MSE News: Disability and carer's allowance claimaints to suffer as inflation falls

kittykat17

I cared for my mother for over 10 years. I had to give up work (a very well paid job) as she needed 24 hour care. Knowing nothing about benefits at the time I didn't claim anything for 6 years and lived off my savings until they were gone. I eventually ended up losing the house I had worked so hard for so many years to buy as I didn't get any help whatsoever.


Eventually I found out that I could claim carer's benefit and IS. At current rates this is £61.35 CB & approx £25 IS.


My caring incuded cooking for both my parents - different food for both, cleaning, lifting my mother on and off the commode, washing/showering her, dressing her. Cleaning up when she had accidents (frequently), catheter care for the last 4 years, turning her frequently at night. Putting her on the commode at least 4 times a night, injecting her twice a day, giving her medication, constant care needed during the night - for 6 years if I had a full hour's sleep at night I was lucky.


Apart from extreme exhaustion my own health suffered and a spinal problem I had since my teens (altho I was actually born with it) was made considerably worse by my caring duties and I now have constant pain and can hardly walk.


For this I received approximately £0.51 per hour and saved the Government & local council thousands each week! The local council did help towards the end but not enough to make my life much easier.


Carers do any work? Of course not!

fed_up_and_stressed

wildwestfan wrote: »

You totally misunderstand me.

I have no issues at all with disabled people having a decent standard of living paid for by benefits. What I do object to is the constant complaints that it isn't enough.

I assume your pension is higher than the carers allowance rate of £61.35 per week then wildwestfan and you are not currently expected to work for 35hrs a week for this ?

Indie_Kid

wildwestfan wrote: »

You totally misunderstand me.

I have no issues at all with disabled people having a decent standard of living paid for by benefits. What I do object to is the constant complaints that it isn't enough.

I wonder if you are actually disabled, which btw, can be bloody expensive at times. Or whether you're just trolling.

fed_up_and_stressed

Indie_Kid wrote: »

I wonder if you are actually disabled, which btw, can be bloody expensive at times. Or whether you're just trolling.

I think reading past posts Indie that he seems to be upset that as he got mobility issues at 66 that he is ineligible for a motability vehicle.

Personally I would prefer to be able to walk for another 30 years and not have a "shiny new motability vehicle" (with hefty deposit paid for by wages due to needing a WAV)

nannytone_2

you see posts from people that say .... i am disabled but that disability foesnt cost an extra.
well good for you!
i cant remember how many times on this forum, that ive been told i'm 'only blind'.
and yes, i am 'only blind'. im as fit as a flea in all other areas.
people that live with family/partner jave no concept at all of how disabling blindness is.
when i lived with a partner, it was pretty insignificant, because he filled in the missing gaps.
but even with the large amount of support i recieve, i spend a lot of time alone ... and that isnt choice.
if i could see my life would be 100% different

fed_up_and_stressed

wildwestfan wrote: »

You totally misunderstand me.

I have no issues at all with disabled people having a decent standard of living paid for by benefits. What I do object to is the constant complaints that it isn't enough.

..yet you have previously commented on income tax being taken from your spouses pension. This issue is very similar to that one !

Indie_Kid

nannytone wrote: »

you see posts from people that say .... i am disabled but that disability foesnt cost an extra.
well good for you!
i cant remember how many times on this forum, that ive been told i'm 'only blind'.
and yes, i am 'only blind'. im as fit as a flea in all other areas.
people that live with family/partner jave no concept at all of how disabling blindness is.
when i lived with a partner, it was pretty insignificant, because he filled in the missing gaps.
but even with the large amount of support i recieve, i spend a lot of time alone ... and that isnt choice.
if i could see my life would be 100% different

I once had someone on here tell me I'm lucky to be sight impaired - yeah, I'm lucky that I don't have to drive and be forced to share the road with some complete idiots.

No, I am not lucky to be sight impaired. In my case, it doesn't just affect my vision.

nannytone_2

Indie_Kid wrote: »

I once had someone on here tell me I'm lucky to be sight impaired - yeah, I'm lucky that I don't have to drive and be forced to share the road with some complete idiots.

No, I am not lucky to be sight impaired. In my case, it doesn't just affect my vision.

i really feel for people that have physical disabilities and cant imagine how it must be to live with constant pain....
but it is unbelieveably frustrating to have a perfectly functioning body and be unable to use it because of visual impairment.
i wouldnt dream of saying ... ok you cant walk, but you have a mobility scooter so youre fine!
yet its ok for someone to tell me im not disabled because i am 'only blind' ....
you try doing most things without sight! ( not you indie ... just a general frustrated shout out!)

kittykat17

nannytone wrote: »

i really feel for people that have physical disabilities and cant imagine how it must be to live with constant pain....
but it is unbelieveably frustrating to have a perfectly functioning body and be unable to use it because of visual impairment.
i wouldnt dream of saying ... ok you cant walk, but you have a mobility scooter so youre fine!
yet its ok for someone to tell me im not disabled because i am 'only blind' ....
you try doing most things without sight! ( not you indie ... just a general frustrated shout out!)

Anybody that says you're only blind really is the blind one. I cannot believe the way some people think. One of my worst fears is that I could lose my sight. No, I'm not able bodied but I'm lucky I can read, see my family & the people I love, watch tv / a film, see nature at it's best and worst. I really cannot imagine how you do cope and understand how lonely it can make you Nanny - even with others around. I think it's incredible the help and advice you give people on here and you never sound sorry for yourself. I have a lot of respect for you and Indie and it sickens me to read what some of the people on these forums say. Good health and best wishes to you both. Su

nannytone_2

thank you for your kind words.
i dont feel sorry for myself and i dont look for sylpathy ... it is what it is...
i just dont expect people to make my life more difficult and to make me feel like i should be grateful for every breath i take! i worked and paid in for 30 years and would havee continued to do so had i been able.
i have a friend who had a stroke and overnight, went from perfect sight to nothing ...
i cant imagine that.
i am lucky (?)
i have a progressiuve condition, that allowed me to adapt as i ;ost sight/
i HATE the fact that i dont know what my 23 month old grand daughter looks like.. but i know what she sounds like and i know what she 'feels' like.
you make the best of what you have ... but i for sure, dont need to be questioned about what i need or why i need it by people that have no idea whats its like to live without sight