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.

This.

A couple of my friends can only work very part time because their children can’t access any form of childcare. I can’t imagine being jealous of them

Re the tech and furniture. I do use my son's DLA to cover the cost of replacing these. Breakages are indeed due to his disability (he tends to smash things when he has a meltdown). Of course sometimes he breaks things that are not his, and why should his siblings not have their things replaced if he smashes them? Have also used it to get OT assessments, various sensory supports (e.g. chewstix; weighted blankets), pay for the extra water and electricity usage and extra clothes/ furniture protection needed with continence issues, as well as seemingly more frivolous things that bring him joy as a hyperfocus (entire Dragon Ball book series).

The state is obliged to offer your child a suitable education. If they aren’t doing so, complain to your MP.

I think it is supposed to be spent on enabling the person to have as close to a normal life as possible or an easier life than if they didn’t have the benefit. To be honest it would have to be a lot more if it were to bring you up to a level of a non disabled person. If the person can’t work they need that money to live on or replace for example the washing machine if it breaks and I think that’s ok too (morally. And I know there are no official rules on how it’s spent).
I get disability benefits, and yet my most expensive costs are toiletries and food for my eczema and my allergies. I did a budget and it works out that half my disability goes on that, and the rest will go on a mobility car so that I can start working out of home when I past my test. I wish I didn’t have to do that, because if my costs were lower in that area I would get weekly massages. I have low muscle tone and issues with my joints and nervous system which is largely why I am on the benefit in the first place!
that said things like clothes come out of a different budget and are bought second hand. I don’t go on holiday, and I make a lot of sacrifices.

Why should she?

Do you have any experience of this?

Yes they do get a place at school - not always suitable , that’s a whole other thread.

In my situation , he did get a place at the only place that could meet his needs which was not local. He had transport. He was picked up anytime between 730 and 840 . Then he was returned home any time between 340 and 440. He could not go to after school clubs because when I found the only one that could meet his needs , no one could come outside to get him off transport and the guide was not allowed to leave the vehicle to take him in. This is without considering the days that he was simply too deregulated to leave the house, a guide was off so no transport etc . Absolutely no childcare in holidays .

Interested to hear your thoughts on how to fit a job around that?

Fancy being jealous of a disabled child and their family. Does anyone really sit there thinking they wish their own child was disabled so they too could have some money towards a TV or a motability car?! Or are they just focused on the money and forget the disability bit…

Firstly many people who are disabled are not entitled even if like me their condition is obvious to others due to the equipment I wear 24/7. I’m more disabled than many people claiming but technicalities mean I wouldn’t be granted.

Secondly, this is such a silly argument. Should we never critique public spending because the recipients have a difficulty in some way or may be less fortunate than others?

Thirdly it’s not all being spent on adapted vehicles. This thread alone proves many of the claimants don’t even need it.

This is actually laughable.

"Disagree with disability claims for neurodiversity. Some children are most expensive to raise than others. That’s what you sign up to when you become a parent."

Surely if you believe this, this should apply to all disabilities?

Because the workforce exists to pay benefits for others and so long as they have some spare cash it’s proof they can pay even more. Keep up!

As long as the disabled person is being provided for, it can be spent on anything you like. Just as with child benefit, are people equally as adamant there are things you can only buy with it?

We are a high income family. Daughter is awarded disability benefits. The mobility allowance pays for one of our cars, which I also use for commuting to work. I have checked this with motability and they are absolutely clear this is ok in our circumstances, as long as the car is available for her when she needs it, and it is. They agreed it would be an absolute nonsense for me to take her to school in her car, come home, swap over to another car, commute to work the do the reverse when picking her up. We would still have two cars as a family were it not for her award, but we certainly would not have the massive car that’s required to carry her wheelchair and walking frame. She is learning to drive at the moment, when she gets her licence she will drive to school on the days I WFH and I will take her on the days I need to go to the office. When she goes off to Uni, then I will get another car.

Her care component goes into the family coffers. She gets a decent amount of pocket money, but anything she needs that is disability related, we pay for. We also put a fair bit into a savings account for her because although we don’t need the money now, she will need it when she turns 18 and the services for her drop off a cliff.

I couldn’t give a toss what people think of our set up. It works for us and that’s what’s important.

Oh dear

I know a 8 year old who can only go to school for 2 hours a day. He is on the waiting list for a SEN school but in the meantime it’s difficult for my friend to work full time for obvious reasons. Even when he does get into a SEN school it’ll only be for 6 hours a day term time only. He will never be able to go to any other form of childcare and will probably need care as an adult. You sound quite naive.

🤣🤣 thanks so much, your posts have given me a much needed laugh tonight.

You have many, many hours free in the day. Lots of jobs you could do. School admin, retail, cafes, etc etc. I’d go freelance. What I wouldn’t do is give up work for my child’s entire school years and expect the state to pick up the bill.

People bloody love disability-bashing and it's only getting worse. It's grim and says a lot about you and the state of the UK. A couple of thing. 1. You would not opt for being disabled for a couple of extra quid. 2. You can't claim to praise "Princess Catherine and her brave battle etc etc" and simultaneously want to take cash away from other people suffering from cancer and a multitude of other illnesses and disabilities. Because that's what it is. Cuts impact ALL disabilities and if you agree with them, you're agreeing to cut benefits for all sick people.

"The state is obliged to offer your child a suitable education. If they aren’t doing so, complain to your MP."

So funny.

But CB is means tested, pensions are based on how many years NI you paid in, maternity… well aside from free prescriptions not sure what benefit there is. DLA isn’t. Not that I necessarily agree with the posted you quoted.

😂😂😂 you literally have no idea do you?! My child had 50% attendance for the first three years of secondary because of her invisible disability, I had to work part time, drop everything to collect her, drive her to school every day because she couldn't walk, then after three years the wheels fell off and she was at home, unable to do anything.

If it weren't for DLA and universal credit we would be out of our home, and would be on more benefits. DLA allows me to work, it's not as simple as her pootling off to school for several hours of the day and she's out of sight out of mind!

And I'm a 'high' earner, I'm a head of department, I've been teaching for 25 years, I did everything right, I worked my bloody socks off and didn't claim anything for 20 plus years. But now I need it.

I'm sorry your child is ND (actually I'm not, my ND children are a blessing in so many ways) but I'm glad you're not in a horrible financial situation because of it and you're able to work as much as you do to be able to contribute so much. Hopefully it'll continue and you won't need benefits in the same way that so many of us do.

This is hilarious! Do you know how difficult it is to get a term time only job? They are like hen’s teeth.

My DD has a place in a specialist school. In the past fortnight she’s been home for two days because a child in her class kicked off and she felt too scared to be in class (triggered old trauma for her), I had a 2 hour meeting at school to plan how to get her back in so effectively half a day off work. She also had 2 CAMHS appointments which, because of the location of the clinic mean another 2 half days. I also had a workshop at her school to support home/school working. So in a two week period I had 4 half days absent from work and 2 days working from home while supporting my daughter.

I work 28 hours a week, in a senior role, I have a very flexible employer and good annual leave allowance. My daughter’s attendance at school is pretty hit or miss even in specialist provision. It’s hard to find the right combination of working hours, flexibility and salary to sustain employment when your child has complex needs.

"Surely your child is offered a place at a school though, as the council is legally obliged to do??? "

They are not legally obliged to offer a place in school.

Or maybe we shouldn’t be targeting the people who get the crumbs and instead go for the people who are taking the entire pack of biscuits?

This picture can also be interpreted for disabled people.

I am on PIP for mental health and neurodivergence. The main cost I have is taxis as I can not use buses. They enable me to get to the support groups I go to. If I did not go to them I would be very isolated and it would make my mental health even worse.
My PIP money goes in my bank account and is part of the rest of my money. I spend a lot on hobbies as they help keep me regulated.
I dont have to justify any of what I spend to the DWP so I certainly wont be justifying to people on here. I dont think people ask about it in good faith.

Nonsense. It’s disability payments for mental health that are expected to be looked at. When 8% of 15 year olds claim to be disabled (doubled in the last 10 years) there is absolutely categorically no way the government can afford to keep on paying out endless money. Don’t you understand that? And supposedly sickness levels have doubled in the UK when they haven’t in other countries. It’s just not in anyway feasible is it?

Most of those jobs aren’t term time. You can’t just be off the busiest times of year, take 6 weeks off in the summer from a retail job!
Ive worked in schools, admin is usually 8am starts, you don’t just wander in later in the day. Start and end of the day are the busiest times. They aren’t happy if you need to be off to take your child for appointments, or if they are off sick. Schools run on good attendance from staff.