Welsh Independent Living Grant: 900 may be losing out

Janet Finch-Saunders AM has raised concerns about the transparency of the process undertaken by the Welsh Government in transferring powers to local authorities to support the living needs of a number of people with disabilities – with fears that some 900 people may be missing out on vital support.

Following the devolution in 2015 of independent living support for those with additional needs to local authorities in England, the UK Government provided an annual sum of £27m in funding to the Welsh Government to support the 1,600 people who had been in receipt of Independent Living Fund payments.

Rather than providing this resource directly to local authorities to best support these residents, the Welsh Government established the Welsh Independent Living Grant (WILG), which it subsequently removed in March this year, leaving many recipients concerned at losing out – and prompting a prominent petition – signed by 631 people – to be submitted to the National Assembly for Wales.

Janet said:

“In considering this matter through my work on the Petitions Committee, and having met directly with people affected by this issue, it is most concerning to learn of the concerns and apprehensions held by many of those who were in receipt of the WILG.

“Of the current 1,300 people who had received this grant, just 400 are now receiving their support from the local authority – which raises real questions about the effectiveness of the Welsh Government’s transition period, and how the remaining 900 people are being supported currently.

“I shall continue to monitor this situation closely, and work to ensure that the Welsh Labour Government does not allow for anyone to miss out.”