Budget - tougher for DLA claimants

LindsayO

lilac_lady wrote: »

I don't think that a car would be so sought after if the model was the old style 3wheeler with room only for the disabled person.

I'm not saying that should happen but something's got to change.

I'd love to have a car like that. Well the one I want is an updated version, and is a trike that opens at the back and I can wheel my wheelchair into it and drive direct from the wheelchair, just room for me, just what I want

de1amo

periodically i get questionaires to fill out for dla despite a never changing disorder--i never hear anything further once i complete them in a truthful manner -i presume they contact my doc as they ask for his name and address--isnt that assessment enough-
-i can see the queues around the block at the atos centres --1 queue for dwp and the other for dla--and another for people doing the same medical assessments for both things--i do like the logic of trying to save on government waist--make more sense to merge the departments -cutting the bureaucracy and employing a professional management for the 200 millon plus

Oldernotwiser

blue_monkey wrote: »

and there are those of us that have got through it without the need to ask for benefits. I can personally speak from experience.

As i stated before, had the option been there not to work and to get money for nothing then yes, i probably would have done, i'd have popped some more pills no doubt. Only i did not have that option as it never existed when i was ill. I had just a few days off work in that time and was certainly never signed off for a length of time, i am sure i was a joy to be around but my work kept me going. If work got tough - as it sometimes did, as did the people i worked with - i looked for something else and moved on. I had no friends or family around me, no one i could talk to, no internet forums such as this, no-one to give me money when i had none, i lived on supernoodles and chips but hey ho. I did it because i had to do it. I'd spend my nights crying when life got too tough but i'd go into work the next day - because i had to.

The difference these days is that because there is this dependancy on benefits there is no incentive for people to get better. Yes, i agree, there are some people who cannot cope and for some to go into a unit is the only option, however, there are some people who by a change in job or lifestyle who do them the world of good. For me it was counselling that helped but i had to wait for it. There should be more counsellors trained in helping people with their problems and the counselling should be offered right away and there not be a 6 month wait as there is at the moment because a lot can happen in 6 months.

People would cope because they had to cope, i am sorry if people do not like me saying that but it is true, i did and i am sure many others would too if they were not living on handouts that paid more than a salary does. There are many times i could have been signed off with stress and depression but that would have just left me sitting at home wallowing in my illness and would that have done me any good? In fact, i changed doctors once and the first thing he did was write me a prescription, no listening, no advice. If i'd have been stuck at home i'd have had more time to think on my problems and tried to top myself again no doubt which obviously would have done me the world of good.

There are lots that need changing, dla is a benefit that pays for the additional needs a condition brings, if you are sick then you need sick pay while off work. Those in genuine need and those who need care will continue to get it, their carers will still get ca, their carers will not be expected to work. However, those who do not have a need will either be put off or will be wheedled out. Unfortunately, those that do have a need have to also have to go through being assessed because of the people who are greedy and selfish enough to pretend to have disabilities to get more money from the dwp.

Sorry for those who do not like what i have written and yes, i agree, there are some who do have severe mh problems who do need more than this - but from someone who has been there, sitting at home just gives you more time to wallow in your problems and you are sitting on a self destruct button. I am where i am now because i was no able to do that because otherwise i would have had no money. Labour has created a generation of dependency and people who think having 'stress and panic attacks' because they cannot cope with work entitles them to a life on benefits. And it is those that have got a shock coming.

:t:t:t:t:t:t What happened to the clapping smiley?

daska

blue_monkey wrote: »

OK not sure when I said about being a martyr as I clearly said earlier I have to take my medication or I'd probably die, I'd certainly not be able to get up the stairs or walk around the house.

However, that does not give me an automatic right to hold out my hand for money, sure it would be nice, but for what would I need it for? A holiday?

DLA isn't based on diagnosis it's based on your care and mobility needs. If your medication controls your condition and thereby allows you to get up the stairs and walk around normally then you wouldn't be eligible for DLA mobility.

Oldernotwiser

sh1305 wrote: »

Just because you were able to work through your depression, doesn't man others can.

I get so cheesed off when people keep saying this; it's just an excuse for many people to give up and take responsibility for their own health!

jenniewb

blue_monkey wrote: »

How would DLA have helped me with depression? Serious question. It would not have helped me trying to top myself. Counselling might of though, better access to counselling is required.

Maybe the medics should give the green light for application and not the person with the condition, then the DLA can send the forms to the person. This would ensure that those without a genuine claim cannot ring for a form.

Then if your depression requires DLA there would be a consultant who has agreed your condition requires it.

DLA helps as it funds the therapy needed to live and volunteer/work/study. NHS is quite underfunded in certain areas and my CPN had said as I was not "hearing voices or taking drugs" was not entitled to any therapy with them. She even advised I look privatly and I did. At the time of telling me this I was a few weeks out of psychiatric hospital, had a BMI hovering around 15 (anorexic) and wanted to kill myself. I was also trying to study a degree. Both can be done yes, but for me, therapy/councelling (call it what you will) makes it possible. I did mention my college course at the time and future jobs when claiming- even mentioned them in my past interview but was still awareded the benefit then because DLA was a supporting benefit rather then an incapacity benefit. I know of others who are very disabled to the eye (ie no legs) and do work but still get DLA as its there for helping them go about a functional life rather then paying them for having no legs.

I am not asking everyone here to read up on Depression, but the fact is it is real, it does happen. Along with countless other psychiactric disorders which you cannot see. Just because you have not experienced it and just because there are some who may well fake it for whatever reason, does not mean everyone does and does not mean that it should be ignored. Its a complex disorder which affects a wide variety of people on different levels and is very serious, it affects the brain at a chemical level and the perception of day to day things.

I would ask if people could not use this board for judgement as it is unhelpful and not really answering the question, its just using your own mind to judge something that you are not qualified to judge, there is a whole psychiatric part of the NHS for that.

Indie_Kid

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I get so cheesed off when people keep saying this; it's just an excuse for many people to give up and take responsibility for their own health!

You've clearly never had depression then.

It's not about taking responsibility.

lilac_lady

sh1305 wrote: »

Just as significant, imo.

That's fine! We're all entitled to our own opinions although sometimes you wouldn't think that on the Forums.

de1amo

i had a ex gf whose ex husband was in receipt of higher everything and he worked full time as a surveyor on building sites--he would hobble about on sticks and get to the site in his adapted car--this kinda makes a mockery of things

Oldernotwiser

blue_monkey wrote: »

Because the forms are too easy to fill in for someone who is determined to get something for nothing.

Particularly if you get "help" from one of the organisations that have a vested interest in making successful claims for people and no morals in deciding who they help!