Budget brings long-term benefits for disabled children

By Ian Macrae

The Chancellor, Alistair Darling has announced increases to child trust funds for disabled children.

Presenting his budget in the commons he said that the government would make available an additional £100 per annum for disabled children and a further £200 p.a for what he termed "Severely disabled children".

The measures will be effective from April 09.

The campaigning group on child poverty, Every Disabled Child Matters (EDCM), welcomed the move but said it would like the Government to go further in the next spending review to ensure that families with disabled children are able to lift themselves out of poverty, in particular by amending the tax credits system, to make work for parents of disabled children a viable option.

They said they would also like the government to do further work on increasing the take-up of Disability Living Allowance to ensure that all families who are eligible receive support.

Campaigners will be disappointed that, although he also announced that the recently instituted increases in Winter Fuel Allowance will be retained, giving £250 to those over 60 and £450 to people over 80, he made no reference to extending the allowance to all disabled people.