DLA - the purpose

Morglin

swanny65 wrote: »

DLA should be assessed on percentage disability - like Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit. With only 2 Mobilility rates and 3 Care rates it encourages fraudulent or exagerated statements and claims as there is such a large gap in the amount paid between lower / middle and higher rate. Band in 10% groups and pay accordingly. Give automatic assessment to Incapacity Benefit receipients based on their IB medical assessment.

The benefit will never be completely abolished, it may be rebanded like most other things Labour have tried in the past 10 years, as the Motability contract, which the benefit is linked to, is worth too much to UK economy. I believe it is one of the largest contracts in the UK and one of the reasons there are so many Vauxhall Zafira's on the road......

With the general tightening up of the rules regarding both IB and DLA, I don't think "exaggerated statements" would swing it much with rgards to getting a favourable DLA decision.

I don't know where the inpression comes from that people just have to say they have a bad back/sore knees/depression and then money is thrown at them.:rolleyes:

When I applied for DLA, I had to supply GP and consultant reports and copies of scans were supplied.

They certainly didn't take my word for anything - and having filled out hundreds of claim forms for others, I can assure you that, in all cases, a lot of medical evidence was required.

Motability is a charity, not a government scheme, and how they run their operation is entirely their decision. I find the scheme to be brilliant, others don't.

Disability does involve extra costs, and that is what DLA is supposed to pay for.

If you are able-bodied, you cannot understand what the extra costs are - you have to be it to see it.;)

We seem to do a lot of threads on disability and how much we all get - can we do amounts we have pay out on tax credits for those unable to support their families, single parents or youth unemployed next? lol:rolleyes:

Lin

Hapless_2

swanny65 wrote: »

DLA should be assessed on percentage disability - like Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit. With only 2 Mobilility rates and 3 Care rates it encourages fraudulent or exagerated statements and claims as there is such a large gap in the amount paid between lower / middle and higher rate. Band in 10% groups and pay accordingly. Give automatic assessment to Incapacity Benefit receipients based on their IB medical assessment.

The benefit will never be completely abolished, it may be rebanded like most other things Labour have tried in the past 10 years, as the Motability contract, which the benefit is linked to, is worth too much to UK economy. I believe it is one of the largest contracts in the UK and one of the reasons there are so many Vauxhall Zafira's on the road......

I take it you have never had to have a EMP to visit or the stressful and humiliating fight you have to go through to get DLA? The comments off people of.."Well you are not in a wheelchair" or "What's wrong with you then?"
With a fluctuating condition I can be fine for 1 week and unable to do anything for a month.

Have you ever tried to explain that to someone who comes out just to disprove your claim? Have you ever supplied letters from GP's, consultants and OT's and still had it refused and had to fight it?


And for the record, I wouldn't have a Vauxhall Zafira if it was a free car!

It's lovely to have all these opinions from the able-bodied, fully fit people who have such a good idea of what disabling conditions (actual disabilities and illnesses) are like to live with and that so many of us are fiddling the system!:mad:

Penny-Pincher!!

Morglin wrote: »

With the general tightening up of the rules regarding both IB and DLA, I don't think "exaggerated statements" would swing it much with rgards to getting a favourable DLA decision.

I don't know where the inpression comes from that people just have to say they have a bad back/sore knees/depression and then money is thrown at them.:rolleyes:

When I applied for DLA, I had to supply GP and consultant reports and copies of scans were supplied.

They certainly didn't take my word for anything - and having filled out hundreds of claim forms for others, I can assure you that, in all cases, a lot of medical evidence was required.

Motability is a charity, not a government scheme, and how they run their operation is entirely their decision. I find the scheme to be brilliant, others don't.

Disability does involve extra costs, and that is what DLA is supposed to pay for.

If you are able-bodied, you cannot understand what the extra costs are - you have to be it to see it.;)

We seem to do a lot of threads on disability and how much we all get - can we do amounts we have pay out on tax credits for those unable to support their families, single parents or youth unemployed next? lol:rolleyes:

Lin

Same as me Lin. I sent letters confirming disabilities and how it effects me from GP, 3 x Consultants, letter from OT, letter from Direct Payments stating how much I receive and what for. I also sent in a copy of my Blue badge, a copy of a letter from Stannah stating I have a Stairlift and a letter stating that I needed a walk in shower fitted etc etc.

DLA I think is a very difficult benefit to receive.

I have been calculating how much I have paid in Tax & NI since leaving school and its far more than what I have received from DLA to date. Maybe we should start a thread stating what we have paid out in over things:D

I hate being branded as "disabled".......its just my body letting me down. There is nothing wrong with my brain...although OH would probably disagree with this:rotfl:

PP
xx

Morglin

Between us, my OH and I paid out for over 60 years - and as it was our not- so-wonderful NHS that left us permanently disabled, I resent this ongoing suggestion that we are lolling about watching daytime TV when we could really work, if we weren't so idle.:rolleyes:

Meanwhile, I watch when youngsters leave school and appear allergic to work, some women make a career of seeing how many kids they can have by different fathers, and others land on these shores and then claim, before they have ever put anything in.:mad:

Those that tend to chunter the loudest on here also claim Tax Credits, without realising that taxpayers are subsidising them as well, as they are benefits by another name.:rolleyes:

If anyone can cure me, please PM, and I will assure them that I will return to work when that happens. I would lurve to have mobility etc., back.

If anyone wants my benefits, then please feel free to take my disability as well.:rolleyes:

Lin

sorted_2

Well you said it all there, I had to give up a job that i loved because of disability. this was not a chosen path as you say. If able bodied persons want to swap places with me and have my motability car, they are very welcome. I would give anything to be able to walk to a bus stop and get on it.

shazrobo

hi hust thought i,d have my say too.
i am able bodied, claim income support as well as tax credits cos i don't work does this make me an irresponsible person.
hope not,
i have two severley disabled sons, no support whatsoever, so the DLA that my children receive is spent on things they need to make there lives more bearable.
i would much rather have too kids with no disabilities and go out to work rather than rely on benefits

Gemmzie

The last few posts make the point entirely.

Most "disabled" people would happily swap their DLA for being able bodied/minded, it just makes things a tiny bit easier for us and those around us.

skips_mum

Me too, in a perfect world i would go to work and claim no benefits. However in this imperfect world I spend all day and night with my disabled child. And yes, I do sometimes spend my carers allowance on me, and yes I would give it up like a shot if his problems would go away and I could have some time to myself.
I certaintly don't live "the life of riley" - I havent had a full nights sleep for 13 years. I shouldn't have to justify why we get DLA - the consultant, physio, cardiologist, speech therapist, gp, playworker, all supported our claim. The extra money goes on running a car (essential if we want to leave the house) , bedding and clothing (several changes a day), and all the other costs that people without disabilties dont understand. If I seem to be overly tetchy about this I appologise - i need some sleep!

kendalls_cave

I too would swap my DLA for a job and a better life, It is no fun living with bipolar and other mental health stuff. I am constantly in and out of hospital, and have no quality of life. I would love to work, cos to me it is more then about money, it is about status and routine and a place in society. DLA is not easy to get, and I resent it went people say it is. Don't judge unless you have walked in a disabled person's shoes.

Chrysalis

Morglin wrote: »

With the general tightening up of the rules regarding both IB and DLA, I don't think "exaggerated statements" would swing it much with rgards to getting a favourable DLA decision.

I don't know where the inpression comes from that people just have to say they have a bad back/sore knees/depression and then money is thrown at them.:rolleyes:

When I applied for DLA, I had to supply GP and consultant reports and copies of scans were supplied.

They certainly didn't take my word for anything - and having filled out hundreds of claim forms for others, I can assure you that, in all cases, a lot of medical evidence was required.

Motability is a charity, not a government scheme, and how they run their operation is entirely their decision. I find the scheme to be brilliant, others don't.

Disability does involve extra costs, and that is what DLA is supposed to pay for.

If you are able-bodied, you cannot understand what the extra costs are - you have to be it to see it.;)

We seem to do a lot of threads on disability and how much we all get - can we do amounts we have pay out on tax credits for those unable to support their families, single parents or youth unemployed next? lol:rolleyes:

Lin

Yeah a few of mine are having to pay a supermarket to deliver shopping (they have a min expenditure on the food and charge for delivery) and having to pay for taxis everywhere I go, typically I am in the house alot more then the average person as well so have higher heating and electricity bills. There are people worse off then me who I expect have even more costs to worry about.