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.

Swallowed my son really should be in mainstream school. He has ASD and LD and auditory processing disorder but all of these things could be accomodated with some effort.

I had not thought for a minute that he would be in a SEN school yet after two years of MS I couldnt get him out quick enough.

The MS he went to was well known for its SEN dept. Fantastic on paper. The Inclusion Manager was on all kinds of commitees and projects (I know this because I work in early years SNs).

Shame he couldnt use some of that enthusiasm for his actual job. He seemed to spend his time at school telling parents that they were not allowed to statement a child until they were 9, and that extra help was not available without a statement etc etc.

In other words - an arse who couldnt give a toss about children but was clearly very ambitious. He will go far.

Had no idea you can get DLA if you work full time + have a disability. I haven't asked my friend if she receives it cos its personal.
Do u have to be registered disabled to get DLA? I have a disability which makes full time work a struggle tbh. Hate admitting it v much.

riven you are so right, even look at the price of bibs for teens/adults

so imo DLA should be higher than it is

i know what you mean(awaits being told she is trumping) but I remember well when dd was little, there was this lad who had mild cp, he could walk, talk and stuff.
there was dd, she could do fuck all, yet he got the high rate and she got middle(turned out i had cocked up and said she slept through the night, forgot that night meant all night )

aww, bet she has a wicked sense of humour

I was looking through a special needs catalogue the other day for an idea of what to get ds for Christmas. There was a toy that was over £50 and it was almost identical to the one we got from ELC for £14.99. Talk about a rip-off! They obviously think that SN is a licence to charge outrageous prices.

lara no you dont need to be registered. Registering is for the local council's stats really.

It is hard to get without a diagnosis but it is possible. If your disability has a significant impact on your life you should definately apply. Make sure you get help, dont try and do the forms yourself.

Re the special needs and prices thing. I am a portage worker and rarely even look at SN catalogues. Our budget wouldnt stretch and most of it is a bloody rip off. There is stuff you cant get anywhere else which is very tough on those with complex needs. I get my stuff from the usual places and keep my eye out for good toys all the time.

In fact, since starting my work I have come to realise just how rubbish a lot of toys are. They pander to the parents needs to push their kids rather than celebrate what they can do IYSWIM. But that is a whole other thread

Oh someone gave me the catalogue, I've never actually bought anything out of it.

'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'

Fuck off

You obviously know nothing about children with ASD. I will never be able to work full time because my daughter with ASD NEEDS SO MUCH CARE. She is quite severely disabled.

She has also broken nearly everything in our house at one time or another.

I suggest you take time to inform yourself before making stupid OPs.

Just seen your twattish comment about over-diagnosis.

Do you know how hard it is to get a diagnosis? I very much doubt you do.

Why one earth would you imagine I was talking about switch toys?
Why are you assuming I am even talking about the parents of disabled children?

i work with a guy whos son has autism. Its the sheer time off work for all the doctors appointments, he misses work gets sacked of gets called from home by his crying wife who cant handle their 3yr old sons behaviour. He never sleeps, cant handel temperature changes or lights or clicking. I have no idea how they cope. No employer no matter how compassionate really wants to put up with this and thats why they deserve extra help.

Have read throught this nthread and seen that the OP has retracted some of her original comments somewhat.

I'd like to say though that as a parent of a child who has ASD/ADHD that his needs leave me unable to work fulltime. The DLA and extra tax credit do n ot go near making up the money I have lost by going part-time and I think that DLA is fabulous as it helps me so much to meet my son's needs. I don't get motability upper rate which tbh many families with children who are ASD could do with - then again the DLA would enable me to lease a car if needed.

Take no notice of me Riven. I am in the middle of the 2nd crappiest, bollockiest time in my life.

Doesnt compare with loss of DD obviously but it is absolutely hidious

Without wishing to dredge up stuff for you I believe you went through something similar with your teenager?

Tis crap and the baby is poorly too so I am reacting in my usual OMG OMG OMG OMG way.

Posts by me in the next few days months are probably best ignored.

weak

I have started a thread in teenagers. I have held off for ages because its so hard for me to deal with. I dont usually talk about DS cos i dont think its fair but not sure what else to at this point. Any advice welcome. Ta

My neighbour has a ds with autism. Very low functioning type and you cannot imagine the process she's had to go through to get him properly diagnosed and in a suitable school. She's never ever had the luxury of sleeping through the night - ever (we're all woken up by him). She's never had her lovely ds look at her and say 'mummy'.

She's a loving and knackered parent doing her very very best and I'd hope that she could get more help.