To be taken aback this woman is getting DLA?

[lesley33]

Was talking at work with the receptionist about the changes to DLA and the move to PIP. I am worried about how this will negatively affect some people. However I was taken aback when the receptionist said that she would lose lower rate DLA which she got for depression.

I know she had depression a couple of years ago. But since then she has been in work every day and always seemed fine at work. I know people can be depressed and seem fine, but really if you can manage to work with depression then surely you shouldn't be getting DLA?

Just to say she is a very honest type of person and I am sure wouldn't have lied to get DLA. She hasn't been off sick. And what sticks in the throat a bit is I know there are other colleagues on low wages who have honestly struggled with mental health problems during this time such as anxiety and depression.

And I know you can work and get DLA. I just think if your disability is depression and you can work fine then you shouldn't get DLA. I am her manager so I know she has had no sick leave and there are no special measures in place to support her.

It may be unintentionally fradulent if situation as is fabbychic outlines - but I don't believe for a moment that it would be deliberately fradulent. Woman in question is very honest, so maybe just doesn't understand the rules.

so you still believe that your 'diagnosis' is right? That she isn't suffering from depression anymore?... that she simply forgot to inform them?

I think the benefits system is majorly mis-understood, people don't know the rules/regulations and feel the need to stick their nose in. Im not judging, everyone does it.

I have suffered from depresseion/anxiety/insomnia for years. It comes and goes. Rarely do I have notice when it will strike. Over the past six months I have had to call in sick to work on several occasions because I've been unable to get behind the whell of a car for being barely able to see straight. Work isn't very understanding and i'm sure I'll be fired in the not too distand future (it's a very physically demanding job too) Good on the woman for being able to get DLA - depression can be extremely debilitating, just because you can't see it doesn't mean it isn't there. It's very very hard to hold down a job and suffer (if you're a single mum too then double whammy) and I'm glad this woman is able to, But please, don't judge - it's truy an awful affliction and those who suffer need more recognition and more pathways to help them find and job and keep a job and DLA is one of the ways that can help (on the rare occassion you can actually navigate the almost impossible, and emotionally draining, maze of the beurocratic red tape gauntlet needed to actually be heard and recognized as having a debilitating illness that isn't immediatly obvious from looking at someone)

Can i just clarify that DLA can be set for as little as 3 months.

Lesley I can assure you we get regular letters remiding us we need to tell about changes, most recent was sent out to everybody in December with the 'Christmas payment'.

Trust yes; I managed to hide my illness until one thing triggered a complete breakdown.

Lesley is carefully ignoring EVERYONE's post that doesn't fit her own opinion - it's fairly pointless arguing with her, tbh, because she has already made her mind up and like most people with bigoted opinions, ain't going to change it for anyone.

Pinko- i used to get those letters for my husband, but worded much more strongly than they are now, to my shame i enjoyed phoning them to tell them that he wasn't dead yet (cancer).

I just would rather see people like thumb get more, and people who are actually working and getting a salary get less

If depressed lady is working, I just cant see how £38 a week (where did I get this number!) is going to help

take multiple losts of £38 for people like thumb, and for me that is fairer

there is only so much money

but DLA is not an out of work benefit, so salary does not come into it.

She gets £19 a week, not £38.

OK, so add up the paltry £19 , she can live without, then people who are desperate can get more

I just cant see what difference it will make to her, its ridiculous

Ah thumb other people read so it doesn;t matter

Birds I an understand why that would be fun.

Porca DLA is scored purely on the level of need, ATM middle lower or high but soon just middle (I suppose that will be lower but YKIM) or higher; it's supposed to relate to costs of level of need rather than income- in fact you can face penalities using DLA to pay for non disability related things, indeed I know cases where clearly sn related things ahve been a no-no- higher rent where an extra room for a disabled chiuldren is needed = a no; foster agencies that refuse to allow special dietray needs to be funded from DLA payments.

I also know someone who has a lifetime ban becuase she spent her son's DLA (or part) on heating; her argument was he was home all day so pushed costs up but not good enough apparenlty, he now lives with Nan so he can still get the help the DLA mainly funded

porca, while I thank you for your sentiment, I don't actually get DLA myself, but a family member does. (unless there's another thumb on here that I haven't noticed). :)

DLA is also a passport benefit

So helps with HB, which can be paid to those on disability. Laos is invovled in most blue badges now (councils can allocate but many are bloody awkward), and crucially carer's allowance- and my friend I linked to back along would be lost without his 24/7 carer, employed or not.

''Woman in question is very honest, so maybe just doesn't understand the rules''

How very presumptious of you.

Maybe you don't understand that it is NONE of your business.

Strewth.

You can't see the difference because you don't know her personally, but it does make a difference and can be the difference between keeping a condition under control to be able tokeep working.

When they set the amounts they didn't take into account how much the whole system would cost, they wouldn't give someone more because less was claimed. They may up the war/diamond jubilee/Olympics budget, but give to the disabled? i doubt it.

I just cant see what difference it will make to her, its ridiculous

How much of a difference it makes, depends on how much she earns and what she uses the £19 for.

it can appear unfair or injust when some claim DLA for conditions that are variable. My DS is a perfectly healthy looking boy (well apart from looking malnourished) he seems to be akin to his peers and I imagine that some mothers at DS's school would be judgy if they discovered that we receive HRC. But they don't see all the work we put in at home. What scares me is the GP assessments they are proposing for PIP. Our GP is basically useless as he knows nothing of DS's condition, meaning our work is likely to be vastly underestimated.

The PIP assessments may weed out those who no longer qualify or those who are fraudulent (less than 2%) however it will be massively more damaging to those who are genuine and who will be deemed not disabled enough to claim. I would much prefer that the claimants of DLA were protected meaning that a few people who aren't eligible claim, than take away from those that need it.

And before people spout about the lack of money to 'support' these people, the largest cost of benefits are pensions. Pensions which are not means tested and which automatically entitle people to a variety of other benefits. There are also the massive amounts of tax evasion/tax fraud committed by the countries richest people. I don't believe. That DLA is being targetted for the right reasons and I think that the Government has been plying the media with 'fraudulwnt cases' just so thatthere will be less of public support for those who are subject to. The cuts because the perception is now thaty we are all benefit scroungers.

Sorry for the awful spelling - on phone.

thumb - I'm not saying I know right. But this scenario makes some sense given how hard everyone says it is to get DLA. nearly every poster here has suggested some scenario e.g. she may be able to get to work, but suggesting what she is like at home, maybe she pays for counselling so she can get to work, etc. The reality is none of us know the truth.

reindeer - I also have concerns about pip and especially about some of the people who may be denied help. Yes pensions are the largest benefit given - they are however a contributory benefit i.e. it is based on the amount of national insurance we all pay.

And tbh I think pensions are needed. Very few people, if they have them, get enough in private pensions savings to take them above or much above a state pension. If it was means tested for any but the very wealthy, it would actually discourage many many people from taking out any kind of private pension or saving, as there would be no point.

People saying DLA is hard to get - it wasn't for my mother, Dad just filled in a form (which is very much not his forte). Yes it was long but it was straightforward. He then got allocated money and sent a letter telling him he can apply for carer's allowance.

I know of someone who should get it but was turned down and someone who most definitely should not get it but does. Systems are only as good as the people administering them.

I am not saying pensions aren't needed just highlighting the fact that the amount from the DLA 'pot' isn't the biggest cost to the tax payer and shouldn't be the biggest priority to cut, given that so many people with additional needs will suffer the most.

Pinko, I believe that DLA can be spent on whatever the recipient sees fit. Can you link to anything supporting your statement that this is not the case please?