Decision on the future of the ILF
On 6 March 2014 the Minister for Disabled People, Mike Penning MP provided a written Ministerial statement on the future of the ILF.
The government has taken the decision to close the Independent Living Fund (ILF) on 30 June 2015 and transfer responsibility for meeting the eligible care and support needs of current ILF users to local authorities in line with their statutory responsibilities. The devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will determine how ILF users in each of those parts of the UK, are supported within their distinct care and support systems.
Written statement to Parliament on the future of the ILF
The ILF will therefore resume closure activity immediately, commencing with a new programme, similar to the transfer review programme, designed to review the needs of our users and make preparations for their transfer to their local authority or devolved administration on 30 June 2015.
We are in the process of writing to all our users to explain this to them. We have published a copy of this letter and the accompanying information sheet.
The ILF is aware that this new position may cause concern for our users and stakeholders and we will continue to support our users to try and minimise this concern. We are in the process of issuing communications to stakeholders and interested parties and we have also been in touch with local authorities, to discuss the detail of the new programme with them.
ILF users can contact their caseworker in the normal way if they require any support.