Adult Disability Payment - Teenager

[Pootle40]

I am dealing with a really frustrating scenario. My teenage son (16) has dyspraxia so the fine motor skills, memory and timekeeping are affected. He is still in school full time. He knows of many other peers (similar to him) who are receiving Adult Disability Payment. I’ve explained to him that while he has the condition he lives at home with us, has everything he needs and doesn’t have ‘extra costs’ associated with his condition. He thinks we are being blockers. He went ahead and made an application behind our backs. We received three follow up letters requesting further evidence and I put them all in the bin as I morally disagree (of which he is aware). I grew up with a severely disabled single parent who could not work and had two children so I have a very clear view of what I think the purposes of these payments are. My son, I think, sees this as pocket money. I asked him to name one extra cost he incurs because of his dyspraxia and he can’t. He simply thinks he’s entitled to it and no explaining is helping. So frustrated. I don’t think I am being harsh but surely he can’t just claim money because he has a life long disability?!

She’s 11 we still bathe her, wipe her bum put her to sleep etc etc

@Pootle40 I agree with you
Where's there's no additional costs then no people shouldn't claim.

They are not given cash for costs.

They are awarded a payment assessed on the effects of their disabilities.

These are two facts.

what you’ve written is opinion

Their are given money on the basis that their disability means they incur costs and the flat rate is to meet those costs.

Dud you think they money is given as some sort of ‘wee shame their disabled, have some compo’???

That’s not even a coherent post.

Is your reading comprehension as adept as your understanding of fiscal and economic matters?

Their are given money on the basis that their disability means they incur costs

No, they aren’t. Entitlement is not assessed based on costs. Entitlement is based on how someone functions across daily living and mobility activities.

The other anomaly in the system is free personal care.
Someone who needs help to have a shower and get dressed can claim ADP as they need help with an everyday activity. But then because it’s personal care the state provides the help free, as well as the payment

Perhaps you could try writing in English instead of lingo.

I understand what she was saying

we dont write the rules of benefit entitlement.
he should apply for the benefit, telling the full truth.
if he is entitled he will get the money which you can save for him.
if he is not entitled thats that.
it’s not your decision to make. it’s his.

as an aside i know a young person with the same condition. she saved up and bought a car to get around in. shes in a council house and has carers to remind her to do stuff and help her keep house.

You sound like very caring parents truly, but does it not cross your mind that there maybe times when your son just doesn't want to be the only kid dependent on his parents for stuff?

Would you say that PIP should NEVER be spend on fun things?
For example, if someone needs to take a taxi over a distance someone else could walk, would you say they should only spend PIP on that taxi if that trip is to work or medical appointment, but if they are going for coffee with a friend or to the cinema, they should only go if they can afford the taxi do it without using PIP, otherwise they shouldn't go?

I mean I think this would be an ok use of PIP, and I think by extension, your son should be able to use his PIP to be independent from his parents because he's 18 and 18 year olds don't normally need their parents to ferry them around.

You’re conflating two different things OP.

The benefit exists because research shows that having a disability costs more than not having one. (On average a lot more than the benefit)

But it’s awarded based on care needs and mobility.

I don’t understand though if he’s entitled to it why wouldn’t you want him to have it? My godson has adhd and is now looking at a dual diagnosis and from the get got CAHMS told them to apply for it. My best friend was really against it but they said once he is 16 he will go into ADP and he will receive it regardless of whether he works or not as it’s not means tested. She applied and was awarded straight away. She gets low rate but probably could get middle rate as he relies on medication for sleeping and settling him down but social security Scotland and CAHMS told her as it’s a neurological condition he will always be entitled to it. I have no experience or knowledge with your sons conditions but it’s sounds like he may be entitled and at 16 it’s ADP so he is the one to make the application xxx

Why should we give money to people to compensate them for costs they don’t have?

The chances of someone qualifying for ADP and not having extra costs are real unlikely.

Mind, the OP currently has no clue if her son actually qualifies.

I do think that you are being harsh. I have dyspraxia and it is extremely difficult to qualify for adult disability payment and he is unlikely to get anything on the basis of dyspraxia alone. I do know how difficult it is to be a teenager with dyspraxia. You say he has no costs because you take him everywhere. He probably wants to go somewhere by himself. If you recovered higher rate mobility ADP you can learn to drive at 16 instead of 17. Most teenagers would want this.

Have you talked to him about the impact that dyspraxia has on his life and what he wants to do? It is extremely unlikely that he will have no extra costs or challenges relating to his disability. He probably won’t want to live at home forever. How are his independence skills? How does he feel about this?

It is illegal to open and destroy someone else’s post and doing so to stop them receiving benefits is a form of financial abuse. You are clearly damaging your relationship with your son. He probably won’t get ADP. You can look at the criteria yourself. However if he applied and didn’t get it it would teach him the lesson you want to teach him more effectively than you throwing his letters in the bin.

Jesus Christ, no wonder the country is in the state it is, I make the mum right, this whole pip thing is a joke, so many jumped on bandwagon for ADHD to claim it, WHY, have some bloody respect, the country can’t keep paying out, and why should tax payers keep on paying for those too bloody lazy to work

Sorry, money to pop a pill. If I was younger I would bloody emigrate, what a joke

Crazy what warrants DLA now I always assumed it was sever conditions. Rekon they will have to reign it in its unaffordable. Respect your approach.

House!

You don’t decide if he is entitled to it, ScotGov decides. They also decide at 16, they are in control of their own benefit so he is entitled to claim for it and you aren’t allowed to throw his personal letters away.

I absolutely agree with you, and applaud your stance. Far too many people lie on application forms to claim money they don’t need or deserve, and in the village where I live, I see this attitude spreading through generations within families.
i wasn’t even aware that Dyspraxia would qualify as a disability?
Hats off to you for teaching your child some morals, wish more people would do the same.

Sure, let’s start with the biggest bill - pensions.

😆