Budget - tougher for DLA claimants

krisskross

summerof0763 wrote: »

so neither of you were ever off sick?
yes amazing what pensioners get to squander money on

Of course we had periods of sickness. As I only paid a small NI stamp I was never entitled to any state sickness benefit, nor was there any maternity benefit. He was and got IB when he was 60 and had severe ill health. Other than that no sickness benefits.

We get to 'squander' money because we have been exceptionally thrifty and are now enjoying spending the savings we accumulated throughout our working lives.

Oldernotwiser

summerof0763 wrote: »

so neither of you were ever off sick?

Not everybody claims benefits if they're off sick.

krisskross

sh1305 wrote: »

It's not that simple though. I had to fight for mine; as do many other people who are entitled to claim it.

But does the fact that you finally only got it after appeal, tribunal etc not suggest to you that it is a bit doubtful if you would win another appeal with a general tightening up of criteria?

I think a lot of borderline claims will be refused when the medicals start.

Indie_Kid

krisskross wrote: »

But does the fact that you finally only got it after appeal, tribunal etc not suggest to you that it is a bit doubtful if you would win another appeal with a general tightening up of criteria?

I think a lot of borderline claims will be refused when the medicals start.

My GP andconsultant weren't contacted - that's why I was turned down. I also know many people who have been turned down - yet do fit the criteria for it.

The criteria is tight enough already.

krisskross

sh1305 wrote: »

My GP andconsultant weren't contacted - that's why I was turned down. I also know many people who have been turned down - yet do fit the criteria for it.

The criteria is tight enough already.

Neither was my husband's GP contacted for his AA claim.

No the criteria is not tight enough otherwise there would be no need to put in additional safeguards.

DX2

sh1305 wrote: »

The criteria is tight enough already.

There is always room for improvement though, no?
You have to admit when people read things in the paper like "DLA claimant claims they can't walk so many metres" yet, they are caught playing football etc etc that things have to be tightened up because these are the people that are giving genuine claimants a bad name.

Indie_Kid

krisskross wrote: »

Neither was my husband's GP contacted for his AA claim.

No the criteria is not tight enough otherwise there would be no need to put in additional safeguards.

It's already tight enough.

krisskross

sh1305 wrote: »

It's already tight enough.

The government intend to reduce the DLA bill by a fifth. That is an awful lot of people going to lose it.No good keep repeating that the criteria are already tight enough. The government don't think so and they hold the purse strings.

kingfisherblue

Wow, so many posts to read since yesterday afternoon!

I just wanted to respond to the comment about carers only likely to be giving five hours care a day. For some, that may be true, but for others, we give in excess of five hours care and have caring responsibilities both day and night.

My son has Down's syndrome and several medical conditions, four of which are rare. In addition to the dressing, washing, cooking for him, helping him to drink (he often forgets), etc, there are many other ways in which I care for my son.

I change his nappies. I have taught him how to change wet nappies, but he still needs supervision as he forgets to clean himself. He can't manage to change his soiled nappies (I won't go into detail as I'm sure people would not want me to :cool:).

I help him with his feeding - cutting up food into tiny pieces (as he chokes otherwise - two of his conditions affect his ability to eat). I encourage him to eat. Although this is improving in some ways, my son has choked so often in the past that he is scared to eat most foods and therefore has a limited diet. His doctors and dieticians can't help. I help him to remove his dishes to the kitchen - we use plastic plates as it is safer when he drops them on the floor! Overnight, I help him with his milk feeds, which he has to take orally. He has had too much internal surgery for a tube to be fitted.

Medication - tablets have to be crushed, as he can't take them otherwise. Inhalers are given via a spacer. Other medication is liquid form. He has nine different medications a day, some up to four times a day. They are not always given at the same time. His medicines have to be given in a particular order or he gets upset. One particular medicine has to be given after everything else, as it acts as a 'lid' in an attempt to prevent his regular vomiting. Of course, I also have to spend time ordering his medicines, as well as appointments at clinics, hospitals, and the doctor.

Vomiting - comforting my son, as well as the cleaning up, changing bed clothes and linen, washing, etc. It's just another part of his conditions, but takes considerable time to deal with, especially as my son mostly vomits during the night. There have been many, many nights when he has spent most of the night choking on a tiny pievce of food that has become lodged in his oesophagus (in mucus around scar tissue). I have lost count of how many times I have sat up all night comforting him, rubbing and patting his back, etc, and the offending piece of food finally being brought up at 4am! Thankfully, it happens less often now, but it is very distressin and exhausting when it does happen.

Supervision - my son has no sense of danger, so he does need constant supervision. If he wants to play outside, it's even more important as he could wander off, has no concept of strangers, etc. His social life is very limited as he cannot play out unsupervised, has poor speech so many children cannot understand him, and wants to play games more suitable for toddlers than for twelve year olds. He has limited mobility due to physical problems, so he can't keep up when other children run about. He can't ride a bike (a popular pastime with children who live round here) and he can only just manage to move a scooter, but only very slowly. We play games and do jigsaws with him, draw with him, etc. All things that you would do with a child, but for longer periods and for the rest of his life.

Children of twelve can usually go to the corner shop, especially if there are no major roads to cross. Not so for my son. He couldn't find his way there, even with instructions (which he would forget), not to mention the danger that he would face crossing a small, residential road, strangers, etc. Nor can I pop to the shop (less than five minutes away) and leave him in the house. You could let others of his age stay in the house for a few minutes while you nipped out to the corner shop.

Television - even when watching TV, my son needs attention some of the time. He often askes 'why?', 'what's that?', etc about whatever is on the screen. He loves his books and can sit for ages reading, but needs help on some words - although I am so proud that he can read, even though it is at a much lower level than other children of his age. Two years ago, he could only read familiar family names, so he has made great progress.

I could go on. There are many more ways in which I care for my son and I know of other parents who also give their disabled children high levels of care. I know that many people do not require such amounts of care, but some disabled people do need it.

Please don't judge the amount of care that others give, or need, as everybody's situation is different.

(Incidentally, I started this post well over an hour ago, but left it part way through so that I could get my son up and ready for the school bus at ten past eight - just in case anybody is wondering how I have managed to post this at this time pof the morning with my son to care for)

Indie_Kid

kingfisherblue wrote: »

He can't ride a bike (a popular pastime with children who live round here) and he can only just manage to move a scooter, but only very slowly

Has he tried a trike? I can't ride a bike either without great difficulty - even more so now because I see objects shake.