What do people actually expect DLA to be spent on??

[Whoknowshey]

This comes off a thread I read recently where a poster was being criticised for spending DLA on a fridge .

Im curious as to what people think DLA / PIP should be spent on ? Due to various circumstances I am aware of what people spend it on and I also have a child in receipt PIP so I know how theirs gets spent . Some differs to how my child’s is spent. Some I agree with , some I don’t but the fact is it’s for the individuals needs and that varies massively. Especially with non physical disabilities it would be hard to spend it on things directly related to their needs but there are many ways in which it affects their lives that it can help with .

Some I have came across;

• theme park passes- the child cannot do what others can , going out with friends etc . The passes give the opportunity to enjoy childhood safely.
• Toys/ things for hyperfocuses - a hyper focus is a form of regulation . To some it may look like an obsession with a character but it’s actually a way for the individual to regulate.
• Towards the family income because parents cannot work.
• Furniture - lots can get destroyed due to the individuals issues.
• Save it towards the child’s future . The child may not ever be able to get a job and adult social care is appalling .

I think all those things are justified . But I have seen comments against that.

My child has PIP as a young adult. They have a part of the money as theirs to do with what they wish ( which can be wasted hence why they do not have it all and I am their appointee - but also they have no way of having extra money as cannot work nor claim any benefits , have to stay in education to hold on to that EHCP and to help with their life skills etc ) A part goes into the house because I care for them financially as though they are a child - yet usually parents do not have to do this with an adult child. They know exactly what they are paying for with this - rent, shopping etc, social groups. It doesn’t really touch what I spend on them as the majority actually goes on a mobility car , because they have to be taken to most places . This way they are paying bills etc as they see it - an itemised of what they pay - because I know if they go in to supported living it will be eaten up by that and I don’t want them to get used to just having all that money, I think the way I do it is justified as it is for their needs ( food aversions so more expensive shop , get through clothes very quickly due to sensory issues , hyper focuses , social groups specific to their needs ) .

A bit fed up of seeing people attacked because someone doesn’t deem what they spend as “ for their needs “ yet those needs are so vast .

Interested on thoughts.

"As a taxpayer who is entitled to nothing it's a shame I cannot have a say in where my taxes are spent. For other people's kids to have a family theme park pass for example is taking the piss."

I object to my taxes funding schools and colleges because my son doesn't have a place at one. I object to funding free or cheap holiday activities because none of them take children as disabled as my son. I object to 50p swims at the local pool because my son has to travel to one an hour away and pay for private use. I could go on.

You ignorance is mind-blowing. If a child is disabled enough to qualify for DLA (we got it only via tribunal when we applied first time for my non-verbal, non-sleeping, non-toilet trained 4 year old as the DWP didn't not consider my child disabled enough - not even for the lowest rate despite high needs and attending a special school), then I can tell you it costs a far more than some sensory sock. we are financially struggling. My DC are teens now and hace never been on a proper holiday. at times we had to decide if we if heat or eat, the loss of my income is not compensated by DLA. I will look after DC lifelong. I will never have life again, my DC will be never independent and financially it's hard. I hope you feel better now and can sleep tonight knowing that mine (and many other families with disabled DC) won't have the luxury of pony rides and struggle to cover the basics.

Some kids parents have to save up to send their kids away and work hard. To just use the money on a theme park pass which many people cannot afford to even do is taking the piss.

A theme park pass is a luxury which many people cannot afford to do.

Not really. It's completely logical.

Firstly, a disabled person can also apply for UC and Child Benefit, the same as everyone else. The amount awarded is based on what an average person or family needs. With CB, the amounts in question usually aren't high enough to dispute, for example a child will cost almost every family more than £1k a year. Nobody is asking disabled people to justify where their CB or UC is spent either.

With disability benefits, they are awarded for a specific purpose, to meet the additional day to day living costs associated with a disability or long term health condition. This is over and above any UC or Child Benefit someone would ordinarily be entitled to and is clearly awarded for a specific purpose. It therefore is logical that people want to be sure that the money is being spent on what it is intended for. Theme park visits, holidays, savings accounts are hugely controversial because ultimately this is taxpayer money that is being used for perceived luxuries. Whilst you can argue the same about UC or CB, the amounts involved with CB means that this issue will be extremely limited. For example an individual child can be awarded £10k in DLA which obviously creates more scope for spending on controversial things. Add to this the fact that CB and UC are means tested and DLA isn't so you can have the scenarios outlined earlier in this thread where very high earners are claiming thousands and thousands in disability benefits when they wouldn't qualify for any other benefits. This seems counter intuitive considering the financial state of the country and the painful cuts we are making all over the place to services that have a very real impact on vulnerable people.

You begrudge a day at a theme park for a child who is disabled, who will one day become a disabled adult, and not have anything near the quality life of most none disabled people.

Nobody is asking disabled people to justify where their CB or UC is spent either.

Some people do question how UC is spent when someone receives the LCWRA element &/or disabled/severely disabled child element.

It's taxpayers money so ofc we have a say in how it's spent! It's everyone's business!

"A theme park pass is a luxury which many people cannot afford to do."

Having activities that you can attend cheaply or for free is a privilege that many disabled children do not have.

It's a luxury and their parents should pay for it themselves if they want their kids to go to one. Like everyone else does.

A trip to the park is cheap. Feeding the ducks. Since when is it a given right we should fund theme park passes ??

The park that has no suitable equipment for a disabled child

And a theme park does?? If it's busy and crowded??

My money is in my account. You do not have a say in how I spend it. EVen the DWP dont have a say.
You might have an opinion but that means nothing. You absolutely do not have a say in how other people spend their money.

"A trip to the park is cheap. Feeding the ducks. Since when is it a given right we should fund theme park passes ??"

So why are school holiday activities funded? Shouldn't all children and teenagers be happy with feeding the ducks?

It's 34 pound for an online ticket to Alton Towers, that's less than a pound a week, hardly bankrupting the country

Again how does a theme park have equipment for a disabled child to use if a park doesn't?
How much is a pass for all year??

It's not about begrudging anyone anything. You could give the disabled child a million days at theme parks, all the toys in the world and infinite luxuries and it almost certainly still wouldn't make it for the lack of quality of life that they will suffer due to their disability. It doesn't mean we automatically assume that we must throw money at the situation in the hope that a day at Alton Towers will make any difference to the day to day lived reality of that disabled person. No amount of money will ever make things fair or equal. We must though be careful about what we spend our limited public money on. It's all very well funding theme park visits now accruing more and more debt to do so, only to run out of money completely in a few years time and make severe cuts into the care and support we can offer disabled people in the longer term. We owe it to these children to be fiscally responsible and not to trade their long term security for a day at Disneyland.

Are you ok with paying taxes that go towards the NHS operations of smokers, obese people, drinkers? It's a slippery slope dictating where your taxes should go.
Just pay them and be happy you're not in a situation where people begrudge your child a trip out.

Many parks do not have any disability play equipment. Some theme parks have rides DC can ride on in their wheelchair/SN pushchair &/or have rides that DC can be supported on.

Those who object to theme parks being funded will be aghast to learn there are charity grants, some of which receive government funding, for things like holidays and theme parks.

its also telling how all these disability haters never respond to parents who posted in detail how difficult their and their DC lives are and always will be and how financial hardship is part of that parcels.. not one word from the likes of @Eatinghurts (my brain hurts, but hey how). Just people getting organism about parents buying rides on ponies and fast track passes at rides (and a fridge freezer).

It tells us nothing about what parents of disabled children do. It just hold up the mirror to all these posters who reveal what the really are: nasty, nasty people.

Sounds a great use of charity money. Something I would support myself. I don't think taxpayer money should be funding this.

Some of the charity funding comes from the government.

Again how does a theme park have equipment for a disabled child to use if a park doesn't?

If you have taken your 15 year old with a severe learning difficulty onto the play ground equipment or in the sandpit you will know that often it does not go down well with parents of younger children.

I havent been to a theme park with my chikdren, but i do recall a lot of rides having safety harnessess and allowing a carer to sit by your side and being age appropriate for tweens and teens in a way a toddler slide isn't. Lots of play equipment isnt disabilty friendly as the carer cant use it and no harness.

The joy of dla not being prescribed is families chose what works for their child's needs.