Hi, my name is Lee, I have a learning disability (my Dad’s writing this for me) and I’m being continually discriminated against by public institutions. So I’m calling on the Government to stop public bodies from discriminating against me and others with learning disabilities. Here’s my story.

I can’t get a job as no one will give me an opportunity due to my disability so I attend a day centre 4 days a week in Grantham for adults with learning disabilities where I socialise with friends. I have been going there for many years and it was free of charge until Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) brought in a charging policy in 2012.  Also in that year the Welfare Reform Act 2012 became law introducing a benefits cap of £350 per week for a single person without children. The Government made a big case that the benefits cap would not apply to disabled people. However, LCC assessed my benefits and effectively capped them at less than £150 per week. Their adult charging policy is based on Government guidelines which predate the Welfare Reform Act, and they have cherry picked which of the guidelines to apply and ignored others which would be less favourable to them. My MP, Nick Boles a Government minister until recently, and my local Councillor both wrote to LCC saying that the charge is unfair asking for it to be rescinded, but they were ignored.

Lincolnshire County Council outsource a day service for people with alcohol and drug addictions which last year cost over £2.6m. This service is provided free of charge to users. So, a single person with an addiction but no dependent children can receive up to £350 per week and receive free day care whereas, I was born with a disability and have my benefits capped at £150 and have to pay £20+ per week towards my care. This may not seem much, but it’s over one thousand pounds a year and to me it makes a difference.

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust provides free support and treatment via the Drugs and Alcohol Team (DART) to people with addictions, but turned down my application for funding under the continuing care scheme.

My father complained to the Local Government Ombudsmen (LGO) on the grounds of the Council’s unfair charging policy which discriminates against people with learning disabilities. The LGO’s finding is that as long as LCC charge all people with Learning disabilities then I’m not being discriminated against, and that it’s fair that they don’t charge people with addictions for their care. So, again, another public body discriminating against vulnerable adults with learning disabilities.

I don’t mind people with addictions receiving free care, I just want the discrimination to stop.

After attending LCCs Waiver Panel where my application to get the decision to charge me reconsidered, LCC sent me a letter (August 2014) stating that the Council has agreed to review its charging policy and that “Any proposed changes will require the Council to consult with service users and other stakeholders and you will have the opportunity to comment as part of the review”. No review or consultation has taken place.

I haven’t been paying the charge for my care and they say I owe over £2,500. Today I received a letter from SERCO who work on behalf of LCC threatening to take me to court if I don’t pay up by 29th April 2015. I haven’t got £100, let alone £2,500.

This is about my son, but equally applies to thousands in his and similar positions. This petition is about what is right, fair and just in a society that is rapidly becoming devoid of any social conscience. It is a view that is supported and highlighted by the independent report into the future care of people with learning disabilities by the Transforming Care and Commissioning Steering Group chaired by Sir Stephen Bubb, which stated;

“We need a new Charter of Rights to empower people with learning disabilities and their families, and give them the right to challenge the system. We need that system to have the courage to act on these recommendations, and not to promise another false dawn. The time for talk is over. It’s time for people with learning disabilities or autism and their families to be put first.”

Please sign this petition and help stop public bodies discriminating against vulnerable adults with learning disabilities.