Argument with JCP Advisor over ESA

Heycock

Princessdon...Thing is so much has to be done on trust. And I can't see a way around that without an army of ATOS employed "experts" checking up on people. Personally I would welcome more intervention in terms of checks but it's a question of manpower costs versus potential savings. I've got nothing to hide...anyone with experience of caring for early-onset AD will know the problems of nightime wandering...on top of everything else, that was possibly the clincher for higher rate DLA but in all honesty, I was taken at my word. How do you check something like that?

princessdon

Heycock wrote: »

Princessdon...Thing is so much has to be done on trust. And I can't see a way around that without an army of ATOS employed "experts" checking up on people. Personally I would welcome more intervention in terms of checks but it's a question of manpower costs versus potential savings. I've got nothing to hide...anyone with experience of caring for early-onset AD will know the problems of nightime wandering...on top of everything else, that was possibly the clincher for higher rate DLA but in all honesty, I was taken at my word. How do you check something like that?

That's the point there is no checking - leaves it wide open for abuse. There are some very worthwhile carers who are worth far more than the pittance they are paid - but I am not 100% convinced that EVERY carer is in the same situation.

I personally know of 1 lady who claims it - if she does 2 hours a month I'd be suprised. In fact I informed her yesterday that her mother had taken a turn and was in hospital - she had no idea, she *may* pop in to see her.

That person does not equate those who care continually and great expense to their own life/health/mental health etc.

But it is the way it is, and unless it changes (and I don't see how it can change) then it's the way it is.

Spamfree_2

lemontree wrote: »

I mean you SPAMFREE!!!!!!!

You mean me what?

GlasweJen

I claim DLA (high mobility, middle care), I work full time, and in September I'm going to Disney world in Florida for a fortnight.

If you want a breakdown of why I claim DLA, I can't feel from the middle of my back down to my toes and I have numb areas in weird places, this was the result of an accident in a hospital (tried to call a nurse to help me to the toilet, no one came after 20 mins so I tried to go it alone and fell and tangled in the metal bars that stop me falling out of bed). I black out, am doubly incontinent, need numerous medications to keep my immune system in check and stop it munching away on my new heart. I also have high functioning autism and a variant form of dyslexia.

In the morning the carer (privately paid from DLA/WTC) comes in, helps me out of bed and gets me dressed. She then makes me breakfast and helps me into the taxi if I'm working.

At work I use a meal from a company called "wiltshire farms", they're basically ready meals on wheels. Someone from work will move the meal from the microwave to the table, there are 2 reasons for this one is that it's a tight squeeze in the wheelchair and two is that there's a risk I'll black out and burn myself while transporting it (this has happened before). When I go to the toilet at work to change myself I can take care of my actual toilet needs but there's a pull alarm in case I black out.

A work colleague will make sure I get to the taxi ok after work. When I go home my sister is in (except on a Thursday, then mum is there), they make me dinner and then help me to shower and get into my jammies. Then they'll put on a washing and do some general bits of tidying up for me. At the weekend my sister might take me out or I can hire a carer to take me out.

When I go to Disney I'll still have all of those needs but my boyfriend is stepping in to do them and my sister is going away the same fortnight for a bit of time for herself. Going on holiday does not make me any less disabled and I am entitled to a break as much as anyone else.

grummps

I am just picking up on the 'Carers' part of this thread.

Having just completed another 1400 miles over a period of 9 days, I have no idea if I can claim the Carers Premium with Pension Credit.

My elderly relative lives over 300 miles away and every month i drive up to collect him, bring him back, take him home, stay with him for a few days and then retun home.

That 1400 miles represents between 25/30 hours of just driving! I then spend about another 48 hours of looking after him when I take him home, and whilst he is with us, my wife spends upwards of 125 hours in that week looking after him.

In addition to that I deal with his post as everything is sent to me, I telephone him 3 times a week - for an hour a time.

Because you can't average out the time spent caring and only one person can claim to be the carer, I was told by the Carers Unit of the DWP that it has to be every week - 35 hours, not 70+ hours every two weeks, or 140+ hours every 4 weeks.

It would be lovely to have the extra £30 a week Carers Premium which would go some way to cover the fuel cost alone of £215 every month!

But I am left to think that I am the mug, by being too honest and telling the DWP that it is not every week! I could lie, and there is no one to check up on me - is that what I am supposed to do?

sharjay99

Im a carer of my 'disabled' son, put in brackets as joe public would take one glance and say he wasnt, I recieve income support, carers, and he gets high care and mobility etc I would love to be able to take holidays and live the high life on it but im lucky if the money stretches to living costs.

The last holiday we had was a £200 butlins job 18 months ago kindly paid for by the family fund, I cant imagine how you could make it stretch to florida? No disrespect against anyone that does but i'd have to save it for probably 6-8 months without touching it, not paying for any activities my son goes on, not replacing anything he may cut up etc or car windscreens when he kicks them yadda yadda yadda...

It goes on the added expenses of his disabilities which I cant imagine could be put on hold while I save for a sunshine holiday.

While im so desperate for a holiday ( he broke the glass hob on the oven yesterday, dont think £55 carers could cover a new cooker) Id just love to know how it can be budgeted in...

Roll on when I can go back to work without the fear of doctors appointments, school wanting me to collect him, unable to leave him in child care as he could be a risk to smaller children etc etc. When I last needed a crisis loan when there were 2 bank holidays over xmas and money was all over the place and they wouldnt give me one as I couldnt justify every last penny of the DLA, do you think they'd of dished one out if Id told them id just come back from the USA?

GlasweJen

sharjay99 wrote: »

Im a carer of my 'disabled' son, put in brackets as joe public would take one glance and say he wasnt, I recieve income support, carers, and he gets high care and mobility etc I would love to be able to take holidays and live the high life on it but im lucky if the money stretches to living costs.

The last holiday we had was a £200 butlins job 18 months ago kindly paid for by the family fund, I cant imagine how you could make it stretch to florida? No disrespect against anyone that does but i'd have to save it for probably 6-8 months without touching it, not paying for any activities my son goes on, not replacing anything he may cut up etc or car windscreens when he kicks them yadda yadda yadda...

It goes on the added expenses of his disabilities which I cant imagine could be put on hold while I save for a sunshine holiday.

While im so desperate for a holiday ( he broke the glass hob on the oven yesterday, dont think £55 carers could cover a new cooker) Id just love to know how it can be budgeted in...

Roll on when I can go back to work without the fear of doctors appointments, school wanting me to collect him, unable to leave him in child care as he could be a risk to smaller children etc etc. When I last needed a crisis loan when there were 2 bank holidays over xmas and money was all over the place and they wouldnt give me one as I couldnt justify every last penny of the DLA, do you think they'd of dished one out if Id told them id just come back from the USA?

Erm because I work full time? Did you miss the bit where I got packed off in a taxi to work?

Disabled doesn't equal useless! I'm a dispensing optician with a special interest in colorimetry. I make £15.5kpa, the DLA I don't see because that plus the tax credits plus part of my wages goes on having a carer every day, actually having to pay for care is expensive.

As it is the trip was paid by my parents, I just need to provide spending money. It's a gift because my parents wanted to get me something really special to mark me making it a full year after we were all told I was terminal last year. I was on the transplant list back then so they couldn't take me to something as special as that though we did do some pretty neat stuff on my days off work. I could also walk this time last year, I think my family feel bad that I'm not dying any more but I'm stuck in a wheelchair 24/7.

Spamfree_2

GlasweJen wrote: »

I claim DLA (high mobility, middle care), I work full time, and in September I'm going to Disney world in Florida for a fortnight.

If you want a breakdown of why I claim DLA, I can't feel from the middle of my back down to my toes and I have numb areas in weird places, this was the result of an accident in a hospital (tried to call a nurse to help me to the toilet, no one came after 20 mins so I tried to go it alone and fell and tangled in the metal bars that stop me falling out of bed). I black out, am doubly incontinent, need numerous medications to keep my immune system in check and stop it munching away on my new heart. I also have high functioning autism and a variant form of dyslexia.

In the morning the carer (privately paid from DLA/WTC) comes in, helps me out of bed and gets me dressed. She then makes me breakfast and helps me into the taxi if I'm working.

At work I use a meal from a company called "wiltshire farms", they're basically ready meals on wheels. Someone from work will move the meal from the microwave to the table, there are 2 reasons for this one is that it's a tight squeeze in the wheelchair and two is that there's a risk I'll black out and burn myself while transporting it (this has happened before). When I go to the toilet at work to change myself I can take care of my actual toilet needs but there's a pull alarm in case I black out.

A work colleague will make sure I get to the taxi ok after work. When I go home my sister is in (except on a Thursday, then mum is there), they make me dinner and then help me to shower and get into my jammies. Then they'll put on a washing and do some general bits of tidying up for me. At the weekend my sister might take me out or I can hire a carer to take me out.

When I go to Disney I'll still have all of those needs but my boyfriend is stepping in to do them and my sister is going away the same fortnight for a bit of time for herself. Going on holiday does not make me any less disabled and I am entitled to a break as much as anyone else.

You work for a living, you are making an effort, I can't see many who would berate you for that, I certainly wouldn't!

flight747

PippaGirl wrote: »

I can't see how the OP could afford such a holiday himself, I assume his family have paid for it.

My family is paid for me!