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

[CaptainPlump]

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

[Phoenix4725]

the physical is down to hypermoblity and poor muscle tone.We did seea neurolgist when we was down at Bibac that was very intrested as ds weakness is paticulary below the waist and he mentioned about spina bifida he wrote to ds then paed asking for him to be refered under nhs to him bu Paed not done and we no longer have a paed been discharged by her as only deals preschool

[FioFioFio]

phoenix does he have any sacral (sp?) dimples?

[Phoenix4725]

yes he does , has one 2,3rds down his back and another one just above his bottom and it was noticed at his 6 week check up thathis spine at the bottom was not straight goes to the left but at time was told should not be a problem

.But when mentioned it to paed was like no that should not be caus eof problem shes devlopmental paed and has discharge him to go under scatty school Dr mind no loss she did his last devlopemental check in 15 mins

[FioFioFio]

thats terrible phoenix. Surely sacral dimples and deleayed physical development and low tone would warrant further investigation in this area? Can you not go to you GP and say this needs following up NOW

[lou031205]

This thread is depressing . DD wouldn't get anywhere either. We save the DLA atm, because we need to get a bigger car, and she will soon need a 4+ carseat with a 5 point harness (£££), but the extra tax credits that come as a result are the difference between the black and the red, and we can't go into the red 'cos we declared BR in 2007.

[staryeyed]

Actually thats a good point how would they work out tax credits under that system? Unless SS would make classifcations of Higher /medium/low rate rate -they would have to rejig TC as well.

[bullet123]

Scene: An office in Westminster. A faceless minister is sitting at his desk. A faceless flunky is bringing the tea in.

FM: "Aah! Tea. Darjeeling, I trust."
FF: "It is possible Sir."
FM: "Possible you say? Can't say I like the sound of doubt. When a chap can't ascertain whether the tea is Darjeeling or not, well, it raises doubts. ... By Jove Carruthers, this is an abomination! What exactly is this foul mixture? Are you trying to poison me, eh?"
FF: "Sorry Sir. It's the local supermarket's value range Sir. Budget constraints, Sir, you understand. After the, er, little misunderstanding over your expenses, public opinion is a little rankled sir."
FM: "A little rankled?"
FF: "Yes, Sir, Mildly perturbed you might say Sir. So in order to maintain a diplomatic balance and soothe this mild perturbing, it was felt better to cut costs in some areas."
FM: "Aah, now you're talking Carruthers! Cost cutting! Most important to get this country back on its feet, wouldn't you say? But I draw the line at my Darjeeling. If a chap can't have his moat cleaned and can't stay at the top hotels at the tax payers expense, then he expects to at least get some decent tea. Now, given that we need to cut costs, well, not us, but this country as a whole and given that if I come up with something worthy of a few soundbites it will please the PM, what do you think we could suggest to him, eh Carruthers?
FF: "It could be suggested that if the banks are in a position to paying out top bonuses they are in a position to paying back some of the large sums of money the government handed to them."
FM: "Oh no, that won't do. Wilberforce of whatsit bank won't stand for that. He was in the First Eleven you know."
FF: "Which one Sir?"
FM: "How the blazes should I know? He was in the First Eleven and that's good enough for me. No money saved via the banks therefore. Alright then, there must be some other way?"
FF: "Well, there's the National Register and ID cards. You could suggest that is scrapped and therefore save billions of pounds."
FM: "Aah, that might work. Let me think, let me think. No, no, it just won't do at all Carruthers."
FF: "Really Sir?"
FM: "Henrikson happens to be working on the contracts for that little endeavour. Of course, he was only a reserve, but even so, even so .."
FF: "Quite Sir."
FM: "Aah, the telephone. One moment Carruthers please. Hello, hello, well, why doesn't he just come up? The lifts broken you say? Then damn it, can't the fellow just use his legs? Aah, he's in a wheelchair is he? Well tell him to walk just this once. Not possible is it? Right, well I'm rather busy at the moment, put him in the back office, ask whoever's looking after him if he takes sugar and I'll be down shortly.
Now, Carruthers, where were we?"
FF: "Cutting costs Sir."
FM: "Of course, of course. Dashed chap downstairs put me off my stride. Disabled you know. At least that's what he claims. I may tell you, Carruthers, half the time a person's simply only to have a splinter and they're claiming all the benefits they can."
FF: "Sit, the claims forms are very thorough."
FM: "Not according to the papers they aren't. Hmm, saying that though, an idea has just occurred to me. Eureka! We'll suggest they scrap disability benefits."
FF: "But won't that cause an almighty fuss, Sir. You know, if the public find out that children with disabilities for example no longer have the money, then that won't sit well with them."
FM: "You may have a point then. Best to suggest to the PM that he doesn't coincide the release of the news with Children in Need. However, there may be a better way."
FF: "Sir?"
FM: "We shall suggest that all the money available gets handed over to Social Services who pass it out in the forms of grants in the manner they see fit."
FF: "But surely, Sir, that will just mean that people will still get the money, so how can that help to reduce costs?"
FM: "But that's the sheer beauty of it Carruthers. How many people do you think are going to have the time or the morale to quantify every little aspect of where their DLA goes on? When faced with a form for explaining all the little things and all the big things they need, they'll simply give up nine times out of ten. And if they don't, if they do decide to proceed, well I know that if we suggest that there's some strict rules according to how the grants are issued, that'll whittle down the claimants."
FF: "Sir, I would advise caution."
FM: "Put a bit of spin on it you mean, eh? Good idea, Carruthers. I know, we'll get Horace to encourage the papers to print a few stories about wrongful claimants. You know the sort, world disco champion claiming for full paralysis. Also do some reports on how parents are failing to bring children up properly, you know, accounts of four year olds still shockingly in nappies when starting school, that sort of thing."
FF: "Very well, Sir."
FM: "Well, there's no time like the present. Priorities first, go and give this foul cup to that man downstairs. I daresay he won't be able to tell the differerence. You can get some Darjeeling for me as well. And then we'll get started on this disability benefits recommendation. Yes, Carruthers?"
FF: "Sir?"
FM: "Well, go on then!"
FF: "My name isn't Carruthers Sir?"
FM: By Jove? It isn't?"
FF: "No Sir. It's Murgatroyd Sir."
FM: "Well, Marplethorpe, off you go and get my Darjeeling."

[WednesdaysChild]

If it "doesn't affect existing claimants" why does the renewal application say something about 'complete this form if you wish to claim again' and not 'if you wish to renew your claim'? Will existing claimants be thrown off at renewal date?

[WednesdaysChild]

Must remember to put a claim in for cleaning the moat - which of course is there for sensory stimulation.

[PeachyLaPeche]

Amnther one with no SS invcolvement: they claim ds1 isnt disabled and ds3 is on their w2aiting list

Without DLA to cover special diets etc we'll lose the house

However I think WA is right with timings tbh- does sound like a scare story / improbable? hope so

[PeachyLaPeche]

I am going to send the link to the aldy at the green party who came on here (have her addy) and Nick Clareke's addy also

see if they can enlighten

[SammyK]

scary I really hope this is just someone's ridiculous idea.

I too am now at home with ASD DS as wrking just wasn't an option any longer. Our disability benefits pay for luxuries like food and heating (heating only on if a couple of jumpers aren't working of course). Washing machine running, pants, etc.

[PeachyLaPeche]

Have e-mailed everyone in my contacts book and a few more (Yeah verily I even tripped onto tory party territory and now need to ask for absolutions )

I ahte these messages- they scare the most vulnerable without actually backing things up

[SammyK]

Peachy, what are you saying when you contact people? I am tired and can't seem to compose an email of any use!

[PeachyLaPeche]

Dear

I am e-mailing you this link as it was sent to me, and a few people have contacted me scared as to how it may affect their benefits.

The big fear is the DLA factor. A great many of us have no social services input and we would get nothing. My own case is that my eldest has a diagnosis which doesn't qualify for support (Aspergers, although he is aggressive has a statement etc and receives high rate DLA). My third son does qualify but we have been placed on a waiting list for an assessment with no suggested date or promise of any help.

People in the special needs community are very vulnerable to change and to financial issues and as such we need reassurance that we won't be losing the only thing that enables our children to have the support they need.

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

With thanks

Clair Peach

[SammyK]

Thanks peachy that's great will copy, paste, adjust slightly and send. {cheeky}

[PeachyLaPeche]

Adjust the dcomma use- I missed a few as was MB at the time

[staryeyed]

bumping for anyone who hasnt seen this.

I have told everyone I can think of and have checked some of the other forums.

[PeachyLaPeche]

OK my first response from the labour guys:

a very brief email giving me the address of the DWP and telling me to contact them instead.

I might take that as a yes then.......

fabbo PR mateys

Wait and see what the others have in plan, I do know the greens have very interesting thoughts on providing for carers / sahms etc.

[Pixel]

Perhaps we should parcel up all the smelly pants/poo-smeared rugs etc, and send them to SS when we need replacements out of our 'personal budgets'...

[LollipopViolet]

Hey, great(!) Now instead of having money to get transport and taxis and things, I'll be forced to rely more on buses and have my independence curbed (I give some DLA to parents for petrol costs to help them out) and wahey, while we're at it lets means test the disabled bus passes too and make it so that it's impossible to get out independently(!)

Gotta love to government, I hope this is some stupid idea that won't actually happen!