DISABLED people are said to be living in fear of more cuts to their care and benefits as they struggle to cope with government changes.

My Life, My Choice trustee Paul Scarrott said many with disabilities in Oxfordshire face daily worries about living costs after having benefits cut and contributions raised.

It comes after the family of Jody Dickinson, 26, from Wantage spoke out about changes to the cost of care.

They now have to pay almost four times as much to receive the same care package due to new rules brought about by the Care Act.

Miss Dickinson suffers from Charge syndrome, a condition which affects her eyes, ears, growth, heart and breathing.

She is deaf and blind and suffers from scoliosis, epilepsy, colitis and lymphodema.

She receives a care package from Oxfordshire County Council which pays for the four days a week she spends at day care and the time her mother Sue spends looking after her at home.

But from April the contribution Jody pays in order to receive these benefits rose from £9.41 a week to £37.26 a week as a result of the Care Act (2014).

Her mother Sue, a carer who lives with her husband Jake, said she was shocked when she received the first bill for the increased contributions in April.

She said: “I honestly thought they had made a mistake.

“I really feel Jody is being discriminated against because of her disabilities.

“She has to have a one-to-one care package, but it would cost a lot more if the package was for residential care. We are saving the council a lot of money by having her at home.”

The Care Act means people who receive the higher rate of attendance allowance, disability living allowance and personal independence payments have these included in financial assessments.

Mrs Dickinson wrote to her MP Ed Vaizey, who forwarded her concerns to Oxfordshire County Council.

The council then told her the changes had come about due to the Care Act and that the council was required to implement them.

Mrs Dickinson said: “Jody attends the Home Farm Trust in Milton Heights four days a week and she does cookery and exercise, she goes swimming, trampolining and so on. Everything we have ever done we have had to fight for Jody’s whole life.

“Unless the Government re-writes the Care Act they will not do anything to help us.”

Mr Scarrott, 44, of Blackbird Leys, said more people will struggle like Jody if the cuts are increased.

He added: “It is very stressful for everybody with disabilities at the moment. I think the cuts which have already been brought in have led people to worry about losing their homes and they cannot afford to go out.”

Claire Wood, whose brother Mark died from malnutrition in August 2013 after his benefits were stopped by the Government, said she was disappointed to hear of Jody Dickinson’s situation.

Mr Wood, from Bampton, was assessed by Atos Healthcare on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions, who decided he was fit to work and therefore stopped his benefits.

Ms Wood, 49, said: “I feel empathy for them and I would encourage them to get advice and get together with other people and work with other organisations which are trying to fight this.”

Oxfordshire County Council spokesman Owen Morton said: “Oxfordshire County Council is locally implementing national legislation and there is nothing unique or unusual about Oxfordshire in these matters.”

Mr Vaizey declined to comment.

* If you’ve been affected by the cuts contact Luke Sproule on 01865 425422