‘Game the system’ disability benefits

[Tomatochocolate]

WTF
just read a bbc article about welfare reforms

Apparently ministers think that it’s an incentive to claim disability benefits as the incentive is no work commitments on UC. That claimants ‘game the system’

It’s a long process and really hard to get awarded dla or pip. It’s not just ticking a box that says ‘I’m too sick to work’.

AIBU to think this is just horrific

I'd be really interested in the information about this if you could pm please, if you wouldn't mind. We've just started the transition to adult services and have been advised of the above by the LA (I checked it with mencap too). Ds has no savings etc but lives with us. The LA are leaving him with a minimal amount and would leave him with less if/ when he goes into residential care. I do know it's different if you get continuing health care via NHS.
https://www.mencap.org.uk/advice-and-support/social-care/adult-social-care/care-and-support-planning/paying-support

Thank you. That is really generous of you.

@Perzival I am screenshotting the thread so I have your username and also Pandorasox. Currently Pms are disabled on the site but I will message you as soon as they restore them, Perzival. I am not on continuing health care funding currently though a switch has been discussed for the future, but still on regular LA funding as of now. Very happy to discuss.

Also, apologies to anyone with whom I've been snappy or abrupt on this thread. I think we do all basically want the same thing which is for those in need to have access to support, albeit with different ideas about how it should be delivered. No one wants others to suffer. And it's a tough topic for everyone

I'd really appreciate that thank you. May I ask please, if it's 'only' autism that you recieve social care for please as I know that there was a case where a parent was refused chc for her child with autism and she lost at appeal.

If you get married do they then allow more income so you don't pay towards care or is it because your benefit income went diwn due to being married, or something else?

@Perzival Hi, no mine is not for autism at all. It's actually not even mentioned in my claim, which is purely for physical health conditions. It's a long story which I am happy to explain more in PMs, but for various reasons I chose to claim exclusively based on physical health despite also having MH conditions and autism.

@RedHot2025 my benefit income went down due to being married. Our overall income as a couple is very low for a variety of reasons (not, I hope, forever!).

Apologies from me too if I have been a bit abrasive.

@verysmellyjelly thank you. I think it's difficult to get chc where there isn't a physical element. That said you've just prompted me to look at it again and I think it maybe worth looking at for my ds.

Thanks for replying, j just wondered. My mother has care and pays all of her care from her pension, assessed as needing to pay everything. She only has a pension and attendance allowance but pays £146 per week for her care and local authority nothing. She's on a pension, not a private one and doesn't own her home. Yet other friend's parent doesn't pay and owns hone but is second time married, he doesn't co own home, strange that her assessment was to pay nothing.

@RedHot2025 That does sound incredibly unfair, I'm so sorry. Tbh I don't really know anything about pensions, but it sounds like your mum has an incredibly raw deal. It shouldn't be like that.

Autism itself is very complex my son has severe autism and learning disabilities but I have a close group of friends all of our children have a diagnosis of autism even those who don't have an additional diagnosis of learning disabilities have very complex needs
One of my friends son is academically able and doing a level 3 course but can't take himself to college and back and needs support in every aspect of daily living
Another ones son went to mainstream school and achieved GCSE,s but has ko friends never goes out or if he does needs full support it's so nuanced.

Mypost was in reply to a post saying that they would only give benefits to those with autism who have ld but would ring fence benefits for people with ds and some other conditions. I was pointing out that if this occurred there would be people with autism with more needs than those who would have benefits ring fenced. I'm fully aware of how different presentations of autism can be.

Wow, this thread took a turn. I am honestly glad some of you are not in charge of the welfare system.

Sorry I was agreeing with you I was just giving examples

I agree with you on most threads we are on together I waa agreeing with you just badly worded apologies .

On a bit of a tangent....The trouble with all of this is - especially when you're talking about people with learning disabilities - it that you also need to have employers willing to give them a chance. The people themselves wanting to work is sadly only part of the equation....

Sorry, I'd misunderstood. I know I recognise your name. No need to apologise. I worded my reply badly too.

On balance I think we spend far too much supporting those not able to cope with normal life demands, and far less than we should enabling them to cope - either via therapy, early interventions, etc. or via programs supporting the transition to work, work placements, etc.

i fully appreciate that many with autism will struggle to live independently, but I also know a large number of parents who feel like their children would have a real shot at independence if they had received appropriate support along the way. I imagine the same is true of many mh conditions.

Work placements don't last long, and firms are happy to take the cash for being in the scheme. But soon as the flow of cash stops, they go back to not being able to employ ppl.

What a defeatist attitude. Even if that is all true, it is the experience of working that is the aim of funding, not indefinite positions. I know many who have used a work placement as a springboard to other work.

I did a yr long community programme as a catering assistant at a community center when I was 19. Did not lead to other work.

Did 2 years volunteering at a Barnardo's shop. If I started at the time they wanted me there. I had to pay for the full bus fare. The person in charge went on a lot of holidays then came back to show us the pictures.

I did my nvq in retail there.

I left after yet more holiday pictures deciding to do house work at home if spending more to be there.

If going for interviews that require being on your feet you get told it may be too much being disabled. So go for call centre jobs to be told it may be too much because of all the sitting.

Defeatist do's not exist in my world!!

And half of places never reply after interviews. I always got the talk after the interviews. That was a lovely interview, BUT we felt the standing/sitting will be too much for you. When you have fit ppl applying too they always take the fit one.

Universal basic income: Plans drawn up for £1,600 a month trial in England

Want a fair option?? If all got the above, and did not have to work. Would you be happy then?