TO SAY Camerons Policies are in danger of getting all disabled people labelled as "Scroungers"

[ScousyFogarty]

That is a wicked thing do do and David Cameron beeds to apologise or more likely get one of his flunkies to say SORRY

The cuts will save just £2.5 billion, that's buttons in the national budget, yet the heartache, the fear, the worry that it's inflicting on some of our most vulnerable people will be, in many cases, irreversible.

If it was about fairness, about making sure that those who needed help got it, then you could say, fair enough, but it isn't, it's only about saving money and bugger those who suffer.

In all honesty, in light of what we've seen on Panorama this week, costing the government £3500 per week, we should be down on our knees thanking the people who give up their lives to care for others for just a tiny percentage of that amount.

The fact is, they do it for love, but they need to be able to survive financially, it's the least we, as a society, can do to acknowledge that, for self interest if nothing else!

I have suspicions that one of mine may not be able to be independent. His social communication issues do hide a fierce intellect. His needs don't mean he doesn't have a spectacular mind. Hence why I opted for mainstream. That's not working so we're trying to get the statement for special school. I couldn't just let his academic potential be denied though.

I think I'm missing something here

Night ladies...

Absolutely, the care I give three of my children doesn't cost the government even a quarter of that three and a half thousand pounds PER PERSON. At that rate it'd be £10.5k a week for my lot.

night..........

If you fill in the form honestly and are awarded it, then you 'qualify' for DLA, you cannot say that one condition means that you do not qualify, it is how the person is affected. Not everyone has a complete diagnosis, anyway, there are usually a 'collection' of behaviours/difficulties and they get 'fited in' to a 'label' but those labels are only given in the light of what we know. I often read statements on here by 'lay people' that you would never hear from a psychologist/pschiatrist.

The money awarded is to help the fight against the well documented poverty of disabled people across their lifetime.

For those that say that you have not 'seen' anything that would warrant calling any government minister a nasty name, then all i can say is that you must not work in social care or as an advisor in welfare rights.

At the end of the day it is how the DLA forms are worded etc. They don't always look for medical reports or opinions. Like I said earlier my youngest is 10, I have never filed out a DLA form for him and he has had HRC from 3month and HRM form 3yo. I also know of some who have the same rates for less and not as many needs. I realise the DLA is about need compared to that of another child there age but like I said earlier each disability affects people differently.

devient, I'm confused, are you saying people shouldn't claim?
I have always provided full medical reports, I do believe that should be a necessity

ok my ds needs care and attention 24/7 he has numerous medical, neurological and physical problems/syndromes etc. Should a child with a speech problem who is playing out in the street without a parent get the same rate. Well this is what goes on round here.

It's certainly not my experience. I'm not intimating that you are lying, merely that I have not found DLA a breeze.

Glitter, not that they shouldn't claim, but get things in perspective. I have never added reports, so obviously not needed.

lol, it's only been a breeze for me as I have never done it.

I believe that reports SHOULD be included to prevent the kind of scenario you describe.

You seem somewhat contradictory.

But any child with a disability can have trouble accessing mainstream clubs and lesuire facilities. IME SN provision costs more for everyone, DLA is an effective way of covering this. As i said in my earlier post some of the disability benefits and carers allowance have been created to alleviate long term poverty and marginalisation not just to cover immediate costs.

devient- don't underestimate how 'a bit of a speech problem' can impact on someones life.

Exactly birds it's how the form is filled out as to wether you qualify or not. Maybe this is where the reform should be. Where some prof or service who knows the person or child controls the DLA award, then maybe it won't all be down to say so iycwim.

so.... Community Paediatrican
Speech & Language Therapist
Occupational Therapist
Portage Home Visitor
Health Visitor

is that not sufficient?

It was suggested that I apply for DLA last year when I was first diagnosed. MacMillan explained I might be refused, but should apply because in some cases, it was successful.

There is no way I would have put myself through that ordeal to be refused. I was struggling to deal with my diagnosis and treatment regime, my fears for the future. I knew I couldn't cope with some 'decision maker' waving their thumb up and down like Caesar and pronounce their verdict on my life. I refused to apply.

I don't think I would have put myself through it this time either, it is only because I didn't have to fill in the forms that I applied. I can totally understand why it so underclaimed where people are can easily get by financially without it.

I can't imagine why anyone would willingly put themselves through such a harrowing process for £125 a week. I'm just not that robust.

I don't underestimate anything, like I say I have 4 with differing needs. All I was saying is about said child known to me. You don't need to tell me about sn costing more, in fact I think it's only riding for the disabled where it is cheaper for the disabled child than the non.
Glitter how do you think I am contradictory??

devient- all DLA foems ask for contact details of GP and other services, so i don't understand your post about not asking for medical reports. Are you speaking from your own experience or do you know intirmately of other peoples claims.

You say medical reports are not needed and then that someone working with the child should vouch?

Do you think children that do not have PMLD should get DLA? I do.

birds I know they ask for contacts but nobody has ever asked for reports as such. Yes I think children with pmld need dla.

As do I. I'm asking about those without.

DLA is paid to improve the quality of the childs life, the club my DD attends costs the same for her as for a child similar to your own. In a lot of ways my DD is not as disabled (as far as some are concerned) as one of your DC's are but for her to have a peer group and a social life it costs her the same.