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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Disabililty Living Allowance

162 replies

yesreally · 26/07/2011 13:25

Have namechanged for this.

A friends daughter (aged 8) has been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Obviously they have had to make some changes in their lifestyle, but she is still going to school, after school activities, sleepovers etc.
The child is to receive £200 a month in DLA.
I'm shocked. Not at them for claiming it, as they were advised to by the diabetes nurse, but by the system.
There are cancer patients who cannot get the drugs they need to stay alive due to funding issues.
Am I alone in thinking this is strange?

OP posts:
Groovee · 26/07/2011 13:54

The parents would have had a FULL detailed description as to WHY they were awarded it OP. So they will know fully why they have it. The forms are quite detailed and often they contact your GP/Medical team for a report too. So they haven't been awarded it for nothing. They could have not applied if they didn't need it.

silverfrog · 26/07/2011 13:54

the system is fine.

the forms are arduous, and exhaustive.

you have to completely detail every need, and prove your child needs care over and above a typical child the same age.

to recieve higher rate care, you need to prove night wakings, which are disruptive for everyone.

I do not accept that you are not judging them, btw. you are drip feeding information on their wealth (so what? their dd still has health/care needs that incur more costs), and think they shoudl not be entitled to somehting which is actually very hard to claim.

if they have been awarded it, then their dd has significant care needs, possibly impinging on family life - as I mentioned earlier, I cannot go to work due to my dd1's needs.

this is little more than a thinly veiled sneer at people who dare to claim help with difficulties they are facing. you can dress it up as being about the "system" as much as you like, but the DLA system does not hand out awards without need. in fact, you are more likely to be turned down, even in cases of severe disability, than to get an award.

Original poster
yesreally · 26/07/2011 13:55

Of course I only know what they tell us, but we are very close.
They said the nurse badgered them into signing the forms, as they were entitled to it.
I don't have a problem with them claiming it, I probably would in their situation (we are not as well off as them!).
I just think that with budget constraints in the NHS and in general, maybe some benefits should be means tested.

I care for the child after school some days (she plays with my children), so I have made a point of reading up a great deal on the illness. I also supported the family a great deal when she was diagnosed.

OP posts:
Kladdkaka · 26/07/2011 13:57

Changed your name to find out if people think DLA should be means tested, you're not David Cameron are you?

Birdsgottafly · 26/07/2011 13:57

Even if was means tested, the child would still be entitled to it, in her own right.

It would be difficult to means test and still fit it in with disability rights, set by the EU.

Personally i would claim it even if i was a millionaire and give it to a disability charity, unclaimed welfare benefit money does not go back into the system.

It must be nice to have enough money to be baffled as to why someone struggling with disability would need extra, perhaps they should get hands on involved with charities in deprived areas.

silverfrog · 26/07/2011 13:58

why did you feel the ned to namechange, by the way?

Original poster
yesreally · 26/07/2011 13:58

Silverfrog, you obviously know me very well on the basis of this thread Hmm

Thanks for that. I'll go and 'sneer' (what a vile expression) at someone else's problems, shall I?
And for the record, I do think that child benefit should be means tested.

OP posts:
Birdsgottafly · 26/07/2011 13:58

OP 'they' are not entitled to it, their child with a life long disability is.

Birdsgottafly · 26/07/2011 14:00

OP what level do you think it should be means tested at?

Perhaps you would not get as much stick if you stated that.

aliceliddell · 26/07/2011 14:00

The report out today is, presumably, based on figures from (couldn't give) Atos. This firm was originally a French IT business which got the contract to 'assess' disabled people as fit or not for work. They are paid £? I imagine slightly more than a kid with diabetes. Rest assured, they are weeding out the workshy. Including a man with terminal cancer who was judged fit for work. He died 3 weeks later. They also believe that if a person has a wheelchair they don't have mobility problems. Obviously, they haven't tried going shopping with me. This report will no doubt grt more attention than the one out yesterday from the chasrities pointing out the increased victimisation of disabled people as a direct result of the constant emphasis on cheating, fraud, excessive claims, blah, blah, blah. Gideon presses on with his austerity cuts in the face of all evidence that his policy isn't working, and we sponging useless cripples carry on moaning and soaking up those corporation taxes like the sponges/drains we are. Hey ho. Must hobble off to suck the blood of a newborn baby. Will try to get a link for that charity report.

LIZS · 26/07/2011 14:04

"the nurse badgered them into signing the forms, as they were entitled to it" Think they may be misleading you there tbh. Noone is forced to claim.

tabulahrasa · 26/07/2011 14:05

'They said the nurse badgered them into signing the forms, as they were entitled to it.'

I don't believe that, it takes hours to fill in the DLA claim form - it is not a case of sign here and here.

LIZS · 26/07/2011 14:05

aliceliddell Confused

Birdsgottafly · 26/07/2011 14:07

Yes that report was from Atos, who apparently know much more about the claimant than their doctor or specialist. As said a minimin of 70% of cases they turned down, won on appeal. The rest are not eligible because of a change in criteria and some die etc.

Kladdkaka · 26/07/2011 14:07

I do some advocacy work for adults with autism. The difficulties they have getting access to disablity benefits are a disgrace. How can these people (Atos?) screen people with an invisible disability when they have no expertise in the area.

Whitershadeofpale · 26/07/2011 14:08

Slight hijack but was wondering if someone could explain what entitles someone to DLA.

I've read many threads on here but haven't seen a clear explanation. Some suggest that it's only granted if additional living costs will be incurreed as a result of disability, whilst others seem to be of the opinion that it is granted as a type of (for want of a better phrase) compensation for the disabled and their carers.

I feel that unless there is a clear understanding as to the critera and rationale behind the allowance it would be impossible to form a opinion on its distribution.

silverfrog · 26/07/2011 14:09

why did you feel the need to namechange?

why keep this separate form your usual MN persona?

if you are so sure that the system needs changing, try coming up with solid evidence that it does.

the fraud rate is incrdibly low.

the claim rate is not where it should be.

how does htis system need changing, other than people who do not need (or want) to claim not claiming? I don't totally buy the "nurse badgered them" story either - did she just happen to have a ready filled out form t=for them to sign? the form is about 50 pages long, and has sections for the GP, and other health care professionals to fill in - it take some getting through!

it is an award made based on need - that shoudl not change.

cestlavielife · 26/07/2011 14:09

you said it yourself they get it because " they are entitled".

diabetes type 1 is severe - and in some chidlren hard to control . they may well need the moeny later on for her if she loses her feet or eyesight due to the diabetes....

" child benefit should be means tested" - effcetively it is going to be isnt it? because will be stopped from 2013 for families where one person earns more than 45,000 (higher rate taxpayer)

silver frog - i think you should claim DLA (donate to charity if you like - to teh "big society" ) because getting eg high rate DLA quaifies your dd for blue badge and other things.

aliceliddell · 26/07/2011 14:10

For the record, I don't believe in means testing benefits because it has been shown it stops money going to those in need. I believe inmeans testing income through the tax system which then allocates benefits according to need without stigmatising claimants.

Birdsgottafly · 26/07/2011 14:11

Tab- the forms may have been done by the hospital, which sometimes happens in cases were children are very ill. If the nurse badgered them, then this would show that the child is indeed entitled, unless the child owns property in its own right, then means testing wouldn't make a difference.

OP the child may become fully disabled as a result of her condition so if the parents don't need it, it can be saved for her future as an adult. Not all parents help their disabled adult DC's, even though they are financially secure enopugh to.

cestlavielife · 26/07/2011 14:12

whitershade you can read thru the forms here

www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/claimforms/dla1a_child_print.pdf and it will ebcome clear what you ahve to fill in and how to justify that your child needs more care than a simialr age child due to their disability (or chronic condition)

eg Part 8 ? Someone keeping an eye on the child
All children need someone to keep an eye on them to make sure that they are safe. Answer the
questions on this page if the child you are claiming for needs more supervision during the day or night
than other children of the same age who do not have their illness or disability. By night we mean when
the household has closed down at the end of the day.
Does the child need someone
to keep an eye on them? No Go to page 9.
For example, because they
? have no sense of danger and might hurt Yes themselves or someone else
? might wander about
? have behavioural problems
? cannot hear or see or respond to danger signs
? need someone to monitor their medical condition
or diet.
Why the child needs someone with them.

etc

Birdsgottafly · 26/07/2011 14:14

Whiter-it is quite detailed, it depends on care and mobility needs and how the claimant is affected by their condition.

silverfrog · 26/07/2011 14:15

whitershadeofpale: my understanding of entitlement is that you (or your child) have needs which mean a higher rate of care and input is necessary than a peer.

so, dd1 cannot do anyhting a typical 6 year old can do. she needs a high rate of care, with input form me (or another adult) for everyhting. she cannot dress herself, toilet herself, she cannot entertain herself.

mobility wise: for a physical disability, there are set criteria for what you can/cannot manage eg: walk 100m without pain type of criteria. for a mental disability, it links back to care and input. eg dd1 cannot walk along the road (or anywhere) without holding my hand, for her own safety. she has no understanding of danger, and will, for eg sit down in the middle of theroad when crossing it.

what DLA is actually for is debatable. ask any health care professional for services, and they will say "DLA will cover that" - in the caseof mobility, it may pay for taxis, as buses/cars/trains may be unsuitable. in the case of care needs, it may pay for extra childcare, or help around the home, etc. it is not half as flexible as people like ot make out, and does not cover nearly enough of what the extra costs actually are.

tabulahrasa · 26/07/2011 14:15

brief explanation of DLA

tabulahrasa · 26/07/2011 14:19

Birdsgottafly - the only way a HCP would know enough about the child to fill it in is if it was during a stay in hospital, which surely indicates that her life is being affected by her condition?

Any other HCP would need input from the parents about her care needs and routines