Odd find, secret DLA allowance....

[sooperdooper]

I live with my DP, we're getting married later this year

I was just doing some tidying up, and sorting out a pile of paperwork/letters etc on the kitchen table, putting stuff in the pile to shred/file away etc

And I've found a letter, to DP from the DLA, about Disability Living Allowance, that he's getting nearky £400 a month on a higher rate care & lower rate mobility allowance - which I had no idea about whatsoever?

I wasn't snooping, just sorting through what was important and what could be thrown away, it wasn't in an envelope, just in with other letters on the table

I know his in his family there is a medical history if disabilities - his brother has spina biffida & learning difficulties, and his sister has spina biffida but works normally although I know she does suffer a lot of pain sometimes & has had so many ops over the years to enable to her now live a fairly normal life

But he has never, ever told me her receives DLA, it's so strange and I just don't know what to think

He's at work today and then going to a friends tonight from work, I won't really see him until tomorrow, but this is just so odd

I don't even know what advise I'm looking for really, guess I'm just confused

Workfare = being forced to work in order to receive benefits. It means you have to work for way below the minimum wage and the employer gets away with not paying Tax/NI for you

DLA is often awarded for a set period of time, maybe a couple of years ago he did qualify but now his condition has improved, someone with serious mental health issues that can vary could be in that position.

have the government not read the statistics that carers save this government at LEAST 87 BILLION POUNDS PER YEAR!

Yes, but that's assuming that if the carers stopped caring, the government would pick up the pieces, but with this coalition government, I'm not so sure that they would. :(

No. What they want is for carers to carry on regardless. Most of us will because they are our children/siblings/parents etc. But it means a huge burden is placed on many people.

I just hope they don't get elected for a second term, so things can't go even further.

i'm pissed off with carers being taken for granted, i was a carer 24/7 until my dd went to residential college, i thought i could look for a job, tried to claim job seekers, was told by job centre i'm not entitled to any benefits as i have been idol,dd comes home for college holidays and needs someone with her 24/7. i asked ss for help as i need to find work, they told me dd will need a f/t carer and it will only cost me £15hr. i can't afford £15hr, and i can't live on fresh air.i even have to pay for my prescriptions, rent,full council tax,etc and i haven't got any money coming in.

Another who has a child awake 2-3 hours after 11pm and only awarded MRC - I was told that if DS falls asleep at 2am "that this is when the house settles for the night". Even though I consider the house settles for the night at 10pm when I attempt to go to bed.

I am very cynical about this too and I hate these bastards in Govt.

There are clearly people on this thread who deserve all the help they can get. However, can someone please explain why junkies and alcoholics get it?

(Genuine question, btw, and am not a UK tax payer, so no axe to grind.)

how are we supposed to know? we are just carers of our children with disabilities how are we supposed to know why drug addicts and alcoholics get it?

davidsotherhalf, my social worker does lots of teeth sucking about me working. They don't actually want us to work.

because it is not based on your condition but the amount of help you need with your personal care.

Cod - we were told (when I asked for his claim to be reconsidered) that because DS goes to sleep at 8 that that counts as when he sleeps, so the fact he is awake between 2-4am every day is irrelevant.

Its just another stick to beat us with. You hear lots and lots about waiting times for heart operations or hip replacements. No-one ever champions the cause that there is a 9 month wait for SALT, or 8 month wait for OT. Because they are not important enough :(

we were told that because DD wakes before 6 that it counted as "being awake while the family sleeps" and therefore she was eligible for HRC, there is no consistency, I think they just make it up as they go along

I think they just make it up as they go along

I think they do.

My son is always awake while the rest [apart from me of course!] of the family sleeps.

By their definitions he should get HRC but he only gets middle rate. that was fine as it still allowed me to claim carers allowance, when that changes im fucked.

Us too Amber :(

It sucks doesnt it.

God knows what I will do.

sooperdooper any update for us? Have been checking back for days as I'm so intrigued [no life emoticon]

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2152115/UK-benefits-family-12-live-50k-handouts-appear-Daybreak-defend-controversial-lifestyle.html

The story ive linked to above features a carer. Thanks Closer Thanks a bunch.

Queenofsheba, "junkies" and alcoholics are people too. There but for the grace of God go us all.

I'm an alcoholic and I need my DLA to pay for my taxis after I've been on a bender.

Oh for a MN 'like' button

Very funny