What counts as disability?

babyshoes

sh1305 wrote: »

To me, IBS is a disability. It affects me daily in the sense that it can leave me in constant pain and I have to be extremely careful what I do & don't eat. It has also meant that I have weight issues.

Just because it doesn't affect you that much; doesn't mean it doesn't affect someone else like that.

Yes, I know I am lucky with it - being able to (mostly) control it when others can't. I didn't mean any disrespect, I am just concerned about the effect it has on my job.

Thanks for the replies everyone, I guess I just need to keep explaining to my boss the effect it has on those days I am unable to make it in to work, and hope he understands!

Jezzafletcher

Horace wrote: »

Unfortunately because you have one 'good' eye you are not classed as partially sighted, I even asked the RNIB about this because I am in a similar situation although when my glasses allow I can still drive. Access to Work can help you with adjustments in the office but your sight isnt bad enough for them to pay for taxis.

I have one which only has peripheral vision and I am short sighted in the other eye (I re-took my driving test and can drive without restriction). When I was on the dole my DEA told me to claim DLA but I can dress myself and plan a meal so I wasnt disabled enough to get it. I use aids when I am using the computer e.g. zoom text, I have a daylight lamp and have a magnifier that I use when my eyes get tired, I also got myself a 10x magnification mirror so that I can put make up on and have a thing that I clip onto the side of my mug which vibrates when I ger near the top when I am pouring water into it (I tend to use this when I have had surgery)...I am also under 50 years old.

Unfortunately until our sight in our 'good' eyes deteriorate to such a point where we can no longer function properly will we be classed as being partially sighted or even blind and then we will be able to get help in the form of a free bus pass or even have taxis.

Many thanks for the advice - I find it amazing that I was told over 5 years ago now that I could no longer drive, it's deterioated a lot more since then and yet I'm left to battle on - squinting and scowling to get the best vision I can out of the one eye. I'm thinking of a career change - Quasimodo's contorted face might offer me a great future in impersonations - limited repetoir though! In fairness got shed loads of assessment reccommendations through RNIB via Access to Work etc. but my greatest problem is transport - I can't read overhead displays and more than once have found myself in embarrassing situations.!!! With all the snow 7 weeks ago I was happy to carry on walking but without high contrast on roads fell over several times because I couldn't identify where kerbs were etc. Could be worse though - if I were nearer the coast I could habe gone over a cliff!Oh well - will just carry on through my blurry little world looking as if I'm snarling at everyone - but of course not revodnising people I know either!!

jazabelle

babyshoes wrote: »

Yes, I know I am lucky with it - being able to (mostly) control it when others can't. I didn't mean any disrespect, I am just concerned about the effect it has on my job.

Thanks for the replies everyone, I guess I just need to keep explaining to my boss the effect it has on those days I am unable to make it in to work, and hope he understands!

I just wanted to add - what I said before wasn't my personal opinion on IBS, just the DDA criteria. I can imagine it's a horrible illness to have to live with. I hope your boss gets some understanding and treats you properly.

lubylou1

hi can anyone out there tell me if it is possible to claim any sort of disability benifit for my son who is statemented and has dyslexia and dicalculia, i have been told we can claim, but when i applied i was told he does not meet the criteria, i would be grateful of any advice.

jazabelle

lubylou1 wrote: »

hi can anyone out there tell me if it is possible to claim any sort of disability benifit for my son who is statemented and has dyslexia and dicalculia, i have been told we can claim, but when i applied i was told he does not meet the criteria, i would be grateful of any advice.

No, as no care or mobility issues arise from it.

I have both myself, and occasionally I need help, for example numbers don't mean a lot to me so need to help with any kind of maths, but that wouldn't add up to a substantial care need, if you see what I mean.

Indie_Kid

jazabelle wrote: »

No, as no care or mobility issues arise from it.

I have both myself, and occasionally I need help, for example numbers don't mean a lot to me so need to help with any kind of maths, but that wouldn't add up to a substantial care need, if you see what I mean.

Disabilities are different for everyone. So whilst you may not have needs, luby's child might have.

jazabelle

sh1305 wrote: »

Disabilities are different for everyone. So whilst you may not have needs, luby's child might have.

I wasn't aware I'd compared our conditions, or said no needs arise from it. I gave an example of help I need just to show what I meant.

Because as you know, the DWP don't care about about needs, they want to know about care needs, which is slightly different. I don't think dyslexia would have enough care needs to get DLA, no matter how bad it was. It's not going to add up to hours and hours each day really. He may need extra support at school (in fact, I would hope he would get it) but that wouldn't come out of DLA.

I even asked the DWP if I should add mine into my claim form, which was for other things, and was told they wouldn't be interested.

voynich

sh1305 wrote: »

The term "visually impaired" is described as (by NHS) as a condition that can't be corrected by glasses. There are many out there (I have friends who are in this situation) who have almost all their vision; but are classed as visually impaired on the basis that what they have can't be corrected by glasses.

It's possible to get a bus pass without being registered as partially sighted - I have a friend who gets one.

I am registered partially sighted and at my last hospital appointment, was told I could drive. The person who told me that clearly doesn't know the criteria. (it's the worst it's ever been) I am also not going to risk it - it's not safe for me; as someone with an unpredictable condition which causes tiredness.



This is true.



I have one of these and it's the one for two liquids. it scares the crap out of my parents because the beeping is quite loud.

This is an excellent forum for people with disabilities and includes information on DLA guides and ESA and medical conditions -

Sorry as a new user I can not provide a link but google benefits and work who have an excellent forum and news page.

the_mighty_spurs

Dear All,

I have Hypothyroidism. ( Addisons and hashimotos disease ) I also have psioratic arthritus.

I was off work for 6 months because of this last year, and tried to make a claim through the DLA. I have never claimed in my life, and was confused by all the paperwork, but i managed to get the forms sent and a claim applied for.

Its now April, and i have been waiting 13 months for a decision on my claim. Does anyone know why this is taking so long? I was bed ridden for most of my time off work, and although i have returned back to work, i am covered under the DDA act. Could anyone offer any advice. Thanks.

Nenen

polkadot wrote: »

I am so incensed after reading this thread. EVERY single one of you, has valid reason for requiring assistance...

... Yet in my research over the last few days I have seen comments from people who have DLA because they are depressed (but dont want to take their meds anymore so have gone off), have diabetes (but were obese prior to diagnoses) and one has tinitus!...
...I think it is SO important that this type of benefit goes to people who really do need it,rather than people who are just taking the mickey.

Polkadot, I thought the beginning and middle of your mail was spot on and felt so insensed on your behalf about the unfair rejection you suffered when trying to work making cupcakes (they sound delicious by the way). However, I do have a problem with your comment about people who get DLA who you think are 'taking the mickey' and don't deserve it because they have a condition you think is not serious (tinnitus) or they don't take their medication, or were obese prior to being diagnosed as diabetic, thus implying that they caused their disability and therefore should not get DLA. In all of these scenarios I suggest it is a case of 'until one has walked a mile in their shoes' one has no idea of what they suffer and the reasons behind it. Obviously, if you know the people you were quoting personally, and know they lied on their application, then that is a very different matter and I certainly would never condone someone getting DLA who made false statements.

As we have alrerady seen, so many people on this board have been judged harshly and unfairly by people who do not know the full story and it is this judgement that causes people further angst, suffering and, unsuprisingly, anger. I think this could also be the case with the people you quoted. For example, in the case of tinnitus I can only assume that it was so severe that the DLA application showed that the person needed a significant amount of care and/or help with mobility. Severe tinnitus can cause vertigo (dizziness and nausea) with accompanying problems with balance which, I imagine, could make walking and/or preparing food very difficult.

People who are suffering from depression often have an impaired ability to make sound judgements and stopping their medication may be part of their feeling that everything is hopeless whatever they do. It can also be that the side effects of anti-depressants can be so awful that again they cannot bear to continue.

Regarding previous history of obesity, I think we are on dangerous grounds if we discriminate between conditions that have some element of the person causing or contributing to their own disability as where on earth do we draw the line? The extreme of that is that we do not allow anyone to have any DLA unless they were born with a disability or, that prior to them becoming disabled, they had a perfect BMI, ate only healthy food maintaining their '5-a-day' at all times, exercised for at least 30 minutes per day, had never smoked, drank alcohol or taken any illegal drugs, and have never taken any unnecessary risks (would be impossible to judge this one). There is also a strong psychological component to some causes of obesity that are outside the person's control. For example, I cannot remember the exact figures, but know that a significant proportion of people who are classified as 'morbidly obese' were sexually abused as children. Is it then their own 'fault' for being overeating as a response to such trauma? Would you exclude anorexics from getting DLA as they are 'choosing' not to eat?

I think that unless we know someone is deliberately comiting fraud then we can assume, especially given how difficult it can be to get DLA, they have a genuine disability and need assistance. However, there are, as we have seen on this board, lots of people who do need it that do not get it and I agree we should all be writing to our MPs about the situation.