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Welfare Reform: UK Disability Living Allowance for the 21st Century

Author: Department for Work and Pensions
Published: 2010/12/06
Category Topic: UK Disability Pension - Related Publications

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Reform of this benefit needs to follow a social rather than medical model based on needs and barriers faced rather than individual disability.

Introduction

Today the Minister for Disabled People, Maria Miller, asked disabled people and their organizations to join the debate on reforming Disability Living Allowance - a vital part of the welfare system.

Main Content

As part of the radical overhaul of the welfare state, Disability Living Allowance needs to better reflect disabled peoples' needs and extra costs they might incur in society today.

The proposals set out in the consultation are centered on creating a clearer, more targeted benefit, with an objective assessment, designed to enable disabled people to participate more fully in society. To mark this important change, Disability Living Allowance will now be known as Personal Independence Payment, and will continue to be paid to people in and out of work.

Reform of this benefit needs to follow a social rather than medical model based on a person's needs and the barriers they face rather than their individual disability.

Currently almost 3 million people receive this benefit at a forecast cost of £12 billion per year - the Department's second most expensive working age benefit and far in excess of the initial estimated costs.

Minister for Disabled People, Maria Miller said:

"We want the views of disabled people to be fully reflected in any change we make to DLA and we remain fully committed to the principles of DLA as a non-means tested cash benefit to assist with the extra costs incurred by disabled people.

"The entire welfare system has grown unwieldy and out of control and we need to make sure that money goes to the right people in the most effective and sustainable way.

"Rather than being a poorly targeted and unsustainable benefit, DLA needs to help disabled people live independently and help meet the cost of the barriers that they face in day-to-day life."

The main areas for reform within the consultation are:

Related Publications

• : When we look at facts surrounding British welfare provision towards disability today, we can highlight a number of falsehoods and half-truths that have been consistently used to sell welfare benefit change to the British public.

• : Statistics show the average amount paid from Defined Benefit schemes will reach the highest ever level this year and the amount will fall thereafter.

• : This is a policy that would have an appalling impact on thousands of British disabled people and the U.K. Government must think again.

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APA: Department for Work and Pensions. (2010, December 6). Welfare Reform: UK Disability Living Allowance for the 21st Century. Disabled World (DW). Retrieved January 14, 2026 from www.disabled-world.com/disability/social-security/uk/welfare-reform.php
MLA: Department for Work and Pensions. "Welfare Reform: UK Disability Living Allowance for the 21st Century." Disabled World (DW), 6 Dec. 2010. Web. 14 Jan. 2026. <www.disabled-world.com/disability/social-security/uk/welfare-reform.php>.
Chicago: Department for Work and Pensions. "Welfare Reform: UK Disability Living Allowance for the 21st Century." Disabled World (DW). December 6, 2010. www.disabled-world.com/disability/social-security/uk/welfare-reform.php.

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