Budget - tougher for DLA claimants

BLT_2

woody01 wrote: »

If you are struggling to get dressed, doesn't this show that DLA isn't for you.
Maybe you need visiting assistance rather than financial assistance? or am i not allowed to say that aswell.

SH1305 struggles to get dressed, she buys takeaways with her DLA because she can't be bothered cooking and the list goes on. Roll on the medicals, she will actually have to get out of bed to go to that, then she can explain away all the 'rare' illnesses she has that the doctors say she hasnt.

Indie_Kid

BLT wrote: »

then she can explain away all the 'rare' illnesses she has that the doctors say she hasnt.

Except there are 2 tests that state otherwise. Or are you a doctor that has access to my medical records and can somehow dispute this claims made by my doctors?

Aputsiaq

daska wrote: »

Why do you say it's not what it's for? It's for the extra costs incurred by the disability - one of his problems is a tendency to destroy things (DS1 is dyspraxic I know about things getting broken, we've had plastic plates since he was weaned LOL) so IMO that is a valid expense.

The money is for CARE needs and MOBILITY needs.
Replacing a door does not come under either category.

Indie_Kid

Aputsiaq wrote: »

The money is for CARE needs and MOBILITY needs.
Replacing a door does not come under either category.

But it still an extra cost incurred by a disability. Care is given for help with bodily functions.

Doom_and_Gloom

Personally I have quite a lot of on going costs karatedragon.

Costs such as taxis - I can't drive and my partner has a motorbike which I can't get on and we can't afford a sidecar so that isn't an option. Even if my partner could drive a car there isn't anywhere to park a mobility car where we live as it is.
Costs such as trains to appointments are also a cost that I have to pay out for which my partner has to go with me to.
If I get a lift off of my parents/friends I pay them for the petrol costs of the lift.

TV, net, books (no library at the moment so have to buy if I want any) etc for stimulation when I can't get out - for a way for you to uderstand the last time I went out was 18 days ago as it stands. Such things may be a luxury for a lot of people but when getting out is difficult/impossible it isn't a luxury anymore. My mobile contract is also not a luxury as if I need help when my partner is at work/out and I need to call someone then I can (my parents have the keys to our place incase of such a thing which I had to pay myself to be coppied). My mobile contract allows me to call my parents or my partner for 'free' as part of the package.

I have to replace the ferrules on my crutches when they wear down. I am going to be buying a wheelchair very soon (I changed my mind on the one I wanted as the one I have my eye on now will mean we can get into a normal taxi as it folds up better than others. It does cost a bit more but will make getting taxis when needed easier as the bigger ones have a longer wait).

I also have to pay out for oesteopaths when needed and believe me they are not cheap. NHS ones are over booked and the wait is usually weeks or months. This is a wait I can not do unless I want to be stuck in bed and not able to have a bath or even get to the toilet.

The above isn't even everything. Maybe you can see that many people have ongoing costs that a lot of the time they have to save up for throught their DLA or doesn't even get covered by DLA.

Aputsiaq

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

We live on my husband's pension and the pension I receive having retired early on health grounds, although we still have a mortgage to pay. Not sure if that's what you call "plenty money".

I just think that DLA/AA should be used for the purpose it's given, that's all. I also think that fewer people would claim it fraudulently if it wasn't paid in cash.

You are right in most senses.
DLA is there for genuine people to claim and noone minds a genuine disabled person receiving a payout....several years ago this was how it was and noone hardly ever knew someone on DLA.
Now (and I blame the Internet and the spreading of information) every man and his dog is claiming someone in the family has DLA.
The amount of children that have sprung up with Aspergers, Austism, ADHD, etc etc who all have parents claiming DLA is shocking. (What will happen when the new information from America blasting these conditions happens, goodness knows)
A household who claims for a child, for instance, could be getting £700/£800 extra a month now. Nice little earner for some and its absolutely not surprising why so many feign illness....for themselves or their children.
The need to do something to stop DLA claiming spiralling out of control, and hopefully the new medicals that all claimants will have to have will either discourage or catch out some malingerers.
Alternatively, they need to alter the criteria to toughen it up or lower the amounts

Prinzessilein

lindashome wrote: »

just suppose i was running a buisness say a cafe for arguments sake theres no way i would want someone ill working for me.& also what about health & safety!

But any half-way decent boss will see beyond a disability....

When my ASD became so bad that I had to leave teaching, I worked for a while in a cafe.

I did book-keeping and also helped with the preparation, cooking and serving food.

Before starting work I had an honest talk with the manager. I explained about my condition and what I was able to offer the company. It was agreed before I started work that I would never be asked to load/unload the industrial dishwasher as this was beyond my abilities.

I was an asset to that business and there was never one complaint about my work. My disabilities did not prevent me doing an amazingly good job and no customer or fellow worker was ever at risk.

I was able to work for this company for almost two years before my condition deteriorated quite severely. For these two years I was not on benefits.

Thankfully, my manager was not as blinkered as you appear to be.

Indie_Kid

Doom_and_Gloom wrote: »

Costs such as trains to appointments are also a cost that I have to pay out for which my partner has to go with me to.

Do you have a disabled persons railcard? Your partner would also get the 1/3 discount too. I was advised that booking 6 weks in advance cuts down the cost. It also depends on what time you go.

Aputsiaq

government_slave wrote: »

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!

Im afraid to say some are and some doctors at that!! I had a doctor once tell me my son would grow out of Autism eventually!!! I was to stunned to speak.[/QUOTE]
Many children do.

Indie_Kid

Aputsiaq wrote: »

Many children do.

Where's this cure then?