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

newtothis999

To put a cat amongst the pigeons.....

I have recently had to finish work to care for my spouse who is very ill and now needs someone with him all of the time. He hasn't been able to work for a number of years and I have been supporting both of us on not much more than minimum wage - we own our own house, we have a mortgage to pay. I was ignorant of the fact that I was eligible for working tax credits - I'm nearly 50 and have never claimed benefits myself - and have never been part of the culture where I have tried to,

My experience of benefits - now being paid carer's allowance, my husband claiming pip because of his illness - is that I have never been so well off!!! I've got more money coming in and don't have to pay as much out - I've never had so much disposable income! Being on a low income for so long has taught me to be very careful with money and to budget wisely.

When I was working full time I never had a yearly pay rise which people on benefits seem to expect. The only way I got a pay rise was to get a better paid job!

I really don't know what people are complaining about!

Although I am better off financially at the moment on benefits, if my husband's health (hopefully!) starts to improve I will go back out to work. If it doesn't, I will look into trying to do some work from home.

nannytone_2

that is because YOU are providing his vare.
if he lived alone and was a single claimant, and was using his benefit to pay for care ....
the situation would be a lot different

Indie_Kid

As I mentioned before, the benefit rise isn't really that much. Basic ESA will still rise by 1% as will the WRAG component. Support group, the disability premiums and DLA / PIP will rise by a whopping 1.2%. Meanwhile, costs of food, public transport, etc. will go up by more than this.

Your situation, newtothis, isn't the same as everyone elses. Many of us do have costs in excess of our DLA / PIP.

FBaby

nannytone wrote: »

that is because YOU are providing his vare.
if he lived alone and was a single claimant, and was using his benefit to pay for care ....
the situation would be a lot different

But we are back to square one, when those raising concerns over how DLA is being handed over don't have issues with those who use to to provide care for themselves), but those who come up with the most incredible justifications as to why they have a right to holidays and nice cars and the rest to be 'normal'.

I think you are rightly entitled to DLA nannytone as you are spending the money on what it is intended do, additional care. However, I was shocked at reading a thread a few days ago, when the poster was talking about selling his -nice- car because he could now claim DLA, but was worried that he would then have too much savings and so intending to spend it on very nice Christmas presents for the whole family. Clearly indicating that he was able to afford a car before so didn't actually financially need motability, but hey ho, he can claim it, so why wouldn't he?

nannytone_2

you have just highlighted the biggest issue facing disabled people and 'benefit envy'

you are deciding who you think is deserving based on what other people are writing.
too many people ( some that use this forum) read what other posters say about the over generosity of disability benefits and zxxkme that every disabled person receives bucket loads of 'free' cash and just5 fritters it away on luxuries.
instead of sitting in jusgement, people need to start trusting that the majority of people that get these benefits have passed though the system and genuinely fulfilled the stringent criteria that has been set.
those that manage to claim fraudulently damage the disabled community far more than they do anyone else

bloolagoon

Indie_Kid wrote: »

As I mentioned before, the benefit rise isn't really that much. Basic ESA will still rise by 1% as will the WRAG component. Support group, the disability premiums and DLA / PIP will rise by a whopping 1.2%. Meanwhile, costs of food, public transport, etc. will go up by more than this.

Your situation, newtothis, isn't the same as everyone elses. Many of us do have costs in excess of our DLA / PIP.

The increase is based on inflation which is the price increase compared to last year so they have calculated that inflation is low. If it rises so too will benefits. Food, petrol, transport and fuel are lower than last year it's those costs that lowered the expected inflation.

If someone is on means tested benefits the main area of increase which is housing costs are increased too. Rent rises a worker has to pay if not eligible for HB.

Can I ask what costs you have in excess of your DLA? I've always had the impression you didn't have costs and that is why you are able to holiday, save etc.

FBaby

It's not about meeting the criteria and thinking that it is ok, it's about believing the criteria are wrongly attributed, ie. criteria should be on actual need, not perceived need. If you already have a car and can afford it, why should you be entitled to getting one that you don't financially need?

It has nothing to do with envy. I have no reason to envy such people, they have nothing more than I can't have, but sometimes, you can be annoyed with things on the basis of principle rather than what you want for yourself. And yes, of course I am basing by views on what I read, the same way I based my views on you from what you post. I also have views on people claiming DLA who I know in real life, some who I think do have a genuine need for it (well actually, someone I believe should be entitled to a lot more) and others who don't need the money at all.

bloolagoon

nannytone wrote: »

you have just highlighted the biggest issue facing disabled people and 'benefit envy'

you are deciding who you think is deserving based on what other people are writing.
too many people ( some that use this forum) read what other posters say about the over generosity of disability benefits and zxxkme that every disabled person receives bucket loads of 'free' cash and just5 fritters it away on luxuries.
instead of sitting in jusgement, people need to start trusting that the majority of people that get these benefits have passed though the system and genuinely fulfilled the stringent criteria that has been set.
those that manage to claim fraudulently damage the disabled community far more than they do anyone else

Or how about most of us accept that once you have been granted DLA it's income. That income can be spent on anything and not care. You could buy a hundred condoms a week and play jump rope, have a holiday, pay for a carer or a wheelchair. Ultimately once it's awarded its income. Some may use it all on disability related expenses, some it may only contribute to their DRE, some won't use it directly on DRE.

The problem is when people suggest it can be a source of income every justification in the world comes into play about how it's DRE, some of which will anger people, like holidays, smartphones, I pads etc. So whilst I accept what you say that people shouldn't take one post and apply to all disabled, disabled shouldn't take their own circumstances (often the extreme end of the scale) and apply it to all disabled.

Just like a salary of £30,000 is high for some and low for others as there are so many factors that decide how much disposable income people have. Children, housing, commuting costs etc. Disability is no different, the actual DRE is individual.

kpwll

There seems to be the feeling among some that if you don't need the money then you should not be able to claim DLA/PIP. These benefits are not means tested and are not based on the amount of income or savings that the claimant has, even a millionaire can claim. They are based on the 'disability'. There are extra expenses to living with disability and ill-health, they vary greatly from person to person.
Now if you think these benefits should be taxed that is different but claimants would still be able to use their HRM for a car, if they wish.
Living with disabilities and ill-health should not mean that you have to live like a pauper, indeed many claimants also work because this benefit enables them to.

I, for one, do not distinguish between the DLA and the State Pension I receive. I don't say this £ can only be spent for this and that £ for that. My whole 'income' is to enable me to live as normally as possible. I am extremely grateful that I get a rise every year and have never once said it is not enough. I am also lucky in that my husband still works, I am not alone.
My health allowing, we have a few days holiday (in this country, I've never been abroad) at least once a year. There have been quite a few years when this has not been possible. When we go this benefits both of us, even just the change of scenery, but the problems go with us, we can't leave them behind and forget them.

There are probably people who cheat the system, you find them in all walks of life. They are called thieves. Please do not tar all of us with the same brush, stop and think what you would do if your way of life was turned on it's head. Would you cope? Would you want to be helped? Would you want to be vilified for something you can't change, but wish with all your being you could?

I was able to work for nearly 20 years before circumstances forced me to give up. My mother, father and step-mother all worked until retirement for the NHS, 2 as nursing sisters and 1 as ambulance driver. My husband is a manual worker and is due to retire next year. My daughter works for the NHS (clerical) and my son is in the police. We are not a family of serial benefit claimants.

FBaby

There seems to be the feeling among some that if you don't need the money then you should not be able to claim DLA/PIP. These benefits are not means tested and are not based on the amount of income or savings that the claimant has, even a millionaire can claim.

We all know that and the issue is not whether people are committing fraud or not, it's whether the criteria for elligibility are set fairly.

Living with disabilities and ill-health should not mean that you have to live like a pauper, indeed many claimants also work because this benefit enables them to.

You are contradicting yourself. Above you make a point about how it shouldn't matter if you are a millionaire, now you are making an argument about not having to be poor with disability.

The moral issue is nothing more than this 'should DLA elligibility be based on actual and direct financial need related to a disability or should it be given as compensation for being disabled'.

My view is that the latter is discriminating as there are other groups in society who struggle or who are more likely struggle with 'normal' life, but they are not entitled to additional income.