Blind people in Britain protest exclusion from mobility portion of living allowance

From The Telegraph in the UK:

Blind people are to march on Parliament in protest at their exclusion from a vital disability benefit.

They have accused the Government of "betrayal" over its failure to allow them to claim a mobility allowance that could fund essential trips for medical treatment.

At present they are ineligible for the Disability Living Allowance higher-rate mobility component, even though it can be claimed by wheelchair users who are more mobile.

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) said it had spent 18 months working out a solution with Government officials, only for James Purnell, the Work and Pensions Secretary, to ignore it.

It is now leading the biggest lobby of Parliament by blind people in an attempt to force him to back down.

The charity said it would be a test of Gordon Brown's recent call for fairness.

Steve Winyard, head of campaigns at RNIB, said: "The Government says it wants fairness. What's fair about blind people who can't drive only receiving £17.75 per week when other disabled people who can drive receive £46.75 per week?"

He added: "People with the most severe sight loss are virtual prisoners in their own homes. They suffer fear and anxiety when outdoors from life threatening situations, are missing hospital appointments and employment opportunities and visits to family and friends because they can't afford the cost of a taxi."

The cost of extending the higher rate mobility component of DLA to people with severe sight loss has been estimated at between £30m and £45m.

One of those who could benefit from a change of police is Alan McDonald, 43, from Glasgow. He is blind and needs treatment with dialysis at hospital three times per week. He has also been told by mobility advisers that he is not safe using public transport and has paid around £30 every week for taxis.

Mr McDonald said: "A disabled driver who can't walk but needs the same dialysis treatment as me can choose to drive him or herself to hospital. Being blind means I don't have that choice. If I were eligible to receive the same amount of DLA as a physically disabled person, I would have the money and therefore the choice to hire cabs."

More than 250 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion in support of the RNIB's campaign.