Grant decision delay causes ‘heartbreak’

Campaigners are angry at the government for delaying a decision
on whether to scrap means-testing for the disabled facilities grant
in England.

The move to put off a decision until autumn at the earliest meant
families faced an “agonising wait”, said a coalition of 12
disability and children’s charities, including NCH and
Mencap.

Pressure has been mounting on the government following decisions to
end means-testing on the grant, which provides families with
financial assistance to adapt their homes, in Wales and Northern
Ireland.

The charities, which estimate that ending the means test would cost
the government around £20m, said they had expected an
announcement before the parliamentary recess last week because a
review had already been carried out.

Jo Williams, chief executive of Mencap and spokesperson for the
coalition, said: “Every minute the government delays is
heartbreaking for families.”