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alwaysonthego_2

starchild1972 wrote: »

Yes and it is also to make his life easier, if him being kept occupied by using a games console or reading a ton of books helps him by preventing his boredom when he cannot leave the house therefore improving his mental health then it IS making his life easier.
A king size bed could make his life easier, or even a single bed it all depends on the person and their personal circumstances.
Not everything is black and white you know.

I stand by everything I said DLA is not meant for buying playstations! Imagine trying to protest against the whitepaper being published by saying I need it for playstation games, good defence!

If you read stats and research on playing consoles then you would find it actually worsens mental health. How does having a games machine make your life easier in the care or mobilty needs sense.

He may be house bound but he is not on the rubbish pile yet! There are options for him such as studying etc.

Claire_DC

alwaysonthego wrote: »

DLA is to help people with care and mobility needs to pay for them to get extra help to make their lives easier. This can mean buying mobilty aids, meals on wheels, microwaved meals, hiring a cleaner, carers etc. It is not for people to buy play stations with! Remember this is tax payers money!

"history shows that AA/DLA were created to contribute to all the costs of disability, including lost earnings and higher fuel, clothing, leisure and housing costs."


http://www.communitycare.co.uk/blogs/social-care-experts-blog/2009/07/adult-green-paper-could-be-cat.html


... and that's just the first bit I've found on it. People who are disabled still need a quality of life, surely?

[Deleted User]

alwaysonthego wrote: »

I stand by everything I said DLA is not meant for buying playstations! Imagine trying to protest against the whitepaper being published by saying I need it for playstation games, good defence!

If you read stats and research on playing consoles then you would find it actually worsens mental health. How does having a games machine make your life easier in the care or mobilty needs sense.

He may be house bound but he is not on the rubbish pile yet! There are options for him such as studying etc.

But surely DLA is intended to improve the quality of life for disabled people,and how THEY wish to spend that assistance is THEIR decision,after all no one tries to impose rules on how able bodied workers spend their wages

alwaysonthego_2

woodbine wrote: »

But surely DLA is intended to improve the quality of life for disabled people,and how THEY wish to spend that assistance is THEIR decision,after all no one tries to impose rules on how able bodied workers spend their wages

It is not wages though is it, it is public money!

I am not arguing that DLA should be not spent on improving someone's quality of life, but to use it to buy a games station is not the purpose of DLA. If someone is on a low income because benefits is their only source of income then other things should be prioritised. Also as I have said before playing games is no good for a person's mental health especially when that's their main source of entertaiment.

NASA_2

woodbine wrote: »

But surely DLA is intended to improve the quality of life for disabled people,and how THEY wish to spend that assistance is THEIR decision,after all no one tries to impose rules on how able bodied workers spend their wages

No, but that money is earned, I do have a vested interest in where my tax money goes and if it goes to buy someone an XBox 360 then I am entitled to say that I disagree with that and ask for it to be changed.

spikeysoul

Just out of interest how would you feel about DLA being used to pay for internet access and phone line - it allows for brain activity and contact with the outside world.

How about to go swimming - or to a football match?

alwaysonthego_2

spikeysoul wrote: »

Just out of interest how would you feel about DLA being used to pay for internet access and phone line - it allows for brain activity and contact with the outside world.

How about to go swimming - or to a football match?

The phone line would be essential to contact medical services/carer.

Internet access is not essential so should come out of other income.

Swimming if it helps you medical condition and keep you healthy then it should come out of DLA.

Football match is not essential and should come out of other income and not DLA.

I am confused why you would think having a phone line or internet connection would allow and increase for brain activity. As it is more likely that it would decrease connections in your brain.

Claire_DC

The fact is, is that some people are pretty much housebound by their conditions and sometimes the internet or phoneline is the only way these people keep in touch with anybody who is outside of the confines of their home. Surely keeping in contact with people and in general the world on the internet would allow for some increase in brain activity?

As I said before, disabled people should be afforded the same quality of life that able bodied people are, regardless of where the money is from. Would you say that a holiday to Florida paid for by their benefits is not necessary for a disabled child because it doesn't immediately help their disability?

I think you need to be in the position that some of these people are in to be able to make any judgement on how you think that they should live their lives.

Also, just because you pay taxes, does not mean you should have a say in what these people spend their allowance on - for all you know, your personal tax may go towards paying for a nice new (but ultimately useless) piece of art somewhere for the fatcats at the top to enjoy whilst they also enjoy their massive salaries that you could also be paying towards... I know where I'd prefer my money to be going.

alwaysonthego_2

We are not talking about benefits in general but DLA. How someone wishes to spend their IS/JSA/ESA is up to them, it is for their everyday living costs and non-essential items should be purchased with this money.

DLA is awarded on care/mobilty needs to help their condition so I would think it would be unreasonable for people to use this as excess income to spend on any luxury items instead using it for what it is intended for. No wonder the government is reviewing the system if people are buying playstations and internet connections.

I also do not pay tax as I am a full time student supported by my working husband, so I have not actually used the 'my taxes go to paying your benefits' line!

alwaysonthego_2

The Care component should be spent on helping someone with the following care needs;

Personal care needs

If you:

• need help with, for example, washing yourself, dressing, getting to or using the toilet, getting into or out of bed, moving about indoors, help with medical treatment, help at mealtimes or something similar
• need someone there to keep an eye on you, do you have fits, dizzy spells, blackouts, have falls or stumbles, or have problems communicating
• need someone with you when you go out during the day and / or evening
• have difficulty concentrating, need someone to remind or motivate you to do things, feel panicky or anxious if you try to do things or have other difficulties due to your mental health
• need help preparing or cooking a main meal for yourself due to your difficulties
• have problems when you are in bed, turning over, settling, or staying in bed, being propped up, getting into position to sleep, getting the bedclothes back on if they fall off
• have a child (under 16) who has care needs that are substantially in excess of what is usual in children of the same age (this could be because they need more frequent help or they take longer to attend to)

http://www.tameside.gov.uk/disabilities/livingallowance