Emily Thornberry is the MP for Islington South & Finsbury.  A number of her constituents have raised their issues over the Disability Living Allowance with her. We have also written in support of these constituents.

I am please to say that one constituent has received responses from Emily Thornberry.  Although her letter was addressed to the Rt. Hon. James Purnell MP, Secretary of State Department for Work & Pensions.

She received two responses from :-

Terry Moran, CB. Chief Executive. Pensions, Disability and Carers Service. Department for Work & Pensions. - Click here for letter in Useful Documents Section.

Mr. Stephen Timms, MP. Minister for Welfare Reform, Department for Work & Pensions. - Click here for letter in Useful Documents Section.

Please note that if you want to raise any issues from this correspondence you need to use your own MP. All MP's only deal with correspondence from there own constituents. You can find your MP by clicking here.

What I notice about these letters.

1) They seem to get off the subject of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) very quickly. However it is important to realise that receiving Higher Rate Care of DLA currently exempts you from Incapacity Benefit (IB) PCA tests. You are automatically entitled to IB. It is likely the same exemption will apply to the Emloyment and Support Allowance (EAS). However be mindful that "tests" undertaken for the EAS may have a bearing on your DLA claim moving forward.

2) I note that there is to be a new updated form for DLA out in the next few months. Both also talk of the "snapshot" approach currently used by the DLA process as being not fit for purpose as they acknowledge that for the EAS the "Assessments are not done on a "snapshot" basis but take into account the person's functional ability over time". Shouldn't this be the approach the DWP take with DLA claims especially those with HIV who, over time suffer spontaneous illnesses that limits ability?

Rather than carry on I would welcome your comments on the letters. 

Thanks to Emily Thornberry for her efforts here.

John.