New disability benefit extended

Medical charities and disability campaigners have accused the government of attacking the disabled with the new disability benefit plans.

It was announced today that the controversial Disability Living Allowance (DLA), for people with a health condition or disability that are aged 16 to 64, will be extended.

The government insist the current benefit is outdated, and the new plans ensure the right people are getting the right support they need.

ITV News reporter Sejal Karia reports:

A new system of benefit payments affecting disabled people has started rolling out across Britain today. Daybreak's Gargy Patel reports:

The government will today expand their Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for people with a health condition or disability, and are aged 16 to 64.

Mencap's Dan Scorer has told ITV Daybreak that "people are very worried about losing their benefits."

As major changes to disability benefits is extended today, a poll conducted by ComRes for ITV News in April revealed that the British public is deeply divided over the reforms:

• Two in five (41%) of the British public support the changes
• one in three (36%) oppose them
• one in four (23%) are undecided

The Disability Living Allowance (DLA), which is being replaced by the new Personal Independence Payment (PIP), is an "outdated benefit" the government has said:

The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) scheme for people with a health condition or disability aged 16 to 64 is being extended today.

Here is a brief look at how the changes will affect you:

• Personal Independence Payment will have a Daily Living component and a Mobility component.
• Each component will have two rates - standard and enhanced.
• There are three rates for the care component (low, middle and high) and two for the mobility component (low and high).

• Claimants will be assessed on 12 activities such as preparing food, washing and dressing.
• They will receive a points score for each activity, depending on how well they can carry them out and the help they need to do so.
• The total score will determine whether a claimant is entitled to benefits.

• For example: The assessment will consider a claimant's physical ability to move around without severe breathlessness, pain or fatigue.
• Ministers have said the new benefit is designed to support disabled people to live independent lives, and includes a new face-to-face assessment and reviews.

Read more: An in-depth guide to the new disability benefit system

Read more: How to claim disability benefit under the new system

• The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) scheme is being introduced for people with a health condition or disability aged 16 to 64.
• It was introduced for new claims in Merseyside, North West England, Cumbria, Cheshire and North East England in April. It will be rolled out nationally from today.

• Currently, there are no current plans to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children under 16 and people aged 65 and over who are already receiving it.
• Most people currently getting DLA will not by affected by the change until 2015, according to the government.

• When DLA was introduced in 1992, it covered 1.1 million people, at a cost of around £3 billion, which has risen to more than £12 billion a year now.
• In the past decade, the number of people claiming DLA has risen by almost a third from 2.4 million to 3.3 million.

Read more: A cool look at the arguments around DLA PIP benefit changes

A new controversial benefit, which replaces the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people with a health condition or disability and are aged 16 to 64, will be extended today.

The new assessment includes an individual's ability to carry out a broad range of activities such as washing, dressing, cooking and getting around.

The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will now be rolled out across England, Wales and Scotland, although some existing working age claimants will start to be re-assessed from October.

Read more: How will changes to disability benefit affect you?

Read more: A cool look at the arguments around DLA PIP benefit changes