Mother asks disability charity Disability Rights UK to back her campaign against Nottinghamshire County Council cuts

A mother whose son’s quality of life will suffer because of council cuts has asked a national disability charity to back her campaign for change.

Alyson Fisk, of Church Lane, Collingham, has written to Disability Rights UK, explaining the circumstances of her son Ben, 35, who has Down’s syndrome.

Disability Rights UK works to represent the needs and expectations of disabled people in the UK.

Ben, who lives with his mother, will lose almost 40% of his income under new Nottinghamshire County Council rules.

Ben is one of many people affected by changes to how much they pay towards their support. Some who have never paid before now have to contribute, and others are having their contributions increased.

In a letter to Disability UK, Alyson Fisk said: “There has been a lot of concern in Nottinghamshire, not only about these charges but also about their implementation.”

“The charging policy is related to the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG), set by the NHS in 2015.

“We were all promised in a letter that no charges would be made before a new assessment. Although the consultation resulted in 52.5% of respondents disagreeing with the proposal, and only 31% agreeing, the proposal was voted through.

“The roll-out of these changes will be half in April and the rest in November.

“In practical terms, this will potentially mean a severe curtailment of my son’s ability to socialise with his friends, either on a weekly basis or on holiday together. It will also affect his ability to attend music concerts which he loves.

“It makes a nonsense of the benefits system that so much can be taken away from someone so that they are able to exist but not have a life.

“I understand that local authorities are struggling with cuts and the MIG allows them to gain this money on the back of the most vulnerable people in society. But all of this ignores the moral dimension.

“I would like Disability Rights UK to look into the use of MIG for those with learning disability throughout the UK, and perhaps start to campaign against this situation.”