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Original poster

Has this been mentioned yet? The Government are planning to to abolish "disability benefits"...

63 replies

CaptainPlump · 05/08/2009 17:26

I've been sent this link twice today, so I've just checked it out and I'm scared! If the Government stop Attendance Allowance and DLA and give all the money to Social Services to dole out as they see fit, we'll ALL be worse off. I don't know how we (or the majority of our friends with children with SN) would cope!

Has anyone heard about this? Any thoughts??

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/latest-news/1091-100-days-to-save-dla-a-aa-from-the-axe

OP posts:
anonandlikeit · 05/08/2009 17:31

Cna't open the link but hope its all rubbish!!

sarah293 · 05/08/2009 19:07

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HecatesTwopenceworth · 05/08/2009 19:10

Anon - she didn't put a link. just the - url is it called?

link here

Duritzfan · 05/08/2009 19:11

I have been sent this link too..... anyone any the wiser yet ? This is too scary for words.....

HecatesTwopenceworth · 05/08/2009 19:13

We have to STOP this!!

"disability benefits converted to a ?personal budget? administered by local authorities and used to pay for services ? not to spend as they wish."

that is AWFUL!!

you just KNOW that social services won't give you what you need! I don't want that level of nebbing into my life!! Having to go cap in hand every time my kids need something. Justify every penny. Have them tell me that no, I can't use that money to replace something they've smashed or something.

You just know social services will waste that money and it won't get where it's needed and many people just won't bother - can you imagine the forms you'd need to fill for everything? maybe have someone round telling you what you can and can't have?

I hate this idea!

sarah293 · 05/08/2009 19:14

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HecatesTwopenceworth · 05/08/2009 19:15

you can sign up to their campaign to try to stop this!

here

HecatesTwopenceworth · 05/08/2009 19:17

oh I am REALLY hoping this is not true!

Are you going to email scope and ask about it, riven?

coppertop · 05/08/2009 19:17

I hope it's not real!

Surely it would cost far more if all the families like mine, who get DLA but no help from SS, were to need to start asking for SS intervention??

sarah293 · 05/08/2009 19:27

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HecatesTwopenceworth · 05/08/2009 19:33

exactly!! My washing machine is always on!! needs replacing more frequently! Always buying new pants. So many things.

And their gf diet! Some things are on prescription, but the rest is our shopping. Am I to ask for money every week for the extra gf products cost?

It is STUPID!!!!!

HecatesTwopenceworth · 05/08/2009 19:37

ha! With great timing ds2 has just thrown a clock across the room! Under these new rules I'd have to contact social services and request a new one

Weegle · 05/08/2009 19:39

please don't let this be true - how can we verify if it's actually true? because if so we all need to act now. Without DLA I couldn't afford an au pair which means I couldn't care for child (and yet to be born twins) - I can't imagine SS handing that out considering I had a battle with them over a frigging toilet seat raiser. And of course it would be in my children's best interests not to be cared for by their mother... NOT.

Hangingbellyofbabylon · 05/08/2009 19:39

More info here. Looks like Attendence Allowance is first up but it would be naive to assume that DLA and Carer's wouldn't be next

staryeyed · 05/08/2009 19:39

www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/jul/08/green-paper-elderly-disabled-care-whitehall-delays/print

says here that it will not effect existing claims.

HairyMaclary · 05/08/2009 21:40

Thanks - have written to my MP about this

juliaw · 05/08/2009 22:02

The thing is I don't use DLA "as intended" as DS is only 2 - but I sure do need the money because of having to pay for my own PECS course as still waiting for SALT to teach us - having to pay for ABA as LEA won't offer any help until DS is 3 - and not having a career any more because I can't leave DS with relatives now because he won't go near them and can only tolerate short sessions at nursery and even when he starts school I won't be able to use the after school club or summer holiday play schemes so basically I can never go back to a proper job again. I know its not supposed to replace my income but the mortgage still has to be paid. Doubt this will meet SS criteria though they will probably limit us to some free nappies once he is 5. Maybe we should say we will all go back to work and stop being carers and SS will have to provide 40 hours a week respite care for every disabled child.

WetAugust · 05/08/2009 23:02

I wouldn't worry about it. The consultation doesn't end until Nov, then there's the Christmas recess, after which all the Govt's efforts will be focused on winning the next election. There is simply not enough time between now and when they get thrown out to introduce legislation. Plus - do they really want to tit off 1 point whatever million claimants just before an election - don't think so.

jjones · 05/08/2009 23:59

I have read it a link it is just MAD I have signed up to the campaign and I have sent this link to my dad who is a local councilor who makes a difference so se what he will do.

Phoenix4725 · 06/08/2009 07:15

thats scary as by SS standards my ds is not disabled . yet he struggles to walk more than 10 -15 yeards, has GDD ,non verbal ,hypermoblity and hypertonia and asd traits nd does not sleep ,we get high rate dla which i use to pay of for extra things he needs, days out , nappies etc and we would get nothing

FioFioFio · 06/08/2009 07:28

our dla pays for all the bills we struggle to pay since I had to give up full time work at the time of my almost 10 year old severely disabled daughters diagnosis. I am sure this would be seen as spending as 'we wish'

How on earth will this get people with disabilities out of the poverty trap. Do they think withdrawing money wikll be a mirackle cure. We are going back to victorian times

sarah293 · 06/08/2009 07:32

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chinchi · 06/08/2009 07:40

Ive signed it, and posted it onto some other forums too.

What a disgrace.

Phoenix4725 · 06/08/2009 07:43

here he needs a dx of Asd with behaviour issues and GDD apparently is not a dx of anything

there like well no speech is not disabling nor delayed understanding which is only 2.7 hes 4.To me they are the things that disable him the most

Widemouthfrog · 06/08/2009 07:50

This scares me. Ds1's DLA is not a luxury for us - it pays for essentials. SS would not see this as directed at the child, I am sure. Both myself and DH have to work part-time to manage the demands of our children. This is necessity not a lifestyle choice . DS2 is not diagnosed yet so I don't claim for him (yet). I cannot leave either DS's with relatives, or playschemes, or after school clubs. They have to be with a parent 24/7 as no one else can handle them. We do not qualify for respite as we are seen to cope too well!

Our whole lives are directed towards the needs of our children - how can we quantify that as a monetary value to SS?