KCC have introduced a policy to means test any severely disabled person receiving higher rate Personal Independence payment or Disability Living Allowance in order to charge them more for their essential care.

This is already resulting in some of our most severely disabled residents cancelling their care package and trying to cope on their own, rather than go into debt trying to pay for their care. This was described as a cost cutting exercise by the Cabinet member at KCC ! This policy is wrong and with 5000 signatures we can fight against it at full Kent County Council to get it overturned

Petition to Kent County Council

We the undersigned petition the Council to:

We the undersigned, being residents of Kent, wish it known that we do not agree with the policy that has been instated requiring some of our most severely disabled and vulnerable inhabitants to pay extra for their care.  

This extra care package amount is, apparently, to be funded by their government, non-means tested, HigherRate Personal Independent Payments and Disability Living Allowances. These benefits were never meant forthe purpose of paying for care, but were created to help disabled people cope with the extra living and day today costs that are incurred simply by being disabled.

We ask that Kent County Council

1) Reassess this policy, including the Equality Impact Assessment, with the view to overturning the decision thatshows very clearly it will disadvantage severely disabled residents on a fixed income.

2) Coincide this reassessment with the setting of the budget 2025/26 to show clearly and succinctly, why themost vulnerable residents need to shoulder the burden for the council’s debt.

3) Debate the reassessment in full Kent County Council.

PLEASE RETURN HARDCOPIES OF SIGNED PETITION TO:- J. Meade, 27 Radnor Park Crescent, Folkestone CT19 5AS

Note: Individuals signing this request must be persons residing, studying or working in the Kent County Council area