Barbara has criticised the impact that the Conservative Government’s policies and proposals are having and are likely to have on disabled people and their family carers.

Speaking during a debate in Parliament Barbara said that the toxic combination of cuts to local authority budgets and changes to support are having a significant negative impact on disabled people and on their carers.

The Government is currently considering proposals that would restrict access to Personal Independence Payments and therefore carer’s allowance. They are also proposing to devolve the payment of Attendance Allowance to cash-strapped local councils.

Barbara said:

“The Conservative Government has made savage cuts to social care budgets since 2010 and social care is now in crisis. The decision to press ahead with damaging reforms to the financial support on which many carers rely is reckless and is likely to put them and the people they care for at risk.

“There are over 23,000 unpaid family carers in Salford who provide vital care and support to family and friends. Many unpaid carers are living on very tight budgets with no chance of increasing their income, due to their caring role. A number of the benefits they receive are dependent on the benefits being awarded to the person they care for. I am concerned that many of them may be hit hard by the Conservative Government’s proposed changes to the financial support for disabled people.

“The Conservative Government is considering devolving the attendance allowance to local authorities but carers’ organisations are worried that this will create a postcode lottery. Proposals to alter the criteria for the Personal Independence Payment may also mean fewer disabled people will receive the support they need to live independently or with the help of a family carer.

“I am calling on the Conservative Government to rethink these unfair reforms and cuts to financial support that will make life harder for disabled people and their carers.”