DLA when in receipt of RTWC

daveboy

Some users will already know some of this information but many won't.

I had an operation this time last year which left me with a stoma. Only yesterday, when a magazine came in the post related to stomas, did I realise two things:

1) I am actually classed as disabled under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995

2) I could receive the carers part of the Disability Living Allowance

Some people will wonder why I didn't know.

Well, I claimed Incapacity Benefit for four months after the operation as I could not work whatsoever. But when I had healed and I could move around again I didn't class myself as disabled. But it appears I am classed as disabled under the 'continence' aspect - the fact that those with a stoma use an appliance does not matter under the 'correction aid' part.

Knowing the DDA bit really helps me and may help others as for the last year I have been using ordinary toilets with cramped space to empty my bag. Now I am safe in the knowledge I can use a disabled toilet which has much more space.

But my main question is this:

I came off Incapacity Benefit (which is what it was then) in May 2008, and have been receiving Return To Work Credit of £40 per week since then. This ends on 5 May 2009. If I start a claim of any sort relating to DLA would this interfere or stop the RTWC?

There's only around 100,000 of us out there with stomas....I would be most interested if there are other MSE'ers with one that claim DLA and what they did to get it.

MooseNoodles

are you still empolyed at this moment?

Trasthmatic

Having a stoma does not mean you will get DLA automatically. DLA is awarded for the needs arising from a disability and not the disability itself. Unless you have a reason for being unable to cope with your stoma without help from another person you are probably not gonna qualify for DLA. My dad has a stoma but does not get DLA for it. He gets DLA mob as he has a knackered leg but no DLA care as he can cope with his stoma by himself.

dmg24

I would agree with Trasthmatic. In one of the nursing homes I work with there are three residents with stomas, and none of them are in receipt of DLA (two have applied, the other has even less care needs so it was judged to be not worth applying).

As with any condition, each individual can be affected differently. If you do have care or mobility needs, then there is certainly no harm in applying.

With regard to RTWC, this would not be affected by DLA (or vice versa).