A disabled man has accused Reading council of ‘cutting off’ his support payments.
Dave Jurgensen, who lives in Reading, has asthma, dyslexia and cerebral palsy, requiring him to use a walking stick.
He previously received a ‘Personal Budget’ to help pay for his care.
The budget is often paid monthly and is arranged by Reading Borough Council’s adult social care department.
But he has complained that these payments have been cut for 15 months, with the council ‘forcing’ him into having a new assessment to determine his needs.
Mr Jurgensen said: “My direct payments have been unlawfully suspended for over 15 months, despite repeated assurances from the council that they would be reinstated.
“This has left me without consistent care support, which is a current safeguarding risk under Section 42 of the Care Act 2014.
“The council’s delays and procedural inventions continue to deny me access to safeguarding protections.
“They are forcing me to do a new care assessment, but I am a continued client.”
A ‘Personal Budget’ is separate from the benefits system, which is managed by the Department for Work and Pensions.
Disabled people receive these payments to help with their care. They may also be eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) to make required home adjustments.
Mr Jurgensen received approximately £3000 to make adjustments to his social housing flat in Luscinia View, but only after years of delays.
He said: “I can’t believe what’s happening, I’m carrying on regardless. I had a seven-year delay for the DFG.
“They have unlawfully terminated my care payments, they have never admitted that, this is how they operate. They have ended my care plan, but never put in writing that it ended.
“They are trying to make me a new applicant so they can disregard my grants and all other processes. This is unlawful behaviour.
“I’m not a new applicant, I’m a continuing applicant – I’ve been with them since 2006.
“This council is unlawful and criminal.”
In response, a council spokesperson explained care reviews have to be undertaken on a regular basis, and that payment suspensions are a ‘last resort’, and can be restored following a care review.
They said: “The council has a statutory duty to review a resident’s care and support plan at least once a year to ensure residents are getting the right level of care and support.
“We only suspend support in exceptional circumstances such as a significant period of time since the previous review or lack of engagement and would always be the last resort if unable to meet with the resident.
“Such decisions are communicated to residents in writing, with notice period given.
“Any subsequent engagement would start the statutory process again, with a new Care Act Assessment completed.
“It is best practice for reviews to happen in the resident’s home to ensure we can tailor the right care and support to the person’s environment and complete any risk assessments.
“However, we make every effort and reasonable adjustments to enable a review or assessment to happen.”
