28/07/2015
Nearly a month after the government has ended the Independent Living Fund (ILF), an Oxfordshire man who is severely disabled is planning to sue his council.
Oxfordshire County Council cut Luke Davey’s care support at least 50% after the ILF has ended last June 30. Now, Davey is only getting £3,612 for his care support.
The ILF was established in 1988 to provide support for severely disabled people so that they can live in their own homes.
Davey, who has serious cerebral palsy, used ILF support to live in his own apartment with the help of round-the-clock carers. Without such 24-hour service, Davey’s mom, Jasmine, may have to spend the night caring for his son, even if she herself is 74 years old and undergoing treatment to recover from cancer.
An Oxfordshire councillor, Judith Heathcoat, told the Financial Times last July 19, 2015 that Davey may seek supplemental financial support for the next 6 months so that he can adjust to the government’s new scheme of funding.
Davey has been told that he may reduce care services cost if he will hire one full-time care worker. But he said that is not an option because it is not conducive for keeping his independent lifestyle. Instead, he has told a solicitor to prepare a suit against the council.
Davey’s mom told the Financial Times that they do not want to resort to filing a case. She, however, said, “But if we are going to be left in this situation, then I need to look at getting Luke millions.”
