Oxfordshire County Council approve disability cuts despite 'isolation and safety' fears
The authority says they need to do it as they face a £5.4 million budget gap
Oxfordshire disability living allowance cuts have been approved despite hundreds of people fearing “increased financial pressures, social isolation and personal safety” impacts.
A county council plan, previously described as “monstrous” by former Lord Mayor, John Power, will cut disabled people’s living allowances and introduce new charges for means-tested travel and an independent living service.
This follows a consultation that found a majority of people “felt that the proposed changes would result in an overall negative impact mainly due to increased financial pressures, social isolation and personal safety” – only 9 per cent of those surveyed by the council thought the plans were reasonable.
The cuts, approved unanimously by the county council’s cabinet today (Tuesday, July 28), are intended to save £1.8 million a year.
The authority currently spends around £302 million a year on its social care system, supporting over 6,800 people.
The county’s adult social care chief, Rebekah Fletcher (Lib Dem) said “I don’t want to be doing this, but we do have to face the financial reality in front of us and make decisions that protect the long-term sustainability of adult social care for the people who rely on it” as the council attempts to fill a £5.4 million budget gap for 2026/27.
She and other cabinet members described the plan as the first of many cuts to come, adding that people who are unable to financially cope with the cuts can apply for individual assessments.
The cabinet meeting had heard the experience of Zoe Williams, a member of the Unlimited Oxfordshire disability support group.
She said she had applied for an assessment last year after her social contribution rose from £18 to £70.
Zoe described the process, saying it “cost” her “14 weeks, during which time I was paying more than I could afford, 50 emails, 87 receipts, 49 files, and multiple phone calls, all while battling through chronic headaches and cognitive difficulties”.
She added that the purpose of disability benefits is “to help meet the additional costs”.
Zoe explained: “Requiring people to justify how they spend those benefits raises serious concerns about dignity and the right to independent living.”
What are the cuts and additional charges?
Proposals involve a reduction in allowances for people with disability-related expenses such as increased heating costs, additional laundry, specialist clothing, and equipment needs.
Social care is not free at the point of service, and the living allowances known as Disability Related Expenditure (DRE) are a percentage of benefits for living costs left to people after paying for social care.
Currently, people in Oxfordshire are able to keep 35 per cent of their disability benefits as DRE, this will be cut to 25 per cent.
At a scrutiny committee, a former social care chief, Jenny Hannaby (Lib Dem), said 35 per cent was put in place because people “weren’t managing” without it.
The committee also heard “the most vulnerable people in our society” could “suffer” if plans go ahead.
At the same time, it would introduce a £10-a-day care organised transport fee and increase the cost to use independent living technology by more than 50 per cent with a £9.87 weekly charge.
The cuts and charges are set to be introduced with a two-month notice period.