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.

You do know that DLA isn't just about the money don't you? David Cameron claimed it ffs 🙄

Do you think we like having disabled kids? Do you think it’s a choice? I’d do anything for my son to be able to a) talk, b) use a toilet, c) have friends, d) live a normal life in any way, shape or form.

That big event didn't cause such huge problems in other countries. The NHS was underfunded to begin with.

Basically anything that helps your child!

This could be to substitute earnings you have to forfeit for being needed for reduced hours, putting aside for their future, paying for anything to support them.

I've found there are so many free/subsided support options for sen children, very fortunate in the UK. Also if in a specialised school so much extra care is provided, especially if parents are on benefits.

Medical treatment is free, dentists are free, chool is free, therapy and interventions are free, so the intention is to help to give your child the best life at home. Xxx

Lol. Talk about clueless....

It not underfunded we just have an appallingly unhealthy population who refuse to look after themselves as ‘the NHS will do it for free’.

Walk down any street and the majority of people are overweight or obese, sucking on vapes, buying and eating junk food, smoking. It’s horrible to see

I think the other thread which led to this one was about ND children, rather than disabled children. I don't know if that makes any difference.

Yeah… 2 years now my child has been in an entirely unsuitable school. Every other school within a 40 mile radius have said they’re full or can’t meet his needs. I have my MP on bloody speed dial. Doesn’t change anything.

Those streets might be your local demographic but they are not reflective of what I see when I go out.

The thing with DLA is, it’s to reflect the fact that a child with a disability requires significantly more care than a child the same age and that often costs more in many straightforward and more complicated ways.

But the child was still being cared for before the extra money - so how do people exoecccit to work?

Charge the child for every extra wash you need to do related to their disability? Or everything like that that costs money.

Carry on buying mobility aids, adaptive cutlery, seamless clothes… whatever they need out of the household budget and put the DLA money in savings?

like.. they’re spending it on the child either way, whether they bill their child or just add it to the household income

Hard agree. This is what the money currently spent on DLA and PIP needs to spent on instead of cash handouts.

But that doesn’t change the fact the system costs money. It just doesn’t. There is a very expensive piece of equipment that would be life changing for my disability but the NHS won’t fund it for me as I’m not quite ‘severe’ enough (by a hairs width). I completely accept this. We can’t have everything we want for free.

But being ND is a disability. My son is autistic. That’s his only diagnosis. He’s non verbal, doubly incontinent, can’t understand spoken language, requires a wheelchair as he has no danger perception whatsoever… how is that not a disability?

Why has it doubled disability in the UK and not other countries?

Even if we did improve those services there would be riots if we said ‘ok, they’ve improved, time to stop DLA’. Because as you can see from the thread many people are not spending it on disability.

Nobody has the right to comment on what DLA is spent on any more than what someone spends their wages or pension on.

It's money for a disabled person to cover the increased costs they face. But realistically a lot of it goes on bills and day to day essentials in COL.

The idea that provision hasn't changed. In real terms is , imo very questionable.

There was a time not so long ago when the average family didn't require 2 full-time incomes to get by.

How do you account for this massive increase in diagnosis?

I have a few ideas myself, such as awareness, diagnostic criteria, life being so militant, rule based and individualistic that people who could once thrive now have no to very little chance of doing so.

In any case. What do you suggest. Sod people who don't live up to certain expectations of usefulness?

The thing I can't understand is why vapes have been allowed to become yet another unhealthy habit. It's as if nothing has been learned.

That's caused by inequality actually.

And yes, it is underfunded.

The number of special schools in Scotland has pretty much halved in the last 10 years. I’m pretty sure that’s a change in provision.

No it's not just parenthood. There are epilepsy medications that were given to pregnant women that are now no longer prescribed to them. This is due to abnormally high rates of ND children born to the mother's that were taking it. That is on the state.

I noticed a typo in my post. It was supposed to say I don’t necessarily agree with the poster you quoted, not your post.

I actually don’t know if I agree with it being called a benefit at all. So many other countries call it welfare. Benefit implies it’s positive, but if it’s means tested then you’re clearly awarded it if you’re worse off - whether that’s earnings, health, out of work.

Probably better/less harmful than actual cigarettes and at least they don't seem to be harmful to others.

The UK has a claiming mindset. We have entire generations of families who have never worked; playing the benefits system and box ticking is an actual skill among many, and everyone is forensic in hunting down and ‘fighting for what they’re entitled to’. There are too many freebies given away too easily, and the figures don’t support that benefits said any kind are hard to access. There are even advisors online who will help you fill out forms in such a way you’re guaranteed to be successful. It’s an absolute disease that is ruining our country.

Who is asking for free everything?

If you remove benefits from disabled people, they will suffer. Some will suffer a lot. It is really difficult to get disability benefits. Taking them from people who have been awarded them under the very strict criteria of requiring them will impact lives to the point people are unable to go anywhere or do anything. If you are ok with that, then maybe the financial argument will appeal to you more.

If disabled people are unable to go about their daily lives, get out to work, get out to the gym, get out to meet people, this means they need to be taken care of by other social and medical services far quicker and for a lot longer. This will cost more money, but you won’t see it because the benefits bill is lower. The bill for GP services, social care, NHS etc will be much higher, services will continue to be cut and you’ll find you aren’t able to access everything you used to get. You’ll complain about that for sure. Making sure our most vulnerable in society are looked after is not only the morally right thing to do, it is the most cost effective thing to do.

I mean this in the most serious way. I hope you never become disabled. It’s the one minority group anyone could become a part of at any time, and many do as they get older. I hope you manage to avoid it, I hope as many people as possible manage to avoid it, because it can be an incredibly difficult time. If you unfortunately do, and benefits have been cut to the bone, presumably you’ll be ok with that because “free everything isn’t a workable system”