MP Backs Campaign Against Age Discrimination

Neil Gerrard, Labour MP for Walthamstow, has pledged his support to a growing campaign to end age discrimination for disabled people aged 65 or over. Mr Gerrard is one of over 150 MPS who have so far called for an end to this injustice.

"Under the current rules people who become disabled before the age of 65 are entitled to Disability Living Allowance, but anyone who becomes disabled when already 65 is only entitled to the less valuable benefit of Attendance Allowance” said Mr Gerrard. “Unlike DLA this does not include any help with mobility needs or lower level care needs.”

"One of the aims of Disability Living Allowance when it was first introduced was to  help people who became disabled to remain in work by giving them the extra financial support that they needed. Now that the Government and many employers are encouraging people to remain in work longer, and there are even suggestions from some quarters that it will become normal for people to remain in work after the age of 65, it makes even less sense to debar someone over 65 from accessing DLA for the first time."

“There are probably about 2000 pensioners in Walthamstow who will have been affected by the current rules. This is making it much more difficult for them to remain mobile and active. I believe we should be helping people on the basis of need and not of age. I am calling on the Minister for Work and Pensions to review the rules and help these vulnerable people.”

July 2004

Home Page     |     News & Views     |     Press Archive