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9 March 2004 - Improved support for independent living announced

Minister for Disabled People Maria Eagle has announced an increase in the maximum sums payable by the Independent Living Funds.

The maximum weekly payment from the Independent Living (1993) Fund will increase from £395 per week to £420 per week (£21,840 per year) and for the Independent Living (Extension) Fund from £665 per week to £715 per week (£37,180 per year). The overall maximum limit of the Funds and Social Services input for the first six months of a 1993 Fund will also increase from £665 per week to £715 per week. These increases will take place from 1st April 2004.

Maria also announced the appointment of a new Trustee for the Independent Living Funds.

Mr Nick Danagher has been appointed to the Board of Trustees from 1st April 2004.

Seven Trustees sit as Board members. They are unpaid but are entitled to be reimbursed for all reasonable and proper expenses incurred in carrying out their duties.

Notes for editors

  1. There are two Independent Living Funds operating throughout the United Kingdom paying grants to people with high support needs who wish to live independently. The Independent Living (1993) Fund is open to new applicants and currently supports a caseload of 9500 people. The Independent Living (Extension Fund) supports those people who received help from the original Independent Living Fund which closed in 1993. The Extension Fund case load is over 6000.
  2. The Funds are discretionary Trusts created and funded by the Department for Work and Pensions and Department for Social Development (Northern Ireland) but operating at arms length from Government. They are financed by cash limited grants-in-aid and managed by a Board of Trustees appointed by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. The Trustees have discretion about whom they help within the framework of the Trust Deeds. Their budget for 2003/2004 is over £194 million.
  3. The ILF Quinquennial Review report, accepted by Ministers, recommended that Trustees review the maximum sums payable by the two Funds biennially and make a case to Ministers if they felt that an increase in the sums were appropriate. Following this recommendation the Trustees submitted their request to increase the maximum limit from £395 per week to £420 per week for the 1993 Fund and from £665 per week to £715 per week for the Extension Fund. On 12 February 2004 Maria Eagle agreed to the above request.
  4. The maximum sums were last increased in April 2002.
  5. On 23rd February Maria Eagle agreed to the appointment of Nick Danagher on the Board of Trustees of the Independent Living Funds. Mr Danagher is currently Chief Executive of the Surrey Independent Living Council and also a Co-Chair of the National Centre for Independent Living. He has a vast experience in developing and managing direct payments and personal assistance schemes. Mr Danagher is disabled and is a wheelchair user. He is also a client of the Independent Living Funds.

Independent Living Funds' address:

PO Box 7525
Nottingham
NG2 4ZT
Telephone: 0845 601 8815
E mail: funds@ilf.org.uk
Website: http://www.ilf.org.uk

For further information please contact Nick Turton or Tracy Lee on: 0207 238 0756/0725
General Press office: 020 7238 0866
Out of hours: 07659 108883
Public enquiries: 020 7712 2171

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