Let’s Get Benefits Right for People with MND

MND Scotland has submitted a response to the consultation and today launches its ‘Let’s Get Benefits Right’ campaign, which calls for people with MND to be automatically entitled to certain benefits, and for these awards to be life-long.

Craig Stockton, Chief Executive of MND Scotland, said:

“We need to make sure this new social security system treats people with MND with the dignity and respect they deserve.

“Currently, a fast tracking system for benefits like PIP exists for people who are terminally ill. However, this system requires people with MND to, essentially, confirm their life expectancy is less than six months. This is a highly distressing and demeaning process, as well as being very difficult to definitively prove. A system of reassessment is also built into PIP. However, as people with MND can only deteriorate, reassessing them for a benefit they have already qualified for makes no sense.

“We believe that people with MND should be automatically entitled to certain benefits, and that these awards should be life-long. After all, benefits are not a perk of being ill – they are a necessary payment to help people with MND deal with the financial implications that invariably come from having such a disabling medical condition.”

Christina McKelvie MSP has expressed her support for the charity’s campaign, saying

 “I have seen first-hand the devastating impact MND has on people with the illness, their families and friends.

“I applaud the strong commitment from the Scottish Government to treating people with dignity and respect. It is evident throughout the consultation and I know it will be a central plank of the new system going forward.

“MND Scotland’s ‘Let’s Get Benefits Right’ campaign outlines why giving people with MND some benefits, without assessment, and for the rest of their lives, is the best way to embed the principles of dignity and respect into the new system and I am happy to support their campaign aims.”

MND Scotland is also urging the public to help make a real difference to people with MND, by emailing their MSP to ask them to support their ‘Let’s Get Benefits Right’ campaign.