for pointing out in the light of recent discussions that DLA is NOT always an "out of work" benefit?

[ColouringIn]

Just that really

I get so fed up with reading that this person knows x, y or z people all on the sick and claiming benefits.

DLA can actively keep people IN work by helping with extra living costs.

I have a friend in a wheelchair who gets DLA, without it she would be stuck at home, with DLA she is mobile and working 5 days a week. It funds a lease car which she has to pay to have adapted but with this she can work.

It is NOT means tested and nor should it be - David Cameron claimed it when his DS Ivan was alive because he was entitled to do so (does that make him "entitled"- oh dear). No doubt it helped fund the extra care which Ivan needed during his life....which helped keep Dad in work.

We are fortunate in this country, we need to appreciate it and support it - anyone could become disabled in a heartbeat - it takes just ONE accident in some cases and life changes beyond all recognition.

I claim it for my autistic son....I am NOT in work at the moment because my son's sleeping issues mean I am not a safe practitioner. This has only been for three months and will not be forever...I also claimed it IN work too though and it funded play support. Currently it is funding private Occupational Therapy as the OT service locally is down to one OT for autistic children . This will help with the sleep issues (and is already doing so) meaning I can get back to work where I want to be.

It is a fabulous support, a great benefit and has a very low incidence of fraud because the checks are thorough, the form is 32 pages and hideous to complete and you really have to prove things with lots of back up. Not saying it CAN'T be defrauded - clearly people will find a way iof they are determined enough but they are usually defrauding everyone else too. They will egt caught eventually.....and rightly so.

Don't tar all of us with that brush though, most of us are struggling through and trying to do our best.

When I asked for a reconsideration, they said because he is up 'for the day' and had already been to sleep for a solid amount of time that this was classed as no care needed at night.

I know I could appeal, but at the time we were struggling with school and his behaviour and I just didnt have the energy. Also, I was so nervous they would take it all away again, and then the things we had committed to paying for would be lost too.

That is awful :(

Hope you get someone more compassionate at his next renewal

When are these changes to ca coming in? I claim for dd who gets mrc and nobody has said anything to us. We rely on it so I am proper fucked if they make changes!

I dont know that its been finalised yet, but I think that if it does it will be October 2013.

I have a friend who claims it for her son. It helps fund the boarding part of the school he goes to. Very much needed and life has improved for him and the whole family.

Oh, I hope to be back in work by that point! Still awful for all those who will lose out.

YANBU. I know someone who claims it so that she can get a taxi to work. She suffers from mobility problems and lives in a large city. Public transport is a problem for her and she can't drive either. She happens to be quite senior in her company and is on a good wage. Why shouldn't she claim it though?

Why would anyone begrudge a disabled person getting DLA. I'd like to see the Daily Fail 'I'm a tax payer' bleaters have to cope with a disability for a week. Some people have their heads stuck up their arses and completely lack empathy with their fellow humans.

Also, many people's attitudes towards the invisible disabilities such as mental illnesses is just abhorrent. People who suffer from bipolar can still work and can appear to be just fine, but they still have a very real condition that severely impacts upon their lives. People don't realise that living with a hidden or visible disability is expensive!

Re ESA DD has Down Syndrome 27yrs old complex heart defect pacemaker and poorly controlled asthma has been told she must look for work (only 4'2")
Needless to say I have appealed. Apologies for repeating myself as I have ranted on another thread. Just need to spread my thoughts on this evil regime

We get higher care, but as I said before dh has been turned down for higher rate mobility. He uses a stick to walk, needs help to wash, dress, change, use the lavatory. Can't mobilise at all without help, and is limited even with a stick. Bastards!
Oh, and I work, so not, not an out of work benefit.

As far as I can see I will lose Carers Allowance.

This will mean I am £230 a month worse off .....or not seeing as they deduct it from Income Support.

Hope to be back in work by the end of this year though.

And I am in the same position as Vagaceratops. My son sleeps after midnight and wakes at 5am. Because he does not wake in that 5 hours though he is classed as not needing care at night (hollow ).

Too much exhaustion to go through appeal.

Its shit isnt it :(.

What do the government think people will do? Do they really think that we have all been sitting at home revelling in our carers allowance? We claim it because I cant work, as there is no one to look after DS.

They are not doing anything to change the problem, they are just making it worse.

Look. You lot are clearly getting a hell of a lot wrong here.
We've been told by the wonderful, insightful, wise posters on here that having a disability is akin to having a large family - ie additional cost should just be sucked up and borne with dignity. After all it's all your fault you're like that so you should suffer.

Even better you should book an appointment at Dignitas asap.

Why the very fuck should the state pay for people who are unable to help themselves? Pull the ladder up, I'm alright.

[sarcasm alert]

YABU OP, as DLA is NEVER an out of work benefit

it used to make my blood boil when i heard this shite, but my hard shell is developing very well thank you and now i sigh more than anything

i'm in the process of filling in the 3rd DLA form on behalf of DD, one day i'll finish it, no crossings out or adding in - i doubt i'll qualify for carers allowance at all, even though it would be impossible for both of us to work now and DHs job keeps him away from home twice a week

but still, the longer it takes me to fill it in, the less time i'll have with the new stick for the bigots to beat me with

I applied for and got low rate DLA - it was awarded straight away because i currently have disabilities that qualify for low rate DLA.

I can only work 2 days a week due to these health problems (hate admitting they are disabilities actually. But they are.)

The DLA can pay for any disability related help (but you don't have to use it for that). Receiving DLA enables me to apply for Working Tax Credits & Council Tax Benefit; therefore i can pay the bills (just) & keep my home.

I don't have a car, satellite TV, iphone / ipad / ipod, designer clothes, gold jewellery, any holidays or expensive food; i don't drink alcohol, smoke or take illegal drugs.

(I shouldn't need to justify myself but sadly you often are expected to by others who are judgey when you claim benefits.)

Basically even a millionaire who works 7 days a week can claim DLA if they fit the criteria - & why the hell not??
They didn't ask for chronic illness / disability.

even a millionaire who works 7 days a week can claim DLA if they fit the criteria - & why the hell not??

Like David Cameron you mean - who seems perfectly happy to have claimants vilified when it suits him?

I thought only stupid people thought this? I mean, it's pretty clear on the packaging that you claim this benefit for help with living costs caused by your disability, rather than as an income. It even helps to bridge the gap to enable you to work sometimes, without it some disabled people might not be able to work.

I get a carer and she can provide care, assistance with the house, assistance with care for my children, child care if I get sick, assistance if I start to study, and assistance to help me get back to work and keep a job, should I need it. Don't really like being stuck in this position, but accept that it keeps me going where I might lose my children otherwise.

yanbu.

but those of you who think carers allowence is for those who dont work are bu. you can claim it if you work as long as you dont work more than 16 hours per week or earn more than £100 pw.

also if you recive ca and income support you wont recive the cash for ca but you will have underlaying entitlement this means you get a higher rate of is

David Cameron is definitely not my favourite politician.

But, though it pains me to say it, he would be entitled to claim DLA should he meet the criteria.

Latara, David Cameron did claim DLA for his disabled son, who died a few years ago.

Absolutely he is entitled to claim, and I believe anyone who is entitled to claim should.

My problem is that he is perfectly happy to point the finger at those who also claim DLA and label them scroungers. while other members of his party (IDS and Chris Grayling) target those of us who claim DLA or who claim it for our children and mount a media campaign to get all the DM readers to believe that those who are claiming DLA must all be liars and benefit cheats.

Thats what sticks in my throat.

Vag i think you are spot on. I think the plan is to make more freebie workfare workers available. I saw somewhere that they are planning to abolish the low rate care DLA but i cant find a link cos it was ages ago.

Oh yanbu!

And it really irritates me the way the criteria are set... To get the higher rates of care you need to be so ill/ disabled that the dla money will in no way cover your care costs, yet people seem to think it supports you in every way with a bit left over to buy wide screen tv/ house/ fabulous holidays!

I get higher rate both & that allows me to work part time & still pay my taxes etc. I think it's a great benefit that is a great help & live in fear it will be taken away...