I am getting a bit fed up about the way the media is covering the benefit cuts and how they affcet those with disabled children

[Agincourt]

YESTERDAY for instance, there was coverage on news that said those of us with children with severe disabilities will have our child tax credit cut from £77 p/w to something else, and those who get £43 p/w will have it halved under universal credit. At no point did it say it is taken off your earnings, so even if you would qualify for it if you earned above a certain threshold you would still receive minimum child tax credit (I think we get £12 a week, or something) whether you had a child with severe disabilities or not. It was as though it was a given that you would automatically get it and it pisses me off, I don't know why, but I think it increases peoples perception of your or their worth and I have enough to cope with day to day without people thinking I am living the life of riley on benefits and top up tax credits

and this amongst every other inaccuracy that is reported lately. I don't deny anyone that does have to claim these top ups though, don't get me wrong, but it was reported as though EVERYONE got them automatically, when in reality alot of people don't.

Absolutely. We get the disabled child element x2, then lose most of it again because of DH's earnings and my CA.

Though I get the impression that even most of the cabinet don't understand how it works.

The whole 'disability' payments thing is just so irrational.

When you list the ways in which 'disability' is acknowledged in financial terms you have:

Incapacity benefit (for those still awaiting assessment for suitability for......
ESA
Disability enhacement of Tax Credits
Disability Living Allowance
Careers Allowance
Direct Payments

and probably others that I've overlooked.

Considering the primary purpose of most of these is to acknowledge that those with SNs have more expensive basic needs than than non-disabled people, they sure have chosen a complicated way to do it.

The whole thing needs an overhaul. If only to save filling in these bastard multiple claim forms.