50% cuts to DLA for children :0(

[brandy77]

I cant do links, sorry, this came up on my face book page EDCM today :0(

Disabled children?s benefits cut by 50% under new proposals
Campaign warns that cuts could push thousands of families into poverty
For media enquires please contact Laura Courtney, EDCM Campaign Manager:
(T) 020 7843 6448 or 07949749754
(E) [email protected]

The Every Disabled Child Matters campaign (EDCM) has today (4th April) warned that under new Government proposals, disability premiums for thousands of families with disabled children will be reduced by £1358.76 per year.

Last week, the Government outlined plans to change disability premiums within Child Tax Credits or Income Support under the Universal Credit. In a move to align child and adult premiums the Government has decided to dramatically cut disabled children?s benefits for up to 88,000 families.

I could be wrong, but I am fairly certain this isn't dla being cut but for families who claim extra tax credits because they are in receipt of dla. Still seems wrong though :(

Nice way to hit two of the most vulnerable groups in one go - disabled children and lower income families. I hope the government ministers are really proud of their actions.

link

oh sorry yes it is the tax credits from receiving DLA, huge amount of money to lose though whichever way you lose it imagine having your monthly "wage" reduced by half!! cameron needs a good smack up the ***

either way it's shit, dh has had no pay increase at all in the last 3 years, not even 1%, I can't work because of dd3s needs so the last thing we need is a further drop in income.

Eek! Thats just over £100 a month lost. How do they expect people to live!

Well i hope my son receives the highest rate care on his DLA renewal then I think you continue to get more financial support. Terrible to think that some kids DLA could be dropped to the new Low rate and then they will lose the disability tax credit and really struggle, im quite appalled

oh crap we get the disability element of CTC [worried]

Regardless of cuts I will still be on my own with DS, unable to go out to work because of his needs and in the same situation but also thinking - hmm food or money on the gas meter, decisions decisions...

Have they got the notes in that link the wrong way round? (the 'Notes to Editors' pts 4&5).

This is going to really hit us too. We just about get by at the moment but won't do if we have to lose a big chunk of our income like this.

The link says that it won't affect existing claimants to start with but I imagine it would just be a matter of time.

Yes exactly coppertop, it will happen sooner rather than later to existing claimants lets face it.

It's not like we are rolling in money! A 50% cut is huge and will be a big chunk of regular income taken away from families on low incomes with a disabled child. To get the disabled element you have to receive high rate dla yes? (DS gets high rate care, and we get the ctc component). So not just disabled children, the most severe ones whose needs are recognised as high.

Whowho, those who receive mRC also get a disability element, but slightly less.

Stil, getting it reduced by half is a scary thought.

Was told today my dd's DLA renewal might get turned down despite her having DX of severe autism smand a chromosome disorder, its unbelievable

5inthebed - thanks, I only know benefits in terms of what ds recieves so wasn't sure who was entitled to the disability component.

fanjo - that is shit. DS's DLA renewal is due on new years eve.... 2012 (and onwards) may well be a lean year in the Who household.

just seen this over on media/non member requests if anybody is interested.

When is this supposed to go into effect? Or is it just a proposal still?

I cannot believe they just keep hitting families of disabled children again and again. It's unreal.

Pah! We are already living in poverty as I'm a lone parent who can't work till they sort out DS's school and therapy. The DLA & CTC is the mortgage payment, on a VERY modest home, not "ballet lessons or seaside trips".

I'm already reduced to begging charities for the theraputic help DS needs, and he's not even what I'd call seriously disabled, (meaning I'm one of the lucky ones who will be able to return to work eventually!).

Childcare is a whopper of an issue too for most of us - VERY few childminders can cater for our kids, especially after 12 years. A disabled kid does cost lots more to raise and there are gazillions of charity studies proving that disability in the family and poverty is already a very common occurence. DLA is an UNDERCLAIMED benefit and is a passport to the CTC disability payments, how many times have we seen on here the struggle many have to claim it? Parents of disabled children don't CHOOSE not to work, we are forced into living off the state.

It feels like this government is attacking the vulnerable on ALL sides, & for a civilised society it's disgusting. How those that are making these decsisions sleep at night or view themselves in the mirror I just don't know.

It is insane, it really is. I can't work due to DS2's needs as finding appropriate and safe childcare for him is impossible. We're not rolling in it, either. We get by, but only just. I can't even imagine how much stress this is going to cause for those families that already aren't able to struggle through financially each month!

I also feel the government is going after vulnerable targets without thinking about the ramifications of their decisions. I don't understand how they can justify some of these choices they are making. It's appalling and saddening, as it really shames our country to see how uncivilised it really can be.

and if awarded the new low rate dla it means carers allowance is lost as well, i will be like many others wondering wether to pay the bills or buy some food

fanjo, were you told that on the phone for your renewal, thats really bad

I'm actually none the wiser after rading the info how it will actually affect us. We get high rate care and mobility - so will we lose £100 per month or more?

Sorry if I'm a bit dim....

It is all very scary but I'm not at all surprised by this fuckwit of a prime minister.
He wants to bring benefits in line which means he wants to reduce the amount payable to the most in need.

We currently get higher rate dla + a car + carers allowance. if they lowered it would we lose money, car and carers allowance? and there is the CTC element as well.

we are already worried what will happen when he leaves school. his basic needs will not change when he is too old for school, if they do it will end up costing us more as we will not get anywhere for him to go during the week.
DP already has had to take a very low paying job self-employed so he can be there for him

ffs thats terrible im a carer for my disabled DH and son we struggle our only income is DLA CTC and incapacity and we already have to rob peter to pay paul isnt the struggle with the LEA and statementing and all that entails including providing for our dcs hard enough perhaps David Cameron wants 3 dcs and my DH as lodgers hes obviously doing quite nicely ty HORLICKS thats what gets him to sleep the barsteward agghhh

Maybe we should all just forward our bills to David cMeron and ask him to pay them!

this is just wrong.

"on wards torys we shall continue our just and noble war agaisnt the evils of the poor the sick and the aflicted." /s

what a joke this gov is torys and lib dems will not see power for a very long time after this

However unpopular Labour became with their drive to shut loads of special schools, they were never this bad. It's "I'm alright, sod the rest" with this coalition. Whatever happened to being able to judge a society on how it treats it's most vulnerable citizens?