Reducing your DLA

snoop2008

Sueinbirmingham wrote: »

I did think of carrying on claiming it at the level I'm entitled to and sending some of it back to the DWP anyonymously by post. They wouldn't know who it had come from, but I'd only have what I need.

But I do like Jetta's idea of asking others to help me to think how else I could spend it.

Hiya Sue, haven't been on for a while but heres what I think. The gym idea is a great one from Jetta. Now I don't know about your circustances, but it's really good of you to want to send the money back. It would be helpful to look at other areas of your care needs or mobility that perhaps you may not have considered. Ok, I have a disability and can not bend my head or neck on most days. Getting my hair cut is a nightmare. I have asked many hairdresers to just cut my hair, of damp it, but they refuse even though I explain to them I can not have my hair washed. Anyway I have a mobile hairdresser who comes to my home. It does cost me more but then again I have my hair looking decent.

Just a suggestion. I am sure when you have thought about it, there are some needs you could think about that you could spend or use the your money.

Take care!!

jetta_wales

redbu wrote: »

Aren't they the company that specialises in Disability Medicine amongst other things?

Lol have a read through the board if you want to find out all about ATOS, there's plenty of threads with very 'descriptive' comments about them :rotfl:

dmg24

jetta_wales wrote: »

Lol have a read through the board if you want to find out all about ATOS, there's plenty of threads with very 'descriptive' comments about them :rotfl:

There are also many cases whereby the claimant is far from incapable of work, but chooses to pursue an appeal rather than seeking the types of work that they are fit for.

The system is far from perfect, but the faults are on both sides of the equation.

jetta_wales

dmg24 wrote: »

There are also many cases whereby the claimant is far from incapable of work, but chooses to pursue an appeal rather than seeking the types of work that they are fit for.

The system is far from perfect, but the faults are on both sides of the equation.

Yes I would completely agree and it is those such cases that have been part of the reason that it has got so difficult for genuine claimants. That and the drive to make significant cuts in the entire welfare bill, most of which I agree with but the ways and means they've employed for assessing disability claimants leave a lot to be desired unfortunately.

sueturnersmith

I'm sure you are OK to use some of your DLA on your broadband access, if only so that you can use it to get advice and support from Moneysavingexpert and other disability support forums.

You say the money is for someone to actually be there - it's not, you know, it's for a need for care, you don't have to have a carer at all. Plus the money is also for your other needs which are over and above an able bodied person. This could include extra heating costs, extra washing powder and electricity for laundry, higher telephone costs when you need to call your GP or someone to offer support, taxis when you need to go out, and lots and lots of other things which disabled people need to make their life easier.

Don't send any money back - you have been given it because you need it - find some ways for making good use of it to make a better life for yourself.

when_will_it_end

hi sue

i was kind of in a similar position, my DD has just recieved a huge amount of money, back dated DLA, she has a similar MH condition as you do

i have put the money in to a high interest savings account for the future

im hoping there will come a time when she will be able to live dependantly and this money will help her at the time

she also says she wants to be able to drive in the future so the money is there for that to

just because the extra money can not be used now does not mean it can not be used in the future for something big

if i was you i would just save the money, i can garantee that something will pop up and you will be glad that you saved up

maybe even a holiday, paying for someone to go with you

Sueinbirmingham

The phone's very useful because I have a package that means I can make as many calls as I like so I can talk to the Samaritans for ages or phone relatives. Someone used to care for me, but he can't now so I've been really poorly recently, but I'm taking loads of extra antipsychotics and extra mood stabilisers to sort it out.

I hadn't thought about using it for my other health conditions. I don't talk about them on here, but they are disabling by themselves. I suppose it's silly to think I can only use the DLA for the condition I applied for it for, not for other needs.

I really appreciate everyone's input.

Sueinbirmingham

I'd certainly like a holiday. I only go out of town for the day once a year with my carer except I don't have a carer now. I haven't had a holiday since 1995, and that was only a weekend. I'd like to spend a few days at the seaside and eat an ice cream and a stick of rock. I'd be too scared to go by myself.

when_will_it_end

sue you can ask any one you like to go with you it does not have to be a carer, just some one you trust, i for sure would not turn down free fish n chips at the sea side

when_will_it_end

im taking my DD on sunday, im glad she does not like scary rides as i am petrified..