DLA Reform Consultation Started Today!

Indie_Kid

oldestrocker wrote: »

It should be tightened, the conditions should be made more difficult, AND it should be re-tested every 12 months. One simple way of getting rid of the 'bogus' claims.

It's hard enough to get already. Why does there need to be a re-test every 12 months? Waste of time imo - I will always stay the same or get worse. The last 4-5 tests I've had done in the last year prove this. (although I was told that I could come off the partially sighted register - I could; but I wouldn't be legally allowed to get a driving licence)

L6MCT

sh1305 wrote: »

I think they said that if you can mobilise via a wheelchair, you're not entitled, or won't be rather.

I wonder if that means that those of us who get HRM because they suffer severe discomfort trying to walk will be issued with wheelchairs to get around?

I was recently awarded DLA HRM/HRC indefinitely - looks as thought "indefinitely" could mean a couple of years at most.

oldestrocker

sh1305 wrote: »

It's hard enough to get already. Why does there need to be a re-test every 12 months? Waste of time imo - I will always stay the same or get worse. The last 4-5 tests I've had done in the last year prove this. (although I was told that I could come off the partially sighted register - I could; but I wouldn't be legally allowed to get a driving licence)

Which is fine for your case as you appear to be one of the more genuine cases!
But to catch every bogus applicant, they need to check everyone. I'm sure you don't object to that as it would be serving a good cause.

oldestrocker

L6MCT wrote: »

I wonder if that means that those of us who get HRM because they suffer severe discomfort trying to walk will be issued with wheelchairs to get around?

I was recently awarded DLA HRM/HRC indefinitely - looks as thought "indefinitely" could mean a couple of years at most.

Indefinitely means that you can be retested at any time that suits the DWP.

No, they are 'virtual' wheelchairs. They will look at it that IF you did have a wheelchair would your mobility improve. If the answer is yes, then that proves the fact that you should go out and buy one and there is no need for DLA mobility payment.

Indie_Kid

oldestrocker wrote: »

Which is fine for your case as you appear to be one of the more genuine cases!
But to catch every bogus applicant, they need to check everyone. I'm sure you don't object to that as it would be serving a good cause.

I object to be pulled around which would be enough to leave me in severe pain. I have to have tests done by my consultant and GP at least once a year (I'm about to have my 6th test of the year done tomorrow) and always leave in severe pain. Or get so blinded by the lights that I can't see.

Doom_and_Gloom

oldestrocker wrote: »

Indefinitely means that you can be retested at any time that suits the DWP.

No, they are 'virtual' wheelchairs. They will look at it that IF you did have a wheelchair would your mobility improve. If the answer is yes, then that proves the fact that you should go out and buy one and there is no need for DLA mobility payment.

Yes, because obviously a wheelchair means you no longer need to use taxis and no longer need to use trains which a lot of people use their DLA to pay for. It also means that if you are in a wheelchair you can obviously proppel yourself all the time - let me say as a part time wheelchair user I find it difficult and most of the time I have a rather good upper body strength. It also assumes that you don't have any problems with your arms so can use a wheelchair yourself - I can usually can proppell myself but as part of my condition my arms can also become weak which is a b!tch.

By the way it's also a bad thing that they are looking to say if you have better mobility with a wheelchair then you get one and the problem is gone. The doctors and physio on my case would go nuts if I used my wheelchair all the time as they want me to stay mobile for as long as possible by using my crutches when possible. Why should someone who doesn't know my or others conditions fully go against what doctors and physios say?
Being in a wheelchair also causes other problems that I doubt you have realised.

But hey it doesn't matter does it! If a wheelchair makes a person 'more mobile' that's all that counts right? My goodness how stupid can the government et al get!

MrsManda

sh1305 wrote: »

I object to be pulled around which would be enough to leave me in severe pain. I have to have tests done by my consultant and GP at least once a year (I'm about to have my 6th test of the year done tomorrow) and always leave in severe pain. Or get so blinded by the lights that I can't see.

But you presumably recover from the discomfort caused by the tests?
Pretty much everyone who goes to physio comes out in pain but overall it does some good.

MrsManda

Jo_King wrote: »

Secondly, I would like some consideration for keeping people in work. I've been turned down for DLA twice now (I'm in the process of appeal). I want to keep working. I know access to work exists, but it's the ongoing costs. For me, I need physio once a fortnight. It keeps my pain under control so I can manage a day at work. Trying to manage personal care AND go to work leaves me in tears of frustration, and is gradually making me iller (my GP and consultant agree on this). I want to work, but right now the balance of costs means that, once I've paid for the costs of managing my illnesses, I've got less that the minimum wage to live on. So, perhaps, there should be some consideration of the ongoing costs for a person with a disability trying to stay in work.

This I think is one of the major focuses of the consultation. They want to know what extra costs / support disabled people need in order to get into/stay in work.

Indie_Kid

MrsManda wrote: »

But you presumably recover from the discomfort caused by the tests?
Pretty much everyone who goes to physio comes out in pain but overall it does some good.

Yes - but it takes hours or even days to recover. Put it this way, I had a test done about a year ago. I spent the rest of the day feeling as though I was drunk. That isn't exactly comfortable when having to get home.

pwales_2

oldestrocker wrote: »

Indefinitely means that you can be retested at any time that suits the DWP.

No, they are 'virtual' wheelchairs. They will look at it that IF you did have a wheelchair would your mobility improve. If the answer is yes, then that proves the fact that you should go out and buy one and there is no need for DLA mobility payment.

i dont think this will be the case
if they put everyone in vertual or real wheelchairs like u say then no one would qualify for mobility component,
i am a paraplegic i get and will always get mobility component for that reason i am in a wheelchair, if it gets to the stage where a paraplegic person does not qualify for mobility component of dla/pip then it is the end of benefits for anyone