Budget - tougher for DLA claimants

easy

jenniewb wrote: »

Come on! If someone wants to cheat the system, they will fake a health problem. They will find a way. An interview with anything other then a bone scanner wont prove them wrong! An interview will only weed out the weaker members of society (and perhaps those most in need) from the strong!

But jennie, the current system is very flawed indeed. Look how many people struggle with the forms, how many have to go to appeal. So even without having to make savings, it's time it went.

How would you do it ???

I would also point out 1 overriding fact.
THE COUNTRY HAS NO MONEY.

Yes, it would be terrific if all those people who are old, disabled, disinclined to work,haved small children to care for, etc etc etc could be financially cared for by the state.
But it can't happen. The funds aren't there.

So every area has to have some cuts, including those of us who have disabilities.

Now the govt could just say "we will save 20% on DLA by reducing the payments to everyone by 20%".
Or they can say "we will look at everyone who is receiving DLA, and see if they all need it"

Which would you prefer?

Indie_Kid

There aren't medical tests for every condition - so how would these medical tests work then?

[Deleted User]

sh1305 wrote: »

There aren't medical tests for every condition - so how would these medical tests work then?

Exactly, what test would they give me. I have epilepsy, would they give me an MRI now that would be very expensive. Besides it would show nothing other than extra activity in the brain and scar tissue from the brain surgery I had. Does not show how many seizures I have, the type or how they effect me.

But then thats why these medicals are not starting for a few years yet and not tommorrow. So they can work these things out.

Trialia

sh1305 wrote: »

There aren't medical tests for every condition - so how would these medical tests work then?

Precisely. They can test and see how far my joints hyperextend, but they can't see how much it hurts, because I've been in pain so long I underreact to it. They can't test for fibromyalgia at all - it is a diagnosis of exclusion. As for bipolar disorder... oy!

I can do something like bending to pick something up once, but to repeat it over and over would mean I'd be stuck in bed most of the next day. I know plenty of people on this forum who have similar problems to that. So the physical tests don't come out accurately either.

Indie_Kid

easy wrote: »

But jennie, the current system is very flawed indeed. Look how many people struggle with the forms, how many have to go to appeal. So even without having to make savings, it's time it went.

How would you do it ???

I would also point out 1 overriding fact.
THE COUNTRY HAS NO MONEY.

Yes, it would be terrific if all those people who are old, disabled, disinclined to work,haved small children to care for, etc etc etc could be financially cared for by the state.
But it can't happen. The funds aren't there.

So every area has to have some cuts, including those of us who have disabilities.

Now the govt could just say "we will save 20% on DLA by reducing the payments to everyone by 20%".
Or they can say "we will look at everyone who is receiving DLA, and see if they all need it"

Which would you prefer?

If you din't give some people DLA, they would most likely end up in care homes. These work out far more expensive.

Jellywobble123

Its the worry of losing the IB and DLA for those with mental health problems that makes matters worse.The previous medicals I have had for IB have been totally useless for my condition...none of the questionaire covers mental health issues in any relevant depth...how you are on the day of a medical bears no resemblance to how bad you can get and I was advised that when you fill out the questionaire you complete it detailing the worse case scenario and how you are restricted etc on a "bad" day....Im sick to death of these idiots targeting people who make these claims due to genuine ill health and not idleness as is sometimes inferred...a comment on one of my medicals was that the fact I looked ok (ie fully dressed and washed) I obviously was ok..total joke! Maybe I should have worn a bandage round my head and not washed for a week! I too have been pensioned off from my career because of ill health and I resent being hauled over the coals like this being made to feel like im some kind of con artist fiddling the Government out of a few quid..my IB is reduced because I get a small pension and I am taxed on it too!
Why they dont sort out the REAL frauds who claim income support etc and yet still manage to go boozing,smoke,have wide screen tellys and go on a nice all inclusive holiday every year....gggrrrrrrrr!!!!!

woody01

Oh and while everyone's taking a pop at people with MH difficulties who get DLA, I only found out a couple of years ago that many morbidly obese people claim successfully - like if you're too fat to get out of your armchair, or look after your personal hygiene, or need adaptations to help you get around, or can't get to the shops to buy more food etc you might be able to get DLA for both care and mobility!!!!!! I think that's pretty shocking and I've got quite a serious weight problem which I take personal responsibility for.

Really?
So if you are too fat to get your behind out of a chair you get benefits?
That is a national disgrace.

kingfisherblue wrote: »

My son has Down's syndrome and several other conditions, resulting in high levels of care both day and night. He also has pain walking (joints are hypermobile and painful, also his chest becomes painful and he becomes breathless), so he receives HRM and HRC. According to his paediatrician, his needs are likely to increase, not lessen. I don't think there will be any problem with his DLA award (currently indefinate) when he has his medical, although the DLA people at Blackpool once asked me when his Down's syndrome would be cured!

The main thing that I worry about is, that as his carer, I might be pushed back into work. I am constantly exhausted as I am up so often in the night. When he is at school, I sometimes go back to bed for a few hours, just to catch up a bit on my sleep.

But life is too short for worrying all the time, so I try to remain positive. It's not worth worrying about things that I cannot change - even though I sometimes do! - but I'm certainly not going to spend the next three years fretting about things!

We have a daughter with Downs, and get MRC/HRM for the same reasons as your son.
We are off on holiday in a few month's, and when i bought travel insurance, i thought i would mention the condition as i do not want it to be invalid for ANY reason.

When i told the lady on the phone my daughter had Downs, she asked me if she 'developed' the condition or had it from birth.
I didn't realise people were that thick!

easy

There aren't medical tests for every condition - so how would these medical tests work then?

ARGHHHHHH!

How many times do I have to say it ??

The proposals talk about having a "medical assessment" for eligibility for DLA.

Now, that term could cover many possibilities, including taking a look at the medical history/social workers reports etc for the claimant.

I'm sure your eligiblity won't be denied on the strength of a 1/2 hour consultation with a doctor, during which you don't happen to have an epilectic fit or whatever.

easy

sh1305 wrote: »

If you din't give some people DLA, they would most likely end up in care homes. These work out far more expensive.

But those people will sail through a medical assessment, and continue to receive the DLA, won't they ?

de1amo

last medical i went to i just didnt take my meds the night before--let them see what is behind the mask of anti psychotics -not a pretty sight!!
Was it here that i read that they are considering under the new dla procedures that mental health issues are not allowable as a stand alone reason for an award--i get so confused by the number of threads that are rattling about this subject--i will be expecting my summons pretty early on in the schedule--i suffer fibromyalge but i never complain about it to my doctor as there is nothing he can do--he once wrote me a prescription for 500 paracetamol-oh what a gift to a manic!!