

""Why should disabled people have to be charged for personal care they receive when the disabled person has a disability they find hard enough to bare at the best of times and then have the added stupidity of charging them for a disability that
a) is not their choice to endure, and
b) the person needs sympathy in a disability and not a charge for something that aint their fault whatsoever..""

Bob, Seaford Posted 18 June 2009 20:54:45

""I see this debate isn't getting far.
Come on you know you want to contribute whoever you are that maybe viewing this website page.
After all - it's your opinion that's required so then the debate can function on this forum"."

Bob The Cricket Bat, Seaford Posted 8 July 2009 13:42:09

"O.K. Bob - I hear you!! The problem with this debate is that I'm not clear exactly what ESDA thinks the alternative is!! Of course Disabled People shouldn't have to pay for their personal care. However, if we accept that the majority of Disabled People would agree then the question that needs to be asked is whether ESDA should mount a campaign AGAINST charging!!"

Kev, St. Leonards Posted 29 July 2009 16:34:26

"Fair comment Kev.
What ESDA is trying to ascertain the strength of feeling regarding charging. If there are strong feelings then we should ask ESDA to mount a campaign on behalf of disabled people in East Sussex. But from the contribution to this forum there is very little support ageist charging

Reg"

Reg, Eastbourne Posted 13 August 2009 16:08:11

"My concern is that in some areas other disability related expenditure is not fully taken into account when fees are calcukated."

Pat Newton, Eastbourne Posted 17 September 2009 20:36:51

"With a husband who has MS and myself working I do not think disabled people have to pay. So far after being assessed in my Borough last year we would have had to pay the maximum amount. We chose not to have the help as we could not aafford that. Now knowing this we will have peace of mind that my husband will have someone to help him when I am not there..."

Caz, London Posted 2 October 2009 15:49:28

"You make an interesting point about campaigning Reg. My view has always been that Orgs should start campaigns anyway if it's an issue they believe in. We are the "leaders" that Disabled People look to for support and I believe that any campaign will pick up support if it's organized and presented to Disabled People authorititively. Besides, as Vice-Chair of ESDA I (obviously) have an agenda and I wouldn't say no the publicity!!"

Kev, St. Leonards Posted 3 December 2009 14:18:35

"I'M in west kent and have to pay£152 per month
it is much less than it costs but as disability benefits in no way keep up with the extra costs of disability it makes life financially very difficult
one must live as a hermit to stay solvent!"

Mike Knoth, WEST KENT Posted 4 February 2010 16:35:41

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