Does getting DLA mean you're officially classed as disabled?

Garnet_Gem

First of all, thanks to all who've answered my queries about DLA on behalf of my sister. :T She's impressed by my knowledge but it's all down to you. (I have confessed) Now that she receives the lower rate of DLA is she now officially disabled?

Hapless_2

yes and no. DLA is paid for either long term illness or disability. It's complicated, some places only accept you as disabled if you are registered disabled by social services (even though there is no need for this now).
Ask many non disabled person what disabled is and they will say.."someone in a wheelchair". I believe most people on here are intelligent enough to realise disabled does not = wheelchair. Many people do not see "invisible" illness or disabilities such as autism/aspergers, FMS/CFS etc.
For a while I was on a disabled forum where I got told that unless permenantly in a wheelchair I wasn't welcome! (sometimes there are no people more discriminating against disabled people than other disabled people)

Morglin

Most places accept reciept of DLA as being confirmation of disability.

Most councils have abolished the old "green card" system, so DLA and/or a Blue Badge is usually the criteria needed to obtain services for disabled people.

Lin

Hapless_2

Morglin wrote: »

Most councils have abolished the old "green card" system,
Lin

Ours is a yellow card .

peachespeaches

I still find this confusing. I get lower rate care DLA and Im not sure if Im considered disabled or not. Sometimes, eg if booking holiday, its enough to say over the phone youre disabled and need a ground floor room. However, getting the lower rate care DLA AND a doctors report didnt get me a disabled parking permit. If I have another go at the DLA and get more I am going to try for the blue badge.

However, as I can walk a short distance (and I mean short: 30 yards) and I am not wheelchair bound, people sometimes look at me askance if I say Im disabled.... then a lengthy description can ensue so I often dont admit to it.

Hapless_2

care component does not get you the badge, it's the mobility that does. this is where sometimes getting assessed by an occupational therapist from social services can help.

Morglin

Hapless wrote: »

Ours is a yellow card .

Oh, most places had grren ones,and as they were seen as "discrimitory", we now have none.

Not sure if that was a result or not.....:rolleyes:

Lin