Disability benefits should be cut

[benandoli]

OK so if a family has a child with a disability which results in that family having extra costs then they should have disability benefit and use the money to cover those costs. I am sure that many families in this situation should receive more. However, can someone please explain to me why a family who have a child with a disability, adhd or autism for example , where extra costs do not result , where the earning potential of the family has not changed as a result or indeed where the family never worked anyway should receive extra funds courtesy of the tax payer. Also why should parents in this situation receive a carers allowance and then work less hours as a result of the allowance rather than as a result of the caring that needs to be done? Many families are well deserving I know and they should probably get more, but many are working the system and getting their kids over diagnosed.

"I know one family that have a 23yo son with fairly severe autism, and they get all sorts of benefits for him. Both parents have worked in the past, but one has now chosen to take a very early retirement, and because of his son has been able to do so, and remain very well off. They have just bought a second house for the son to live in, as they understandably want him to have some independance, and they go on two two week long haul holidays a year."

Erm- well that's not fairly severe autism in my book. If the son can live independently in a house (can he? or does he have a rota of 24 hour carers?) then he hasn't got severe autism. Severe autism in my world means not being able to be left alone at all.

No, the family I'm on about definately are getting DLA because they were waiting on the blue badge to come through which they openly spoke about when visiting a few months ago.

And cory I am really shocked that you aren't getting DLA for your DD, after listing all elements of her disability. I agree with the poster who said you should appeal you case.

Do you have to get DLA to get a blue badge?

I thought it was all related, the blue bladge to the DLA entitlement? maybe I'm wrong, so apologies if I am

No, you dont need to get DLA to get badge.
Which shows how ridiculous the system is.
Your GP can tell social services that you are unable to walk very far and therefore need a badge. This doesn not mean DLA will deem you eligible for mobility allowance.

What do you mean 'openly spoke about it'?
Your wording makes it sound like you think they should be somehow ashamed.

Can I just mention that we do not have a flat screen TV. The picture on my parents' one is awful so I'm quite glad we have a second hand 14" CRT one that cost us £15 on ebay.

It's hard to get new CRT ones though if not impossible. I think poor people should be allowed to have a normal telly.

I am sorry for any offence caused. i can asure you all that I am good at my job and there are many families, children and parents for whom I fight to get benefits and services. I was not for one minute underestimating the needs os such families and I feel that thes e families do onot by any means get enough help. I am on the side of families with children with sen. As some posters have said the families I was referring to were not the families who have needs which are not obvious but the families who are just out for what they can get, who do not consider how unfair and insensitive this is to genuine families. Unfortunately there are too many of these and if this is allowed to continue the pot will be empty leaving genuine families with nothing.

How do you know there are too many of 'these'?

Why do people who start these threads always say that they dont mean us/me/you?

How do you know I am not pretending my child is disabled? Just because I tell you on a website that we are not making it up.

You seem happy to accept that as proof but you need loads more for people you actually know.

I also find it crazy that it doesnt matter how often and clearly the system is explained by people who know it, those who dont refuse to accept it.

I have no idea how a couple can afford to retire early on the proceeds of having a grown up son with a disability. Even if he got full mobility and care plus ONE lot of carers allowance. That would not support three adults and buy two houses.

Still wondering about the 'openly talked about it' comment.

Starlight - if you get higher rate mobility you are entitled to a blue badge.

It's the route we took to get one - I knew our council would struggle with the concept of a blue badge for ds1 as he can physically walk, but he clearly fits the criteria for higher rate mobility. So we applied for that, got it and then applied for the blue badge.

SO to summarise if you need a blue badge you can either apply direct to your council, or you can qualify for higher rate mobility and then get the blue badge automatically from your council.

DS1 gets higher rate mobility because he (1) gets higher rate care DLA (2) is severely mentally impaired and (3) has extremely disruptive and dangerous behavioural problems.

He needed to qualify on all three points to get higher rate mobility.

Having ticked (and provided evidence) for those three boxes we were then able to get a blue badge.

My friend is an amputee + has a blue badge. She works full time so gets no DLA, but has proved she gets lots of nerve pain so her mobility varies which makes a blue badge essential.

lara you can get DLA if you work full time. Its not means tested.

No swallowed. It is a relief to see it in writing.

Makes me realise I'm not going crazy atm.

I must say I am amazed at the attitude of some here that ASD does not lead to additional costs. I speak from our personal experiance it does. I feel no shame for recieving DLA for our DD as without it she wouldn't be able to lead the life she does, which is far from normal, but closer than without.

Our DD's DLA is used for things like the following ( and lots of other random expenses cause by DDs ASD, but too many to list)

Running a car - we couldn't afford this without the DLA as only one of us are able to work due to not being able to find childcare. This car is DDs lifeline to getting out and about, she cannot handle public transport and has very bad walking and safety issues, she is 7 now which is getting too heavy to carry. We never had a car before as we have ggod transports links, but we never knew these would be unaccessable for DD. plus the extra petrol costs because we need to use the car for even short journeys due to DDs problems. It is only a fairly old car (1998) nothing fancy.

Communication supplies - we buy alot of visual aids to help our DD learn, know what is happening, tell us what is happening when she is unable to use words.

Money for classes sutable for her needs - we cant attend the local free school clubs as there is not enough adults to children, clubs benefit our DDs social needs, but we must pay.

Cloaths - DD can only handle very certain things, fine if the cheap stores have the "right" stuff, but we have no choice but to get more expensive at times due to what is available.

Extra electricity - we need more lighting, more washing (toilet problems and smell issues) have to have fans on the whole time as DD needs the noise etc etc.

Saftey equipment - for the house, car everywhere. The new car harness we need is over £100 in its own.

generally add the word SN to something, triple the price - maybe the gov should sort that out!

There are so many more, but I hope this shows some of the costs we face that we do not have for our NT children. These coupled with less earning ability make DLA a life line. Our DD would have a much less "full" life without the financial support we get.