Concern at Attendance Allowance threat

Speaking the day before the debate in the House of Commons on the Labour government’s Green Paper: ‘Shaping the future of care together,’ takes place on Thursday 29th October, the SNP’s Westminster spokesperson on social security and benefits, John Mason MP, warned the Labour government to abandon their proposed reform of Attendance Allowance.

Mr Mason warned that the benefit, which helps severely disabled pensioners pay for the additional costs of disability, could see them lose over £70 per week under Labour’s proposals. The Member of Parliament for Glasgow East further warned that if the London Labour government did not abandon their plans then the issue would feature high in the Glasgow North East by-election.

Commenting Mr Mason said:

“There are 145,000 people in Scotland on Attendance Allowance. Whilst Labour’s proposals are about the future of Care in England this policy would also affect Scotland.

“The proposal to scrap Attendance Allowance to help fill the black hole in the care system south of the border is extremely short-sighted. Such cuts will fall on some of the most vulnerable in society and leave them deeper in poverty.

“It is extremely unfair that whilst bankers enjoy bonuses from the Labour government’s billion pounds bail out, it is disabled pensioners who will effectively pay for them!;

“Pensioner couples who care for each other will also be doubly affected, and the position of those carers receiving Carer’s Allowance is unclear. Presently, receipt of Attendance Allowance by the disabled person is one of the grounds for receipt of Carer’s Allowance by the carer.

“Labour are squeezing benefits to lone parents, the working-age disabled, and the long-term unemployed. I call on this UK Labour government not to cut benefits to the severely disabled elderly as well.”