A former councillor is fighting to save his disabled brother's independence following a council's decision to slash his disability benefit by more than 60 per cent.

Tony O' Rourke, 52, is epileptic and has severe learning disabilities with a mental age of five years old.

He has been living in supported accommodation at a four-bedroom house in Abotts Park Road, Leyton, for the past 15 years, after his father passed away and his brother and mother could no longer cope with his needs.

Mr O' Rourke requires support from the 24-hour carers for all aspects of personal care, but his family now fears he could be forced out of his home following a panel decision to cut his weekly care package from £759 to £278.

The 63 per cent reduction was the outcome of an annual assessment of Mr O 'Rourke's needs as an Independent Living Fund (IFL) user.

He will lose out on £481 a week which amounts to £23,040 over the space of 12 months.

The ILF provided financial support to disabled people so they could live independently in the communities, rather than in residential care, but it closed on June 30 when it was transferred to local authority control.

Waltham Forest council has decided not to ring-fence the ILF, but has given no explanation why.

His brother James O 'Rourke, 53, of Wellington Avenue, Chingford, was a social worker for 20 years and is now questioning the council on the £1,920 monthly reduction.

"We've had no explanation why or what the implications could be, but my fear is he will lose this home," he said.

"By living here, he has benefitted and grown so much as an individual.

"I am so proud of him.

"But I'm worried everything he has built up will be lost and the ultimate scenario is, he ends up in an institution or hospital care.

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The ILF paid for Mr O' Rourke to visit the Ellingham day centre in Leytonstone twice a week

"£278 will not pay for the level of care my brother needs - he cannot function without 24-hour support.

"These cuts will mark the end of community care.

"My brother's independence will disappear and he will become lost amongst other people.

"Collectively as carers we need to say to Waltham Forest council they are mad and this is not right.

"Other councils have managed to ring-fence the ILF, but instead everything has been rushed through and this council and Iain Duncan Smith continue to play this blame game."

Mr O' Rourke was a Liberal Democrat councillor for High Street between 2006 and 2010.

Disability campaigners held a demonstration over the abolition of ILF outside the town hall last week.

The council has been contacted for a comment.