North Devon pensioners would lose out under Labour care plan, claims Milton

A total of 4,350 people in North Devon could lose their disability benefits if Labour s plan to create a National Care Service goes ahead, claims Philip J Milton, Prospective Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for the constituency. He says the small pr

A total of 4,350 people in North Devon could lose their disability benefits if Labour's plan to create a National Care Service goes ahead, claims Philip J Milton, Prospective Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for the constituency.

He says the small print of the plan reveals that attendance allowance and disability living allowance would be scrapped to pay for it.

An average of �3,400 a year would be snatched away from 2.4 million pensioners, equal to a quarter of the average pensioner's income. In North Devon, this would affect 4,350 pensioners, 3,360 of whom receive attendance allowance worth an average of �60 a week, Mr Milton said.

A further 990 receive disability living allowance worth an average of �75 a week.

Mr Milton said: "Gordon Brown has chosen to penalise one of the most vulnerable groups in our society for the sake of another of his eye-catching announcements.

"As with every Labour initiative, someone has to pay and as with many of them it is once again those who are least able to afford it who are hit by Brown.

"These benefits provide vital support for disabled pensioners, giving them the chance to lead an independent life with the freedom to tailor their care to their needs.

"Of course, we need to do more to help people with their care costs, but it is completely wrong to do so at the expense of disabled pensioners.

"Conservatives will protect North Devon's pensioners and fight against Gordon Brown's plan to scrap benefits for the disabled.