swap from DLA to PIP

Louise03

There are a few people I know, who have claimed DLA for years and are more than capable of working. It has been a life time career choice for them. I sincerely hope that those that can do some type of work will be made to do so - I think that the only ones panicking are the ones that know that their easyride is coming to an end and not before time

sueturnersmith

Louise03 wrote: »

There are a few people I know, who have claimed DLA for years and are more than capable of working. It has been a life time career choice for them. I sincerely hope that those that can do some type of work will be made to do so - I think that the only ones panicking are the ones that know that their easyride is coming to an end and not before time

Hi Louise,

Plenty of people work and claim DLA. They don't stop getting DLA if they get a job, and it is not a requirement of DLA to be out of work.

redz

SuziQ wrote: »

redz- knowing how hard the forms are (My youngest is on HRC, LRM) how on earth do people claim fraudulently? I have had to have medical/professional proof of his conditions and needs, which has been followed up by the assessors. I can sort of understand how professional, organised fraudsters could do this, but ordinary people living on a council estate? I find that a stretch. I also don't think this should be on the benefits board as it's discussion rather than benefit advice.

For obvious reasons I can't go into detail on that, these boards are for helping people receive what they are entitled to not to assist the numerous inherently work shy defraud the system.
I used the term professional because that is how they earn their living, I wasn't trying to imply there was a chartered institute of benefit scroungers or any form of organised gangs involved.

I've lived on a council estate for many years. Apologies to anyone else who also does and took offence. I wasn't branding all council residents as benefit scroungers. The reality is that if your income is from benefits then you have no option but to rent as you will be unlikely to afford/or obtain a mortgage to own your own home.

redz

sueturnersmith wrote: »

Hi Louise,

Plenty of people work and claim DLA. They don't stop getting DLA if they get a job, and it is not a requirement of DLA to be out of work.

Very true. There was at one time a benefit called DWA, Disability Working Allowance, a benefit for disabled people who are willing and able to work. The benefit was merged with DLA and the entitlement rules changes to accommodate and acknowledge this.

[Deleted User]

Cpt.Scarlet wrote: »

PIP is not yet law, although it seems unlikely that it won't be passed and with little if any amendment.

The planned implementation is to start in 2013, but there are no details of how the transfer of existing DLA claimants will be made, except that there will be some sort of assessment.

Children and anyone reaching Retirement age are expected to exempted from the transfer.

The government has said it expects to save at least 20% of the current DLA budget, so it is reasonable to assume that a lot of people currently receiving DLA will lose their benefit.

the disability alliance have given written notice to the govt effectively saying if they press ahead with trying to cut the DLA budget by 20% or £2 billion they will take action in the high court and european courts,since then the govt are using different language about the proposed changes and have said that nothing has been decided yet and no changes will start untill 2014 allowing for further discussion

Anubis_2

Louise03 wrote: »

There are a few people I know, who have claimed DLA for years and are more than capable of working. It has been a life time career choice for them. I sincerely hope that those that can do some type of work will be made to do so - I think that the only ones panicking are the ones that know that their easyride is coming to an end and not before time

No Louise, plenty of genuine claimants are panicking, and rightly so. Genuine claimants deemed fit by Atos have died while waiting for their Appeal - it is not the changes that are an issue, it is Atos and some who work for the DWP. They died from their disabilities/illnesses - the extra stress hastening their demise. These are people who Atos claimed to be 100 percent fit.

So it is not a case of those who have something to hide are the only ones panicking, neither is it a case that if you are genuinely disabled you have nothing to worry about - because everyone is worried.

Macmillan cancer support are very concerned http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Documents/GetInvolved/Campaigns/Benefits/FailedByTheSystemReport.pdf

See here about deaths ( and they are not the only ones)
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/demand-for-fairer-benefits-tests-as-two-die-1.1085915

Full story here http://cobf.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=5110854

Plenty of genuine claimants are going to suffer, that is without a doubt, hence why bigger corporations are fighting the changes.

Muttleythefrog

Louise03 wrote: »

There are a few people I know, who have claimed DLA for years and are more than capable of working. It has been a life time career choice for them. I sincerely hope that those that can do some type of work will be made to do so - I think that the only ones panicking are the ones that know that their easyride is coming to an end and not before time

DLA takes no account of working status unless it evidentially contradicts the claimed reasons for needing DLA as it's a non means-tested benefit. (e.g. I need supervision when outdoors because I panic and lose my sense of direction; I'm an RAF pilot).

mcculloch29

Again, the perception that Disability Living Allowance is claimed by the workshy! ARGH!! I claim DLA because I have severe arthritis along with other disabilities and can barely walk. I do however work a 50 hour week from home. My DLA pays for a cleaner, amongst other things. It also entitles me to a small amount of Disabled Persons' Working Tax Credit.
It was a horrendously difficult benefit to claim and I remain convinced I only got it as my ATOS doctor had recently had an arthritic hip replaced, he knew exactly how I was suffering and could see that nothing was put on . I got it indefinitely but indefinite turned out to be 2013-14. The prospect of losing it then depresses me greatly.

Anubis_2

mcculloch29 wrote: »

Again, the perception that Disability Living Allowance is claimed by the workshy! ARGH!! The prospect of losing it then depresses me greatly.

Yes, I am right with you. However there are certain people think that only the "council house fraudsters" would get depressed or worry over losing it - one of them actually claims to work for the dwp..... It is clear these ignorant people would have others believe that every other claimant is a fraudster ( and there are gangs of these fraudsters on council estates)

Really annoys me - they obviously do not know what it is like to be disabled, live in pain everyday and put up with sh** from abusive ignorants and be called the village idiot in the process. This is what some people are like, it's a sad reflection of today's society and it is obvious they were not brought up with respect.

I have arthritis too, I hear you. I hsve been taken off the steriods (celebex) though as they caused too many problems and can no longer take any form of anti inflammatory meds. I am so glad you got an understanding Doctor, and not one that immediately presumed you a fraud and did not have compassion, because it is obvious that some the dwp employ lack in manners, compassion and ethics. :eek:

Morglin

I have worked for the DWP and have lived on council estates - and DLA has one of the lowest fraud problems. Whatever Redz thinks is happening, it is not awarded without medical evidence, and sometimes a medical examination. Other than previously exempt categories, all awards were subject to both regualr and random review.

The problem is with it is that many disabilities are not always 'in yer face' ones, and many people seem to assume that if someone looks well, they must be frauds lol :whistle:

But, that's not always the case - and it's generally as well for neighbours etc., to accept that they aren't (usually) doctors, and it's really unreliable to make a snap diagnosis peering through the net curtains..............;)

DLA is not, and never has been, an 'out of work' benefit, and providing the job undertaken ties in with what has been claimed, there are no issues over a claimant working - in fact, it's always been encouraged.

The biggest fraud has always been with Income Support, Lone Parent benefits, and Housing Benefit - although much of this so called 'fraud' is often official errors anyway.

If the DWP and councils could get their act together when they calculate entitlement, 'fraud' would plummet overnight.:wall:

The only changes to DLA, so far stated, when it goes to PIP, if it goes, is that lower rate care and mobility will be dropped.

This will not affect kids or pensioners (those pensioners that claimed before they were pension age can keep DLA past pension age).

Lin