Should DLA be means tested?

Doom_and_Gloom

I don't think DLA should be means tested as others have stated it would cost alot to implement - probably way more than the savings and although it would create jobs I think it's one of the worst ways in which to do it (changes just to try and show you are doing something :mad:).

The other thing is that there are usually alot of expences that come along with a disability even if it is just going to the hospital because of it. Personally for me that usually means 2 return train tickets as I need my partner to go with me (some hospital appointments mean 2 return bus tickets). Even if I got the disabled rail card that is still alot of money as well as the possible loss of my partner doing overtime also (obviously the bus card would make it free for me but not my partner from what I know). For disabled people who still work, going to a hospital appointment (that can not be rearanged for a non-work day) during usual work time without the possibility off taking it off as holiday etc could easily mean a days pay loss. Not everyone is able to take advantage of the free transport that can be provided by hospitals as the hospital they have to go to is too far away to offer it.

Alot of the time those on DLA spend more than they are reciving to help with the costs of their disability. Means testing on DLA would make a lot of people worse off than they already are.

daska

auditbabe wrote: »

When my disabilities started to affect me more my husband looked into getting me a blue badge to make life easier for me. We were shocked to discovered the only way to get one was via claiming DLA. At the time I was working and I didn't consider my self in need of the benefit, I just wanted the blue card for easier parking so less walking for me.

This is where I believe the system is in fault, to get the badge I had to claim the benefit before I considered I was in need, this is where the system needs to be looked at. Maybe this is where people who don't need the DLA are, like me they needed the badge but not the money.

Whoever told you that you could only get a blue badge if you get DLA is wrong. You can't even apply for DLA if you're over 65! The Blue Badge Scheme Local Authority Guidance

Indie_Kid

daska wrote: »

Whoever told you that you could only get a blue badge if you get DLA is wrong. You can't even apply for DLA if you're over 65! The Blue Badge Scheme Local Authority Guidance

It probably varies by local authority.

daska

If a LA is refusing to allow people to apply for a blue badge then they should be forced to explain why they are not following the guidance from the DfT.

Indie_Kid

metalgal wrote: »

I kinda think it should be means tested to some sort of an extent, but not at the same rate as income support or income based JSA. I think that DLA should be reduced if you have the ability to pay for the additional things yourself. I mean that if you have more than what you would get in DLA left over once your expenses etc. are taken out, but i think that these shouldn't be just the basic that the government thinks you should live on. (BTW where the hell do they get these figures from???What planet do they live on that that's enough to get by??) Expenses should include car use, leisure, clothes etc, so a comfortable lifestyle is not out of the question.

How would that work then? Some of us have weeks where we spend very little money (I don't buy clothes every week or go to football every week) and weeks where we spend more.

I sometimes have the ability to buy the cheaper things that DLA is meant to cover. (wheat free food, wet wipes and nappy sacks, etc.) but not the more expensive items such as glasses - currently need new ones at least once a year.

Oldernotwiser

auditbabe wrote: »

When my disabilities started to affect me more my husband looked into getting me a blue badge to make life easier for me. We were shocked to discovered the only way to get one was via claiming DLA. At the time I was working and I didn't consider my self in need of the benefit, I just wanted the blue card for easier parking so less walking for me.

This is where I believe the system is in fault, to get the badge I had to claim the benefit before I considered I was in need, this is where the system needs to be looked at. Maybe this is where people who don't need the DLA are, like me they needed the badge but not the money.

This isn't true,although many LAs try to give the impression that it is. My husband was in the same position as you and was able to get a BB after an assessment.

TOBRUK

This is a difficult one and obviously some may spend less than others. With care, some are very lucky to have family or a spouse/partner to help out and don't need to pay someone for the help they need.

There are times you don't spend as much of your DLA than others. I had to buy a one handed keyboard - it cost just under £400! Since upgrading to windows vista the keyboard wasn't working properly and found out that I needed to upgrade a chip in the keyboard which had to be sent away - it cost around £80.

Last August the adaption on the car stopped working, I discovered that if they couldn't repair it a new one would cost £1000 before fitting - the fitting depended on make and model of the car. The adaption had to be sent away, leaving me without transport so had to use taxis, or find someone to give me a lift for things like GP, hospital appointments etc. They managed to repair the adaption but the bill still came to £375 and that with exemption of the VAT. I am always looking for different gadgets etc to try and make life easier and everything costs. All disability aids cost a lot of money.

There are a number of things that crop up where you have extra expenditure. I don't know how it would be if they did make DLA means tested to be honest.

sheeps68

Surely if you claim DLA for whatever reason but dont need the money you can give it to charity etc to assist those who do. Therefore I dont think there should be means testing and if there was it needs to be a VERY high threshold.

My DLA pays for my car, and goes towards help, pre-prepared veg etc as I cant do it myself and helped a fraction towards my having to reduce my working hours. I'm afraid it doesn't even remotely meet all my extra expenses created by health issues. I'd be better off working full time and not on DLA, than I am part time but there again I'm alive by this method where chances are I wouldn't if I had not reduced my working time.

Lets also be realistic in DLA mobility goes up a mere fraction each year and certainly not in line with fuel costs. Therefore as we have little choice in using car etc as we can't cycle walk etc as the population keeps being told to we are losing out here too on every fuel price increase. Oh how I'd love to be able to cycle, walk etc instead of using the car for short journeys.

Indie_Kid

TOBRUK wrote: »

This is a difficult one and obviously some may spend less than others. With care, some are very lucky to have family or a spouse/partner to help out and don't need to pay someone for the help they need.

Exactly. When I lived at home (am moving back there soon) my parents did everything that I couldn't. I now have to get others to do it for me or buy adapted stuff to enable me to do it myself.

I also had someone who could go out with me if I needed them to - I don't now and have to take taxis everywhere.

Tally-Ho_2

daska wrote: »

If a LA is refusing to allow people to apply for a blue badge then they should be forced to explain why they are not following the guidance from the DfT.

I work in the Blue Badge department for a large shire county local authority. We follow the DfT guidance to the letter.

However, it is guidance and not an authoritive statement of law. Hence the next county to us, does not strictly follow the guidance and has its own policy with regard to discretionary issue.

The actual regulations,
The Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (England) Regulations 2000

as amended by the Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2007

do leave 'room for manouvre' by local authorties on the discretionary issue question.

It is a difficult quandry because if the regulations were tighter and rigidly specified, it would rule out a lot of the discretion, whereas they currently do afford local authorities a degree of leeway in its discretion. However it is this degree of leeway (or lack of it by certain authorities) that causes the problem.

The guidance is supposed to be a sort of 'happy medium' between strict regulation and discretion, but is only guidance.

Tally