Give Guide Dog Owners a decent Disability Living Allowance

8.32.00am GMT Mon 30th Oct 2006

Forrest - A trainee Guide Dog

An extra guest at my birthday yesterday was Forrest. Forrest is a trainee Guide Dog, my friends Faye and Ian are hosting him during his training. What I didn't know, but do now, is that although blind and partially-sighted people can claim financial support through the DLA, it is only at a lower rate.

The DLA consists of a care component and a mobility component. Blind and partially-sighted people are only eligible to claim the lower rate mobility allowance, not the higher-rate, even though sight-loss, together with often inaccessible transport systems and streets, means it is often very difficult to move around independently. The lower rate is £16.50 per week, compared to the higher rate of £43.45 per week.

There are four ways you can help this campaign:

Write to your MP about the campaign, telling them your views

Ask your MP to sign an Early Day Motion supporting the campaign.

Ask your MP to come along to the Lobby of Parliament on 4th December 2006.

Come along yourself to the Lobby of Parliament.

For more information and a campaign pack please contact the RNIB Campaign Hotline on 0207 3912123.

Related Link:

Find out more about Guide Dogs