What counts as disability?

lilmisstrouble

When you're claiming disability benefit you don't fill in the form saying what you struggle to do now - you have to get yourself in the mind set of 'what would i pay for help with if i could afford it' - thats what the benefit is for. So if you struggle to lift a saucepan to thepoint of endangering yourself you should put on the form that you cannot lift a saucpan without assistance. Don't emphasise what you can do - tell them what youcan't do without assistance. If you have to go to their doctor and its up 2 flight of stairs and you have mobility problems, don't struggle up the stairs - ring them and tell them you can't get up - then blast them for not adhering to DDA regs. They only know what you tell them so without meaning to be offensive, don't play the martyr.

moochershopper

I am disabled and have a blue badge. I have been challenged once by and elderly gentleman who was most abusive, asking me what was wrong with me, I refused to answer him of course, as I do not think it was any of his business, however, reading all these posts I notice that most of the abuse is coming from elderly people who seem to think you have to be old to be disabled. Its time the realised that age is not a measure of disability. I also think its time they minded their own business !

purpleorc

It broke my heart when I eventually had to give up work. I cried buckets full over this more than I ever did about my diagnosis of MS. I had wanted to become a nurse for while so got the appropriate exams to be able to start. I never envisaged myself as a psychiatric nurse but by error on my part I though it was easy to change to do general nursing later. I never did consider doing general nursing I adored this area. Though it became too dangerous for myself and work colleagues when I could not longer control and restrain. A techiques used when someone is no longer listen to verbal communication and is a danger to themselves or others.

So now I was disabled it opened my eyes even more to the prejudices that we face due to peoples misinformed ideas of disability happens in "old age". When parking the car I have had very look imaginable and even over heard some say I bet she's using her parents blue badge. Just because disability does not come with a tattoo on your forehead informing the world whats wrong it does not mean that you are not disabled.

eddy51

lilmisstrouble wrote: »

my son receives middle rate care lower rate mobility disabled living allowance, has a statement of educational needs but can't be registered disabled by the council as he has GCSE's!

My daughter is on same rates of DLA (middle care, low mobility) and is just completing a Phd. It seems her one of her disablilities dyslexia is very helpful in computer science. She has a gift of being able to think in an abstract way.
Dont think that his disability will hold him back if he shines at something.
However she has great problems in other areas and I would consider that she does have disabilities. I thought that once you are in receipt of DLA you would automatically be classed as such. What help does being registered by a council give? (Sorry I do not mean this to sound sarcastic, I genuinely dont know)

polkadot

I am so incensed after reading this thread. EVERY single one of you, has valid reason for requiring assistance. I use the word "assistance" rather than benefit because I don't think anyone here "wants to need this help". I wrote an email to my MP today about it. I have cerebral palsy. I am a semi left hemiplegic. I look like a perfectly able bodied person, but my hip dislocates on a weekly basis. I can't walk for more than 10 minutes without being in pain and now suffer from depression because Im afraid to go out in case I need a bus and cant get one because I have a two year old son in a buggy (obviously I dont have the strength to carry him). I am on dicloflex, codien and fluoxitine (and I have to pay for my own prescriptions so I'm putting out at least £21 a month). I too, have been refused DLA because I can cook a meal. PLEASE, show me a person in the world who will not FIND a way to feed themselves if there is no one else to do it? I am a cake decorator, I am very passionate about it and I do it despite the fact that I have the full use of only one hand (I can use my left hand but it's mostly just support for my right). Recently, I was offered a job baking cakes for someone who does big orders. Having never worked in the field, and wanting to get a foot in the door...I accepted. I had an interview with her, where I took a batch of cupcakes so she could taste and she asked me to start the following week. I did not mention my CP as to me, it has never been relevant. I spent the first day with her and baked roughly 300 cupcakes. In the morning, I was struggling to do up my apron. She didnt seem to mind until I told her I have CP and showed her my hand. A few days later, she emailed me to say that she was shocked to hear about my disability and didnt feel it was safe for me to work there-and also really she needed double what I had done (she only paid me £50). Before my son was born, I was a quality analyst in a call centre. Now that he is ready for nursery I want to go back to work. Given the current climate, an office job is proving difficult to find. My local charity can't help me as Im not considered "disabled enough" (as you all have discovered) and my local job centre cant help me because I live with my fiance who is employed full time. 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!
If you don't know who your local MP is, you can find out here .
Please write to your local . 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.

I have a blogspot where I will be updating my own progress in this process, but I'm not sure if I am allowed to post it here. So please PM me if you would like the address to follow along. (Or if someone can tell me if I am allowed to post it)

Lady_K

Polkadot

I'm not sure if you can post it in the message I dont see why not, but you can put it in your profile information though as I know others put thier websites in that bit. Then if anyone clicks your name a list will come up with profile at the top and in there you can put your blog address on it.

polkadot

Thanks Lady K

I've put my blog address into my profile now.

Blakespops

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/medical/med_conditions/disability_handbook.asp

This is a handbook for DLA and AA decision makers. It explains the care needs and mobility requirements likely to arise from various disabilities and chronic illnesses.

tracy1_2

polkadot wrote: »

(and I have to pay for my own prescriptions so I'm putting out at least £21 a month).

totally off topic but why don't you buy a pre-payment prescription card - you'll save pounds

LLiam

alamode wrote: »

Too true I have been disabled since 1991 and you can guarantee I get asked at least once a day what is wrong with me as I don't look disabled :mad:

This I can relate to.

When people ask this question, stifle a yawn just before you ask what a disabled person looks like.