Budget - tougher for DLA claimants

zolablue25

No, so I gather from yesterdays statements and this thread, not everyone is assessed. I guess some things are easier to quantify than others. My wife's issue is SLE and fibromyalgia and for the last 10 years or so she has had it BAD! Prior to that it was, on occasion, bad but mostly quite bearable. Given the variability of the sufferers of her condition I suppose an assessment is entirely reasonable, whereas if you've lost a leg, for example, you can pretty much tell what that entails from a form.

TheBottomLine_2

BLT and Burkey (and others who agree with them or who have thanked them for their 'useful' posts) are prime examples of the ignorant and closed-minded attitude towards mental health we still have in this country, even in the 21st century. It's difficult enough trying to live as normal a life as possible but we often have to deal with people like this who have the intolerance levels of a Nazi. Unless they're just trying to wind us up for a bit of fun, in which case they'll be off out later to tip someone out of a wheelchair or kick some crutches away.

It speaks volumes about these people that they have nothing better to do than come here and abuse disabled people. They're clearly working through some personal issues.

blue_monkey_2

TheBottomLine wrote: »

BLT and Burkey (and others who agree with them or who have thanked them for their 'useful' posts) are prime examples of the ignorant and closed-minded attitude towards mental health we still have in this country, even in the 21st century. It's difficult enough trying to live as normal a life as possible but we often have to deal with people like this who have the intolerance levels of a Nazi. Unless they're just trying to wind us up for a bit of fun, in which case they'll be off out later to tip someone out of a wheelchair or kick some crutches away.

It speaks volumes about these people that they have nothing better to do than come here and abuse disabled people. They're clearly working through some personal issues.

DLA should be for people with a an illness that is long term and has extra care needs, it should not be there for people with Depression and Panic Attacks (why do people even get benefit for that FGS). Sick pay yes. DLA no and this is why there needs to be an assessment. I think that people have now come to DEPEND on this money and when they think they might not be getting it are making their conditions worse because of the stress. But they should not have got this money in the first place. I've got asthma, there are lots of things I cannot do, should I be claiming it? I simply live my life to my abilities and get on with it. I do not have any additional needs but I am pretty sure I could make some up to get some money.

DLA is, generally, paid for 2 years and is then reassessed and people can get through their depression in this time and how many people will call up and say they no longer need the money. I am pretty sure the worry of getting caught can only lead to having depression and panic attacks again so that is helping no-one.

Oh, and yes, I can say this as someone who has suffered from depression many times over the last 20 years and yes, someone who has tried to commit suicide 3 times. I also am on lifetime medication for my asthma and without it have a debilitating condition that would leave me struggling for breath and getting up and down the stairs - more so at this time of year. DLA would not have made my condition any better so I would not have any need for the money.

We are living in a dependant state and it needs to change - people cannot get any better of there is no encouragement to get better. If they were paying me to stay at home then I would probably tale the money whereas this benefit did not exist when I was ill so I had no choice but to go out to work whether I was ill or not. I've worked through some terrible, terrible times but I am here to live the tale and I am fine now - I have my off days but then everyone has those, mine can just be darker than others.

And to make the comment about kicking someone out of a wheelchair is just a bit pathetic tbh and this is why the posters retaliate in the way they do with their comments.

Jo_King

I too am all for weeding out fraudsters. I know they exist, and I feel incredibly frustrated at how some people manage to receive DLA.

But I'm afraid I don't have huge faith in the medicals either. My first ATOS medical had a doctor who was utterly understanding in the medical, and actually lied about what he'd seen me do in his report. My second ATOS medical had the doctor actually fill in the wrong medical report (I had a DLA medical, he wrote an ESA report!), he couldn't spell my medical condition, had never heard of it, and so wrote a report pretending it didn't exist. Even though the head of cardiology at the local hospital has told me, very clearly, what I can and can't do.

I've had 2 hospital consultants tell me to stop work, or at least reduce to half time. My GP is seriously concerned. But I know how hard ESA and DLA are to get, so I keep working (I also really want to keep working, but the collapses are putting me at risk). I'll never pass the medical, because ATOS don't understand my condition. I'm in a low paid job, and being ill costs me (you try doing public transport to your hospital or physio appointment when you're liable to sudden collapses!).

What I don't understand is why they don't scrap the forms, and depend on reports from our GPs, consultants and other health care professionals. Surely they know us, and how our conditions impact us, better than anyone else? Why is an ATOS doctor, who sees me for 30-60 minutes, better qualified to comment on how a condition affects me, than my GP and cardiologist who see me regularly?

I do believe the system needs changing, but I fear this system will line the pockets of ATOS, cost Tribunals Service a fortune, and make things significantly more stressful for those with very real medical conditions.

Flutter

blue_monkey wrote: »

DLA is for people with a an illness that is long term and has extra care needs, it should not be there for people with Depression, Sick pay yes, DLA no. DLA is paid for 2 years generally and is then reassessed and people can get through their depression in this time. And I say this as someone who has suffered from depression over the last 20 years and yes, someone who has tried to commit suicide 3 times. DLA would not have made my condition any better.

And some don't in that time.

de1amo

i havent read the whole thread but i havent noticed an answer to something someone raised earlier--do these medicals apply to only people applying for dla after 2013 or for everyone from 2013--as i heard the budget on the radio he definately said -those applying from 2013!

zolablue25

de1amo wrote: »

i havent read the whole thread but i havent noticed an answer to something someone raised earlier--do these medicals apply to only people applying for dla after 2013 or for everyone from 2013--as i heard the budget on the radio he definately said -those applying from 2013!

According to BBC (the only reports I've seen) it says EVERYONE! New and existing.

zolablue25

Jo_King wrote: »

What I don't understand is why they don't scrap the forms, and depend on reports from our GPs, consultants and other health care professionals. Surely they know us, and how our conditions impact us, better than anyone else? Why is an ATOS doctor, who sees me for 30-60 minutes, better qualified to comment on how a condition affects me, than my GP and cardiologist who see me regularly?

Perhaps that is what they will do. We just don't know the detail yet. Given the numebr of people requiring medicals it may not be practical to use ATOS so they may use your GP/Specialist. Until more detail is given we will have to wait and see.

de1amo

i always thought they do revisions periodically-they send the forms out for assessment and drag you in if they feel you have changed--much like dwp does--i had a medical when i first went on dla because initially it was refused but i had to attend an appeal with 3 docs---as the poster says major mental health disorders just dont get better--more likely worse with passing years

[Deleted User]

BLT wrote: »

!!!!!! I'm getting more irritated with by the minute with this DLA scam, you can also get money because you have gone somewhere you haven't been before? I'm off on holiday in a couple of weeks and I'm scared that my sat nav might break down and I end up getting lost.

Where do I claim?

Two questions spring to mind, if you know you are going to have a panic attack going somewhere unfamiliar, why the flying **** go there. Secondly, exactly how does handing over the taxpayers money actually cure the panic attack?

Low rate mobility is not just about panic attacks. I have epilepsy and have 2 types of seizures. When I have partial seizures I'm walking & talking but have no idea where I am, who I am with or any danger I am in. I walk into the road, am vulnerable to people who may want to take advantage and many people assume I am drunk and dont help When I come round I am dazed, confused and still have no clue whats going on, where or why I am where I am and in the state I am in.

I can sometimes predict when I am likely to have these, by timing, auras, stress levels etc. And the tax payers money allows me to take a taxi if I need to go somewhere. This in turn saves the tax payers money because otherwise someone may call an ambulance which would take me to hospital where I would have to spend the next 24hrs costing £££££££££££££££££.

Oh and I still go out to work every day and pay taxes and NI, using DLA to assist with the extra costs.

Yes I agree the system needs a shake up and these medical checks will weed out those that should not be claiming. Yes it will cost a lot but the savings by removing people who dont need it will be greater.

But there are far to many judgemental, discriminatory cretians like you who imao are more concerned you're missing out on something than saving the country money.

You want to walk in my shoes, take my disbailities and the many issues which come along with them go right ahead. Would please me no end to not have to live with them and DLA.