Employment and Social Security want to reform the way the States pay out £11 million in allowances to the disabled each year, but they are under no pressure to cut the figure.By setting out grades of disability, they hope to restructure the payments so that people receive benefits according to their needs.
If the scheme is approved by the States, by 2006 people will have their disabilities graded moderate, severe or very severe.Committee president Senator Paul Routier, who is also the president of Jersey Mencap, said that one of the aims behind the reforms was to review the way that more than half the total allowances han-ded out – £6 million – was accounted for by the disabled transport allowance.But he said that there was no pressure on his committee to reduce the overall level of benefits to disabled people in the light of the current clampdown on States spending.With a graded system, he said, some people who do not qualify for allowances now would receive some support.
The assessments on grades of disability, said Senator Routier, would be done by medical professionals and according to set criteria.
