Oxfordshire plans disability benefit cuts despite protest campaign

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 17 Oct, 06:08 · Archive

Oxfordshire is cutting disability-related expenditure and introducing new charges for social care, prompting a second protest.

Oxfordshire County Council is cutting Disability Related Expenditure (DRE), the portion of disability benefits available after paying for social care, from 35 per cent to 25 per cent. The council is also introducing £10-a-day charges for council-organised transport and increasing fees for independent living technology by more than 50 per cent, with a new weekly charge of £9.87. These changes are intended to save £1.8 million from the council's £330 million social care budget, representing approximately 0.5 per cent of the service's funding.

The council's cabinet approved the changes in July despite significant opposition during consultation. Pat Carmody, 61, has started a petition against the decision calling for 'no cuts to social care for disabled people', which had received 235 signatures at the time of reporting. Campaigners say the changes will 'impoverish and isolate disabled people'.

Protesters from Oxfordshire Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) and the Oxford and District Trades Council held a demonstration outside county hall on 8 September. The campaign group has announced plans to stage a second protest at the November full council meeting, where they will present their petition against the decision.

Oxfordshire plans disability benefit cuts despite protest campaign — Image: Oxford Mail

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How it is being reported

Further cuts protest planned amid fear plan will 'impoverish disabled people'A second protest against Oxfordshire disability cuts has been planned as campaigners are set to bring a petition against the decision.Oxford Mail · 17 Oct, 05:00
Further cuts protest planned amid fear plan will 'impoverish disabled people'A second protest against Oxfordshire disability cuts has been planned as campaigners are set to bring a petition against the decision.Oxfordshire Guardian · 17 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Oxfordshire County Council · Oxfordshire Disabled People Against Cuts · Oxford and District Trades Council · Pat Carmody · Oxfordshire

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