New disability benefits introduced in Britain

Disabled protesters demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament in London London – Arab Today A new disability benefit piloted earlier this year was rolled out across England, Wales and Scotland on Monday to replace what the government calls an "outdated" system. The Personal Independence Payment replaces the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) which has been in existence for 20 years.
The new system, trialled in the north of England in April, includes a face-to-face assessment and frequent reviews of claimants' ability to wash, dress, cook, get around, and communicate.
Some 70 percent of DLA recipients were effectively set to receive benefits for life, according to ministers, who say the changes will see help go to those who need it most.
But campaigners say the new assessments mean more than half of existing claimants will lose benefits, AFP reports.
Esther McVey, Minister for Disabled People, said: "Disability Living Allowance is an outdated benefit introduced over 20 years ago and was very much a product of its time.
"The Personal Independence Payment has been designed to better reflect today's understanding of disability, particularly to update our thinking on mental health and fluctuating conditions."
Some 3.3 million people were claiming the DLA at a cost of £12 billion a year, compared with 1.1 million people at an annual cost of £3 billion when it was first introduced in 1992.
Disability Rights UK (DRUK) warned that around a million people are about to lose some or all of their benefits, with 55 percent of current claimants receiving no award or a reduced award.
The charity says around 100,000 people are also likely to lose their adapted "Motability" car, making them less able to get to work.
DRUK chief executive Liz Sayce said what is at stake for disabled people is their "springboard to participation".
"Everyone talks about giving benefits to 'those who need them most' -- ie a smaller number than now. That misunderstands what people need benefits for," she said.
"When benefits provide a bit of support, like an adapted car or a travelling companion for someone with a learning disability, it can make the difference between the person living for decades isolated and out of work or making a full contribution to society."