reduced tax credits

minx_101

In my opinion the whole system is a shambles, and children with severe disabilities are suffering for it. My daughter was receving HRC up until October and has now been reduced to MRC. Suddenly they deem the condition is not as severe anymore, yet she will have it for life and it hasnt changed in the slightest. Our income has went down and I am now facing an overpayment of tax credits, along with losing the severe disability premium, so our situation is actually getting worse instead of better.

krisskross

I fully agree there are some very poorly children about whose awards for DLA are fully justified.

My own husband has very severe RA. He is also on injected methotrexate plus infliximab and needs the regular blood tests and steroid injections etc . I agree that it must be heartbreaking to see a child suffering like this.

However I think you are wearing rose tinted glasses if you believe everyone receiving DLA for a child is perfectly honest and never exaggerate in their applications.

minx_101

Although I cannot speak on exaggeration by others, I am certainly not wearing rose tinted glasses. My child's applications have always been honest and largely supported by medical evidence. The applications have been exactly the same from day one, and the situation has not or will not change at least until my child is old enough to fend for herself and truly understand the seriousness of her condition, so realistically i don't believe a reduction to MRC has been justified, when HRC has been received all along. May I remind you that the opening post was to ask advice, and not to discuss who is exaggerating in their claims or making lucrative deals from tax credits.

mum24boys

krisskross wrote: »

I fully agree there are some very poorly children about whose awards for DLA are fully justified.

My own husband has very severe RA. He is also on injected methotrexate plus infliximab and needs the regular blood tests and steroid injections etc . I agree that it must be heartbreaking to see a child suffering like this.

However I think you are wearing rose tinted glasses if you believe everyone receiving DLA for a child is perfectly honest and never exaggerate in their applications.

You made an unfair sweeping generalization about sick children. Of course there are families who exaggerate but in society there will always be people who use the system to their advantage whether that be income support, DLA, ESA. I was just pointing out that not all of us use it as a cash making scheme and certainly don't use it to our advantage.

All claims for DLA have to be supported by medical professionals, they don't usually hand it out just like that. Until you have had a sick child i really don't think you can comment because you really don't know what happens and how an illness or disability affects a child and the family. Walk a week in my shoes see how you feel then. Heartbreaking does not even come close.

krisskross

mum24boys wrote: »

All claims for DLA have to be supported by medical professionals, they don't usually hand it out just like that. Until you have had a sick child i really don't think you can comment because you really don't know what happens and how an illness or disability affects a child and the family. Walk a week in my shoes see how you feel then. Heartbreaking does not even come close.

No they don't. I helped my neighbour do a renewal for her daughter last year. She went from MRC to HRC on the basis of the information on the form. Neither her GP or the special school the child goes to were asked to complete any forms.

nannytone_2

minx, you havent actually answered the question about night time needs. all you said is that ' sometimes i have to waker her in the night to have her drink'
another poster asked if it was essential that she had the drink during the night or if she could have it before bed.
does she have to drink them exactly 6 hours apart?

krisskross

nannytone wrote: »

minx, you havent actually answered the question about night time needs. all you said is that ' sometimes i have to waker her in the night to have her drink'
another poster asked if it was essential that she had the drink during the night or if she could have it before bed.
does she have to drink them exactly 6 hours apart?

This could be 11pm though, before the parent goes to bed so not exactly the middle of the night is it? I am sure minx is not setting the alarm for 3am to wake her daughter.

I also understand there have to be fairly substantial night time needs to justify HRC. I doubt giving a drink to an 8 year old, even if it was every night, would suffice.

mum24boys

krisskross wrote: »

No they don't. I helped my neighbour do a renewal for her daughter last year. She went from MRC to HRC on the basis of the information on the form. Neither her GP or the special school the child goes to were asked to complete any forms.

My son's consultant had to write a factual report on my son. Maybe your neighbour sent in supporting evidence such as a statement to support the claim, or when she first had the claim medical professionals were contacted then, it depends on the disability or illness. I do know as a rule its not just handed out and a lot of parents have to fight for it. The fact he goes to a special school speaks volumes as he could not manage in a mainstream school.
Did you tell your neighbour that she was on a lucrative money making deal? I doubt it as her child would be ill enough to warrant it in your opinion.
I cant comment on other peoples situations only my own and i know that we are not making money from my son at all.
Why dont you complain about the single mum claiming lone parent benefits but living with her boyfriend who has a full time job or the work shy who has a bad back and not worked for the past 10 yrs and no intention of working for the next 10 yrs (i have someone like that in the family) instead of picking on children who have some terrible diseases and truly suffer on a daily basis.

mum24boys

krisskross wrote: »

This could be 11pm though, before the parent goes to bed so not exactly the middle of the night is it? I am sure minx is not setting the alarm for 3am to wake her daughter.

I also understand there have to be fairly substantial night time needs to justify HRC. I doubt giving a drink to an 8 year old, even if it was every night, would suffice.

How do you know all this. You never answered my question as to whether you have a disabled child. Im guessing not. I get up in the night to administer meds, sometimes i do have to set an alarm to wake him to keep him pain free. Same with physio. Sometimes his temps are that high it soaks his bed linen so i have to change that.
You dont know what she has to do because your not there. I have to stay awake in the night to ensure that his temps come down so my son does not have a fit. There could be a million reasons why.
Why are you hell bent on making out the OP child does not deserve what she gets and who are you to make those assumptions.

Out of interest does your DH claim DLA for his RA?

krisskross

mum24boys wrote: »

My son's consultant had to write a factual report on my son. Maybe your neighbour sent in supporting evidence such as a statement to support the claim, or when she first had the claim medical professionals were contacted then, it depends on the disability or illness. I do know as a rule its not just handed out and a lot of parents have to fight for it. The fact he goes to a special school speaks volumes as he could not manage in a mainstream school.
Did you tell your neighbour that she was on a lucrative money making deal? I doubt it as her child would be ill enough to warrant it in your opinion.
I cant comment on other peoples situations only my own and i know that we are not making money from my son at all.
Why dont you complain about the single mum claiming lone parent benefits but living with her boyfriend who has a full time job or the work shy who has a bad back and not worked for the past 10 yrs and no intention of working for the next 10 yrs (i have someone like that in the family) instead of picking on children who have some terrible diseases and truly suffer on a daily basis.

I think I have made it crystal clear that I am all in favour of DLA for sick children.

However I am convinced that many people see the extra money as the driving force for their application and that they do exagerrate the care their child needs.

I also find it distasteful that some posters feel the need to practically wish a disabled or sick child on me. I am perfectly capable of interpreting the criteria for DLA without living it.