Independent Living Fund consultation launched in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Health Minister, Edwin Poots, has called for the public to express their views on proposed arrangements for the future support of people who receive funding from the Independent Living Fund (ILF).

The ILF, which provides money to help disabled people maintain their independence living in the community rather than in residential care, will close on 30 June 2015.

Minister Poots said: “The ILF has played a significant role in providing support for a number of disabled people in Northern Ireland since the fund was established in 1988.

“The Department for Work and Pensions took a decision to close the Fund with effect from 30 June 2015. That means I will have to decide how best to support those disabled people currently relying on ILF funding to maintain their independence from July 2015 onwards.”

Currently, the ILF in Northern Ireland is funded by the Department for Social Development (DSD). However, this funding will transfer to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) in 2015 as the future support of ILF users in NI will become the responsibility of DHSSPS.

The Health Minister is therefore seeking views on proposals on how current users of the ILF in Northern Ireland can be supported from 1 July 2015.

The consultation will run from 4 August 2014 until 30 November 2014.

The Minister concluded: “In making my decision it is of course most important that I am fully informed and therefore I would strongly urge people in Northern Ireland who will be affected by the proposals contained within this consultation to take this opportunity to make their views known.”

The consultation document can be downloaded here: http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/current_consultations.htm