to thank you, taxpayers, for my forthcoming Freesat

[garlicbutter]

I know, I know! I qualify because, after 2 years of interrogation, I'm currently getting DAL (time-limited, lowest rate.) It hasn't changed my life financially - it's £16 a week for 9 months - but it has opened several doors, for which I'm extremely grateful. Most of that is in the form of counselling, SW visits and acess to groups, etc. But!

I live in a very hilly area and have a shite TV that was generously donated via Freecycle :) The day my region went digital, I lost BBC2 leaving me with 4 channels on a good-reception day (4 snowstorms in bad weather.) I got a letter from the switchover folk, saying I qualify for a free aerial. They came round and said, No way! Have you noticed ever other house has got satellite? That's because you can't get aerial reception here ... so we'll give you a dish :)

I'm overjoyed! I had 'posh' TV before I got poor, but have learned to live with 5 channels/snowstorms. I'm not pretending I don't miss the extra TV - I'm thrilled to bits that I'm getting some of it back! Dave TV, here I come (is that still running?)

So. No wafer-thin LCD set on benefits (I wish!) but a very big thank-you for the freesat!

The problem was that it didn't make sense so others may have thought that you were posting to get a reaction about you recieving a benefit. I was about to go on the defensive as i will argue the case for anyone to recieve extra income who is disabled. It is irrelevent wether other posters parents who are aged are getting any help. Attendence Allowance exsists for those over 65 to replace DLA.

Ah, cross-puposes Birds! Thanks for your reply :)

The link I posted was the digital switchover site, nothing to do with benefits themselves - though I only qualified because of the DLA and, as I said, am grateful.

The site says anyone over 75 and people inreceipt of certain benefits qualify for a free aerial (or dish, as I found) and set-top box, plus help setting it up if they need it.

There is a bit about people with special circumstances, that may apply to usualsuspect, I don't know how it works - I do know they check your licence fee is up-to-date, though!

Attendance Allowance also qualifies a person. Its been a strange few days inregards to threads being started or added to just to get a reaction from posters.

Im glad your finally getting the extra help, its an odd time period though, nine months if you've been fighting for it for two years.

Thanks, Birds. I realise I quickly read the award letter, which said "a month" and roughly calculated £16/wk. As it turns out, it's a 4-week month but it seems they've still got the sum wrong by a few quid; I appreciate that. I got the award this march, to this December. Reckoned they were hedging some bets wrt future rule changes? I dunno I'm still finding my way around this stuff, and really do welcome pointers!

The best thing, as I mentioned in OP, is the access to 'hidden' services that is a real blessing. I wouldn't like to be the person in charge of sorting such stuff out, but feel it's a shame you have tick so many boxes, as it were, to find the support that's available. If I'd had all these great people before I ticked the boxes, I might never have ended up here iyswim!

We all like to think television isn't such a big deal - but, actually, it's a huge part of most of our lives and losing it would be a disaster for many. The more isolated we are, the truer this is. The switchover help people have done as much as they obviously can to contact probable beneficiaries, but it's a cert that advisors & carers could do more to put qualified people in touch with them.

I was having this discussion on a recent updating course on DLA. Its not something people think about, but where a person lives can isolate them further, on top of a medical condition. I do think that extra investment is need for people who live in rural and hard to reach areas. This should take into account communication and transport systems. It would improve people's quality of life so much.

OP- when you are re-assessed or if your condition changes, get advice and make sure you are claiming all you can, including carers allowance if someone helps you regulary.