What do you think about the DLA being cut?

sailrib

Just wondering about what people think about the DLA being cut?

The news have said that people with arthritis will be the one that will be transferred to the new benefit including other's like blind people etc

They also say that people will be accessed more often as well.

What do other people think?

frogmorton

Hi Sailrib

just replied to Tweedie's thread on the same issue.

I think it's awful what is happening at the moment and we are getting no reassurance at all that the 'savings' aren't going to affect genuine claimants, such as people on here :sad:

Any of us who care should contact their MP...they act (or should be) for their consituents so should 'hear' us.

Love

( a sad) Toni xxx

tkachev

They reckon to save 0.5 per cent by clamping down on the fraud but that still leaves 19.5 per cent will have to come from current claimants.

Elizabeth

bubbadog

It really upsets me and scares me what is going to happen now! I found it stressful and upsetting just applying for DLA it took me 3 attempts just to get it in the 1st place I was turned down the 2nd time and had to appeal. My OH keeps telling me not to worry as they can't touch me as I was given it 'open' 4yrs ago but I don't think that means I'm untouchable. It scares the living daylights out of me that I will lose it and made to look for a job, when my G.P told me I would never beable to work again and I know I can't do a days work as I volunteered for this charity and I didn't last the week as I became exhausted and it brought on a flare-up! What are we going to do? :sad:

frogmorton

Amanda

Don't be too frightened, but don't feel helpless either

we could contact our MPs and could show them how bad it is...go in our wheelchairs or on our crutches and SHOW them.

It is the only thing we can do...sign any relevant petitions and write letters as well

Love

Toni xxx

sulkycat

No idea how I would cope without the extra bit of money from my DLA - I had to leave work because of my RA and certainly won't be back to teaching in the foreseeable future.

I feel considerably worse than I did a year ago (I was assessed last Juneish), have been given 2 years of DLA and would give it up in a heartbeat if it meant I was well enough to return to my job - and that's the important bit, IF I WAS WELL ENOUGH. I am not!

I keep telling myself I am not able to work - I have the most hermitic life as it is, I have zero social life - my hospital team tell me the same. All I can do is hope the DLA team will agree.

Airwave!

I fully expect to lose the dla and with a number of other claimants to suffer loss of mobility, along with a good deal of my social life, my hobbies and interests, this action is about saving money, no other reason.

Despite me being vocal, I am not good at standing up for myself and no doubt the examination will have an expert or two present (which I couldn't afford) and no one can argue with, they will be thoroughly practiced in the art of denying anyone else's argument.

When it's all done and indeed whilst it is happening, the government will 'leak' information through to the press, it will be a veritable blitz of disinformation about how many have been denied and how much money is involved. I fully predict it will get quite nasty in the press and when all is said and done the government ministers will stand proud of what they have achieved and be giving another billion or two pounds to whomever wants it, deserved or not, with the other hand! Did you ever expect anything else?

dreamdaisy

I listened to an almost interesting debate on Radio 5Live on Tuesday about just this. As I understand it the plan is to replace DLA with PIP (personal independence payments) and yes, regular assessment is planned in this 'new' system. A woman representing the government (possibly the Disabiilities Minister? I missed her intro) was waffling on about annual re-assessments - common sense should tell anyone that this would not be feasible - they cannot cope with the amount of work they have now in ensuring they turn down the majority of the first applications they receive so it all goes to appeal (perhaps in order to keep themselves gainfully employed? ) Needless to say she had absolutely no grasp of the implications of these proposals for the genuine claimants and actually very little idea about what being disabled actually constitutes, despite the input from Baroness Tanni GT and the claimants who were calling into the show. Maybe one day she will find out and if so, I hope her puny, vacillating words come back to haunt her. Putting the healthy in charge of these things is comparable to asking a dentist to do brain surgery: they have a vague idea of what might be involved but no real experience. DD

LesleyAnn

delboy wrote:

The bit that worries me is the higher rate of the Mobility Component as it looks like ONLY wheelchairs users are being considered for it. That would certainly put paid to a lot of voluntary work I do.

On the other hand a wheelchair hire business may be a good option for the future.

You and me both. I currently get high rate mobility, it's scary that all my PT and hard work to stay out of a wheelchair and get around under my own steam on first one and now two crutches can result in me being penalised.

It's beyond stupid to want more disabled people to work or give back in some way and yet they are trying to take away the one thing which allows so many of us to do just that. :roll:

It's not just the possibility of loosing DLA, it's the other personal benefits it gives me. A disabled 'free' tax disc, saving me at least £100 per year. My blue badge which I get because of my award of high rate mobility allows me to park closer to places I need to visit as well as save me on parking fees if using council car-parks.

Even with DLA I still have to struggle to keep my car on the road between car insurance, petrol charge and maintenance it's barely a drop in the bucket in the end but it does make a difference. Especially to someone like me who is totally dependant on that car for getting to any task which requires me leaving my home, so you'll have to excuse me when I class my car as an essential item rather than a luxury one.

Which of course makes my DLA important to my daily life as well. Something I believe many people, *nudge nudge* politicians, don't seem to care about the negative effect loosing this benefit will have on literally thousands of people. All they see is an easy way to cut some money from the balance sheet unfortunately we are all becoming collateral damage along the way.

sailrib

Its really hard as they will be looking at the people who are not working first. I have been told even tho I have a 10 years award, they will still look at me and could take it away.

I found out that 87% of adults claiming DLA do not work.

I am just waiting to hear to be honest.

Everything is effecting me at the moment as my local PCT are taking away gluten free prescriptions which means spending more money.

tjt6768

I've just had the assessment for my incapacity benefit, hated it.. Not heard back yet but I'm dreading the income.... I hate the life arthritis has given me and would gladly swap it for a healthy life working full time.. I suppose the next one will be the DLA assessment..
I would be stuck indoors without my mobility car. It's the only thing that allows me to get out..
I'm having to use two crutches most of the time now, and still can't manage walking any distance. On top of the knee pains my hands, wrists and elbows start when using the crutches too
I refuse to give into a wheel chair though.. For now.

God, this is a horrible mess... I can think of plenty of ways that the government could save money but I won't say as I'll probably be banned :shock:

Airwave!

The logistics of all that is threatened is huge, apart from the loss of the two components what about all the jobs that the money is spent on? Garages, mechanics, salesmen, tyrefitters, care assistants, nurses, equipment suppliers, fitters and of course all the businesses that hire these people and the government taxes that they all generate.