"Registered Disabled"?

jlawrence

Hi all, this may sound like a stupid question, but how can someone access these offers if they don't get PIP or DLA because they choose not to claim them?
Seems a bit unfair to say that you aren't disabled unless the DWP say you are and they can only do that if you claim and get awarded DLA/PIP.

[Deleted User]

tbh i think there has to be some way of recognising who is disabled and the receipt of pip or dla is as good a way as any

sunnyone

Parva wrote: »

Most of that I knew (apologies, not meaning to be condescending), it's the general help that I was alluding to. Perhaps I'm not finding the groups or people that can connect me to others in my situation. I have a car, I can drive it and one way or another, I can get my wheelchair out of the boot and get into it.

Perhaps I am not searching correctly as I literally go outdoors maybe four times a year - all of which are for hospital appointments. I am intending to change this as soon as possible because indoor life gets a little boring.

Most active wheelchair users keep their chairs on the passenger seat after removing the pop off wheels so that they can go out alone, it takes a bit practice and it causes damage to the car but motability recognise this a a ware and tear (your car is motability isn't it?)

Indie_Kid

woodbine wrote: »

tbh i think there has to be some way of recognising who is disabled and the receipt of pip or dla is as good a way as any

Not really, considering that many disabled people don't meet the criteria for DLA/PIP.

Parva

sunnyone wrote: »

Most active wheelchair users keep their chairs on the passenger seat after removing the pop off wheels so that they can go out alone, it takes a bit practice and it causes damage to the car but motability recognise this a a ware and tear (your car is motability isn't it?)

Yeah, that is something I really must try sometime. Whilst I can hobble around to the boot and just about manage to get the wheelchair out it looks somewhat ungraceful and more importantly, it's downright dangerous! My wheelchair does indeed have the pop-off wheels so I really must give this a try sometime, it's a far better solution than what I do currently (or rather have done, once).

jlawrence

Indie_Kid wrote: »

Not really, considering that many disabled people don't meet the criteria for DLA/PIP.

Thanks Indie, yes that is what I was thinking too. I presume that if you don't get PIP/DLA you will not be accepted as being truly disabled enough. Which brings me back to my point, what happens if you choose not to claim or are over 65 and can't claim? Why should someone put themselves through the trauma of making a claim just so that you are 'recognised' as being disabled enough or accept that they are not disabled enough because they are too old?

nannytone_2

people over the age of 65 claim attendance allowance. this is paid for care needs and so, a disability is recognised.
i suppose that someone who is diabled, but chooses not to claim DLA/PIP is already able to meet the additional costs of their disability?
it doesnt mean that people that dont/cant claim disability benefits arent disabled, more an assumption that because they can meet the extra costs, they dont need the 'extra's.
this isnt my opinion.... just my thoughts on how they reach their decisions

jlawrence

nannytone wrote: »

people over the age of 65 claim attendance allowance. this is paid for care needs and so, a disability is recognised.
i suppose that someone who is diabled, but chooses not to claim DLA/PIP is already able to meet the additional costs of their disability?
it doesnt mean that people that dont/cant claim disability benefits arent disabled, more an assumption that because they can meet the extra costs, they dont need the 'extra's.
this isnt my opinion.... just my thoughts on how they reach their decisions

Thanks Nanny, I forgot all about Attendance Allowance. So what you are assuming is that those that don't make a claim would have enough money to cover the extra costs of a disability. I seem to remember that both Cameron and Brown claimed DLA for their children, do I assume that they didn't have enough money and needed the extra? It doesn't matter anyhow as we are happy enough in not having our disabilities 'recognised' even though the extra money would go a long way in helping out.

nannytone_2

i'm not assuming anything. i personally think that everyone entitled to claim , should!
cameron is undoubted wealthy... but disabilty benefits are deliberately not means tested.
they are to ensure that NO ONE is worse off than they would be if they had no disability.
.
it is individual choice whether to claim or not, but the system finds it easier to recognise those that do.
to be honest though ... why else would someone choose money they are entitled to, unless they can afford to do without it?

jlawrence

nannytone wrote: »

i'm not assuming anything. i personally think that everyone entitled to claim , should!
cameron is undoubted wealthy... but disabilty benefits are deliberately not means tested.
they are to ensure that NO ONE is worse off than they would be if they had no disability.
.
it is individual choice whether to claim or not, but the system finds it easier to recognise those that do.
to be honest though ... why else would someone choose money they are entitled to, unless they can afford to do without it?

Thanks nanny, I hear what you say, but it shouldn't be the situation that you must claim a disability benefit if you want to be recognised as having a disability. Personally, we aren't worse off as we have nearly £100,000, mainly of personal injury money to get through it seems before we can claim ESA. When that is gone, then we will see how our finances are and how/where we are living as we will be losing our home in 2020.