Budget - tougher for DLA claimants

[Deleted User]

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

If you want a Motability car you have to buy it from certain garages. Oxygen is supplied by only one supplier covering certain areas. Choice is not the be all and end all where disability is concerned.

But choice and independence is the reason why DLA, Direct Payments, Supporting People, the ILF and the various DDA's were bought into being.
Those without disabilities are not forced to purchase what they need from certian suppliers. In fact services were forced to compete so we could all have choice on who we buy our gas, electricity, telephones etc from so we can all have choice. Why should those with disabilities not have the same choice with the essential services they need?

krisskross

This is taxpayers money that is handed out and it behoves any responsible government to ensure that best value for that money is obtained.

Whether DLA claimants like it or not the government will decide how the available funds shall be allocated. And hopefully there will be a lot fewer highly publicised prosecutions of cheats who have slipped through in part because there are no independent medical checks on claimants.

Indie_Kid

krisskross wrote: »

You must all be very worried about the validity of your claims if you think they won't stand the scrutiny of a medical.

Many genuine people are turned down time & time again. I once got turned down (I got told that I "have nothing wrong with me and should've adapted by now") and 2 separate organisations told me I should be at least on lower mobility.

Oldernotwiser

sh1305 wrote: »

I sometimes travel too London (200 miles) - it would cost more than 4x the amount I pay for train fare than it would rail fare.

Would you like to translate this?

Indie_Kid

krisskross wrote: »

This is taxpayers money that is handed out and it behoves any responsible government to ensure that best value for that money is obtained.

Whether DLA claimants like it or not the government will decide how the available funds shall be allocated. And hopefully there will be a lot fewer highly publicised prosecutions of cheats who have slipped through in part because there are no independent medical checks on claimants.

But why just DLA? Why not AA too?

[Deleted User]

sh1305 wrote: »

But why just DLA? Why not AA too?

Because that is already under extensive review. And many people who get AA already give a proportion of it up for services from social services.

Oldernotwiser

_shel wrote: »

But choice and independence is the reason why DLA, Direct Payments, Supporting People, the ILF and the various DDA's were bought into being.
Those without disabilities are not forced to purchase what they need from certian suppliers. In fact services were forced to compete so we could all have choice on who we buy our gas, electricity, telephones etc from so we can all have choice. Why should those with disabilities not have the same choice with the essential services they need?

I would disagree with you that choice in terms of utility supply has been particularly beneficial for customers, particularly considering the large profits made by utility companies.

However, I don't see why items being provided direct should mean that people have no choice. It should be perfectly possible for someone to research mobility scooters and wheelchairs and then put in a request for the one they have chosen and then to have it provided for them.

This would seem to be more helpful than giving someone a monthly amount that needs to be saved for a period of time before being able to buy something and would avoid the problem of someone needing a mobility aid but not buying it with their DLA.

Indie_Kid

_shel wrote: »

And many people who get AA already give a proportion of it up for services from social services.

So do those on DLA.

Indie_Kid

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

However, I don't see why items being provided direct should mean that people have no choice. It should be perfectly possible for someone to research mobility scooters and wheelchairs and then put in a request for the one they have chosen and then to have it provided for them.

Wheelchair services already provides wheelchairs for people.

krisskross

sh1305 wrote: »

Oh really? Tell me where then - the ones that are about 99p, you get about 64 in.

Asda smartprice wipes are 50p for 80