Are you made to feel guilty for claiming benefits?

sunnyone

jetta_wales wrote: »

I only pay for half a TV licence :-) stupidly though a black and White licence is cheaper than a licence for somebody registered blind. Go figure.

There will always be people that simply like being ignorant because they enjoy vilifying people. DLA is to aid us to live a life closer to that which we would if we were not dissabled. Thus work is completely irrelevant to it, but nope some just think since it's a benefit of some kind then they can lay into you for receiving it if you are not dirt poor. Maybe they just think all dissabled people should be poor, who knows.

Since you dont live alone you shouldnt get any reduction in TV licence, your boyfriend and kids watch the TV.

moose1982

sunnyone wrote: »

Since you dont live alone you shouldnt get any reduction in TV licence, your boyfriend and kids watch the TV.

She doesn't as described on the TV licencing website's page for severly sight impaired and blind (Link)

The main bit is the start which applies:

You can get a 50% reduction on the TV Licence fee if you’re blind/severely sight impaired. Your licence will also cover anyone who lives with you.

It also says a bit further down that if you live with someone who qualifies, transfer the licence to their name so the household qualifies.

dori2o

A bloke in our local once said to my brother who has only 15% hearing how great it was for him to be able to work and get extra money for his disability.

My brother calmly turned to him and said.

'If u want I'll transfer the disability money to you, but I want you to donate your ears to me and then see how 'great' it is to get the extra money'.

moose1982

Just noticed I've not answered...

I do feel a little guilty at times yes. But then I remember the stupidly long hours I put in while working from the age of 15 to 27, two full time jobs while doing my GCSE's and college wasn't easy but I did it. Later on I worked two jobs again, day shift was 0730-2230 and night shift was 2300-0700, and yes, I didn't sleep. Then working 70 hours minimum Monday-Friday and then doing a voluntary role from 1500 on a Saturday until at least 0100 on a Sunday, usually more.

Most people when they see me can tell I can't walk very well, the crutches are the big giveaway and the fact my legs don't bend properly, some think I have a broken leg but oh how I wish, there would be a light at the end of the tunnel...

It sounds strange but I loved working and would love to return when it's safe for me to do so, but I paid my fair share of 'safety net' funds when I could so the people who couldn't were ok, so now I need a little bit of help, I have it. It's what a decent society should do, help each other out.

happy_lass

dori2o wrote: »

A bloke in our local once said to my brother who has only 15% hearing how great it was for him to be able to work and get extra money for his disability.

My brother calmly turned to him and said.

'If u want I'll transfer the disability money to you, but I want you to donate your ears to me and then see how 'great' it is to get the extra money'.

:T:T:T:T:rotfl:

pixieland

i work and my husband has mental health problems.When we have claimed working tax credit there is a question saying if you have claimed IB before 1993 [i think thats the year] you dont have to put in on the form as taxable income.We never did as we werent sure when he started claiming IB.I phoned them up this year and they have done some checks and we got some back pay.The dog now can go to the vets,gas bill can be paid,council tax now can be sorted even the car can go to the garage and get sorted.We just felt guilty about claiming.

sunnyone

pixieland wrote: »

i work and my husband has mental health problems.When we have claimed working tax credit there is a question saying if you have claimed IB before 1993 [i think thats the year] you dont have to put in on the form as taxable income.We never did as we werent sure when he started claiming IB.I phoned them up this year and they have done some checks and we got some back pay.The dog now can go to the vets,gas bill can be paid,council tax now can be sorted even the car can go to the garage and get sorted.We just felt guilty about claiming.

Its pre 1995 invalidity thats not taxed, it was renamed incapacity in '95 and became taxable and pension which were ignored for IVB reduced IB if they were above £85pw.

happy_lass

i claim carers allowance for looking after my mentally disabled daughter. I work part time too (well under the allowed earnings limit and all declared and above board!). Sometimes i am made to feel guilty for claiming that. But, ive always worked before the kids came along so i guess i have paid into the system too. We have a mobility car for daughters sake too. One 'friend' (who can be very judgemental) said to me once 'does your daughter go in the car very often?'. What kind of a question was that i thought? I think what she was implying was, well if she doesnt go in the car then why should you have it?? I told her straight, yes, it is solely used to take her to her day centre, pick her up from day centre, take her to respite, pick her up from respite, take her to doctors etc etc. Needless to say i dont see this 'friend' anymore !!

lyniced

happy_lass wrote: »

i claim carers allowance for looking after my mentally disabled daughter. I work part time too (well under the allowed earnings limit and all declared and above board!). Sometimes i am made to feel guilty for claiming that. But, ive always worked before the kids came along so i guess i have paid into the system too. We have a mobility car for daughters sake too. One 'friend' (who can be very judgemental) said to me once 'does your daughter go in the car very often?'. What kind of a question was that i thought? I think what she was implying was, well if she doesnt go in the car then why should you have it?? I told her straight, yes, it is solely used to take her to her day centre, pick her up from day centre, take her to respite, pick her up from respite, take her to doctors etc etc. Needless to say i dont see this 'friend' anymore !!

To be honest Carers Allowance isn't worth the paper it's written on. Who'd work for 35 hours+ a week for £53.90? Not many! I think it's awful the amount of work your expected to do for such a small amount, so I certainly wouldn't feel guilty about claiming it. The government needs to seriously review this benefit - it's an insult.

Ames

I haven't read all the replies yet, but no I don't feel guilty. I used to, but I've accepted (with the help of my GP and specialists) that I can't work, and I'm fully entitled to what I get.

That's not to say I don't get angry or upset, or frustrated when people have a go.

I'm about to get an inheritance and was really looking forward to buying my own property and fully adapting it to meet my own unique needs. Last week the jobcentre told me I can't do that, I have to live off it until it's below 8k and I can claim benefits again (costing the state more in the long run, but hey). My sister's response was that it would be a good thing to take me out of the benefits culture, because then I might realise I can work and I'll get a job. Not long ago that would have made me feel really guilty and bad and why can't I do that.

In the past my dad's told me that I should pull myself together and get a job, MI is no reason not to work etc and it really hurt and upset me. But why let them upset me, and make my illnesses worse?

I know the truth, so do my doctors and other relevent workers, and so do the DWP (for now at least lol), what anybody else things really doesn't matter.

As for the 'what do you do?' question, I used to bluff - 'oh I do voluntary work' or 'oh I'm a student' (both true in a very part time sense). Now I just say 'oh I can't work due to illness'. Generally the people who ask are interested in me and so it's just as good an answer as 'oh I work in x shop' or 'oh I'm a x,y,z'. The people who have a go - shout scrounger etc - aren't courteous enough to ask what I do in the first place, they just leap to conclusions due to the stick.