| Independent Living Fund Restricts Applications |
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The Independent Living Fund (ILF) has announced that it will not be accepting any new applications for the remainder of the year, and is unable to make any further awards, except those they have already agreed to fund. The measures will ensure that the existing 21,000 ILF users' awards continue at their current level. However, the ILF cannot afford to increase individual awards above the amount already paid, other than additional support to meet some of their employer responsibilities, and in response to certain changes in their income. Explaining the position, Patrick Boyle, ILF Chief Executive, said, "Our first priority is the 21,000 disabled people we currently support to achieve high quality independent lives. Our Trustees have acted quickly in their decision to protect this group and to meet their responsibility to manage within budget. "We are committed to continuing and developing the excellent service we deliver to our users, allowing them greater flexibility in how they choose to manage their funding." The ILF is writing to all applicants and existing users to make them aware of these latest steps and is continuing its dialogue with local authority partners, disabled people's organisations and others. Please follow this link for more information. |