Support for people on Welsh independent living scheme outlined by Welsh Government

Improvements continue to be made to the way care is delivered for more than 1,000 disabled people in Wales by helping ensure they get the support they need to live independent lives.

As the Welsh Government confirms it will fund the additional independent care and support assessments for former Welsh Independent Living Grant (WILG) recipients, local Assembly Member, Lesley Griffiths has once again congratulated Wrexham resident, Nathan Lee Davies, whose ‘Save the WILG’ campaign played a key role.

Concerns relating to the Welsh Independent Living Grant were initially raised when it was announced the responsibility for the scheme was to be passed onto local authorities to manage from April 2019.

Many recipients believed this would have a detrimental effect on their wellbeing but in February this year, the Welsh Government unveiled plans to ensure that people who used to receive payments under the WILG would have the opportunity for an independent care and support assessment to take place if they were unhappy with the outcome of their local authority’s assessment.

While most people who used to receive WILG payments are content with the care and support they are now receiving, the announcement offered reassurances and a cast-iron guarantee that people would be entitled to a second, independent opinion.

Lesley Griffiths AM recently received an update from the Deputy Minister for Health & Social Services, Julie Morgan AM, which states all those who requested a second assessment are in the process of being contacted by the Welsh Government to inform them of the next steps of the process.  The Welsh Government is also keen to stress that it will fund all the extra independent care and support assessments.

Ms Griffiths has supported Nathan and facilitated meetings between him and the Deputy Minister in Wrexham.  She said: “This latest Welsh Government update will be welcomed but it is important to remember that none of this would have been achieved if it wasn’t for the ‘#Save the WILG campaign’, fronted by Wrexham resident, Nathan Lee Davies.”

“Changing the way care and support is arranged and provided should never have compromised people’s ability to live independently, and there can be little doubt Nathan’s campaign made a positive difference.”

“I continue to support Nathan and monitor the scheme’s progress but I hope all the individuals who feared they were going to be adversely affected are satisfied with the outcome.”