The government seems likely to be forced into a u-turn over its decision to cut the mobility component of disability living allowance (DLA).
It is expected to confirm the move that applies to people living in residential care for both DLA and its eventual replacement, the Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
The planned move had been highly controversial and had drawn significant protests from disability rights groups and campaigners who claimed it would leave many people prisoners in their care homes.
A partial reversal was announced in the budget and it appears this will be completed.
Learning disability charity Mencap explained that the mobility component of DLA provides ‘vital support to allow disabled people who live in residential care homes to get out independently by allowing them to meet some of the extra costs of accessing suitable transport or to purchase appropriate mobility aids'.
Responding to an article in The Times indicating the government's reversal, Mark Goldring, chief executive of Mencap, said he was pleased with the decision.
"This is a positive example of the government listening to disabled people, who have been among the hardest hit by national and local authority budget cuts," he said.
"The Low Review highlighted the highly detrimental impact that scrapping mobility payments would have had on the independence, wellbeing and rights of the 78,000 disabled people living in residential care, whose mobility needs would not otherwise have been met.
"People with a disability are entitled to live full and independent lives, and disabled people, campaigners and disability organisations are working hard to ensure that the government continues to listen to and take into account the needs of disabled people when considering all further welfare reforms."
However, Disability Alliance warned that the Treasury has previously confirmed that if the £160m targeted cuts DLA are not made it will have to be found in other Department for Work and Pensions' expenditure, potentially meaning steeper cuts in other benefits.
Disability Alliance added that: "With over £1.3 billion to be cut a year from general DLA expenditure by 2015/16 a further £160 million represents 44,000 disabled people losing average DLA payments elsewhere."
