Budget - tougher for DLA claimants

Trialia

deeplyblue wrote: »

...
* They can define the "soft targets" - this usually starts with people with mental health problems, fluctuating conditions and conditions like fibromyalgia which have some opponents in the British psychiatric community. Get rid of them, and maybe the rest will sort itself out.

* They can use something like the ATOS Can Do test. If the whole thing is being done by a script-driven, computer-moderated interview, then saying things like, "Yes, I can do that, but it leaves me in a lot of pain," get changed into, "Yes," on the computer screen. This is the sort of thing that got ATOS such a bad write-up in the ESA trials. See http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=34214907&postcount=34 for an account of the ATOS way.

* At the moment, the DLA rules accept that you can't or shouldn't do something if it causes excessive pain or fatigue. Simply re-calibrate. "Will it put you in hospital? No? Then it's not unreasonable to expect you to do it 8 hours a day."

What is worrying a lot of people here is the uncertainty as to which method, or methods, the DWP will use. There must also be a lot of doubt as to whether they will tell us which method they are using.

......

And as for the "Why worry now?" query. It makes sense to me to consider how you will manage if, in three years time, your income is going to be substantially diminished, or you will lose your car. If you suspect that one person in 7 is just going to be dropped in it, or if you know that having M.E. leaves you very vulnerable to computerised assessment, then it makes sense to start your financial planning now.

Exactly that. Well said, DB. Point 7 is what worries me particularly and, I'm sure, many of the invisible-illness sufferers on the forum.

In my case, fibromyalgia and mental health issues aren't my only problems, but they are major ones, and while working flat-out eight hours for just a couple of days, if you assume them to be two of my very few 'good days', would not put me in hospital, it would leave me in agony and in bed for a week afterwards. It did that five years ago, and I was a lot healthier then!

seven-day-weekend

broxiebear1 wrote: »

im from scotlamd give us our independance NOW:mad:

I'll gladly stop subsidising you with my taxes, if that is what you mean by independence.

seven-day-weekend

A good post by deeply blue which clearly explains why some people may be worried about the medical.

Oldernotwiser

sh1305 wrote: »

My mum works with people who she'll care for for anything up to 12 hours a day.

But I doubt that this is on a one to one basis.

In my experience a lot of caring involves being around most of the time but not necessarily doing anything active. My husband hasn't had a shower without my being close at hand for nearly 10 years but I've only actually had to help him about half a dozen times. I appreciate that this isn't the same situation for everybody.

Oldernotwiser

broxiebear1 wrote: »

ill tell you why i am worried
i met my partner 4 years ago she has a mobility car high rate for life to see her you would think there is nothing wrong with her i even asked how she had a mobility car as i thought only people in wheel chairs had them well she has asthma (is going on a machine next week ) gluchomia some times severe thats problems with her eyes
problems with her hip spine in severe pain at times waiting to see a specialist as pain clinic cant help her when she picks up her prescription she needs a carrier bag and its full with drugs etc.
yea im worried as i said to look at her nothings wrong with her
now lets say they put her off dla says shes fit for work .she then goes on jsa how the hell is she going to get a job ,then IF she gets a job what happens when shes off work sick because of the pain
she will get fired
I THOUGHT WE DEFETED HITLER THIS COUNTRY IS THE PITS
im from scotlamd give us our independance NOW:mad:

DLA has nothing to do with being able to work - plenty of people get it and work full time.

seven-day-weekend

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

DLA has nothing to do with being able to work - plenty of people get it and work full time.

Quite true, my son's girlfriend works 30 hours a week as a cleaner whilst claiming DLA.

A young friend of ours is a wheelchair user and has a motability car with his high rate mobility DLA, but there is nothing to stop him working in an accessible office, he is intelligent and computer literate. He is looking for such work at the moment.

OTOH, my friend's daughter has special needs and could only work in a very supervised environment as she would not be able to do anything other than the most repetitve and simple tasks without supervision.

It depends how your condition affects you, but many people on DLA are able to work.

Indie_Kid

deeplyblue wrote: »

What is worrying a lot of people here is the uncertainty as to which method, or methods, the DWP will use. There must also be a lot of doubt as to whether they will tell us which method they are using.


There must be a suspicion that whatever those methods are they will not be directed at achieving the best, the fairest results for the limited amount of money, but those methods which will deliver the targets in the fastest and cheapest way.

There are also some things that wouldn't be ok to prove at a medical. I can't shave without leaving lines of hair or cutting myself. I am not willing to show that at the medical. The former isn't too bad I guess; but the cuts do hurt a lot when water is involved.

Many things can't be proved either - as a result of my condition, I see objects move (this is reocgnised by RNIB & Nystagmus Network) - this can make walking up and downstairs dangerous. At a medical, there is no way that can be proved.

krisskross

sh1305 wrote: »

There are also some things that wouldn't be ok to prove at a medical. I can't shave without leaving lines of hair or cutting myself. I am not willing to show that at the medical. The former isn't too bad I guess; but the cuts do hurt a lot when water is involved.

Would an electric razor work to solve this problem?

Indie_Kid

krisskross wrote: »

Would an electric razor work to solve this problem?

I've found they don't shave quite close enough. Whilst it does mean that I don't cut myself whilst shaving, it doesn't help with the issue of leaving lines of hair on my legs.

krisskross

headcone wrote: »

Your poor husband must feel very neglected unless, he is attached to you by a cripple sling.

You are never off here!!!

Where do you find the time to care for him Angel?

When he complains I'll take notice and no one pays me to look after him. It is entirely a labour of love.