Budget 2010: Disability living allowance tests announced.

DLA yes please do test...

Agree, Good! I was diagnosed with facet joint degeneration and Degenerative Disc Disease 5 years ago all caused by a stress fracture at the base of my spine. The stress fracture apparently I have had since I was a child (a deformity makes this apparent). Been working for 21 years (single mum for most of it) I am 37 and need to work, for my sanity as well as self respect and to pay for my daughter. Always paid my tax's etc... Just had a double spinal fusion and a disc removed and cage in place. For me, some of the hideous pain has gone but unfortunately, have new pains above operated site and I can no longer walk more that 75 metres without being in crippling pain. My Manager is allowing me to work from home for 2 more weeks (I've been off 6 wks already, after the surgery), then I have to revert to SSP until I can get to into the office. I need DLA to get to my job to continue my life..I don't own a car and used to travel to work by train. I can longer walk the distance to the station. Last week, met a mate for a lunch time drink who advised me to apply for DLA as he does and gets higher allowance. When it was time to go home, I couldn't help feeling FURIOUS at the way he practically 'skipped' off home to play of his PS3..walking effortlessly, he has no job.. and I hobbled back home to work, in tears because I'd walked too far (200 metres)... I don't mind being tested at all..as long as the test's are realistic and sensilble

Posted by: Mandy | Jul 13 2011

good and bad

there is a lot of people who screw the system and those should be stopped. i myself took a stroke when quite young and now i have severe walking difficulties and have had a spine operation. i rely on my car and daily help from my daughter and i am worried that my life lines will be stripped from me through this goverment. pick on people who are healthy and refuse to work or use the money they get from benifits for drugs and booze. i worked all my life before i took ill and i dont like being like this but i have no choice and the few that screw the system spoil it for us genuine folk.....

Posted by: l roberts | Apr 04 2011

DLA

I receive the mobility component of DLA at the higher rate. I have a mobility car which is invaluable as I use it to get to and from my place of work. Yes work. It's only part time and my boss is great allowing me to spread my hours throughout the week. When I have really bad days where moving is impossible I am allowed to make them up on a good day. Very few employers would allow me to do this and if I no longer meet the new criteria I will be forced to give up work as I can't walk the distance to my nearest bus stop. Arthritis is degenerative, I've been affected since I was 15 years old, and I now also suffer bouts of sciatica. Without my DLA I would rarely leave the house.

Posted by: sam | Jul 15 2010

D.L.A

I have a number of conditions which my Doctor calls Chronic. I suffer from a deviated spine, degenerative disc disease, widespread arthritis, Manic Depression, Diverticular Disease, Chronic Venus Insufficiency in both legs with Intermittent Claudication, a rare form of Epilepsy, Short term Memory Loss. Over the past 2 years I have had 5 operations on my legs, one coming up on my spine and another to remove bones from the back of my face. Every day when I get out of bed I am in pain but I struggle through. Recently I requested an appointment with my C.P.N because I have had 2 deaths in the family in the last 6 months and finding it difficult to cope but was refused as I was told my problems relate to housing needs. What about my mental health needs? I would gladly give up my benefits and go back to work if someone would magically take away my problems. I'm a fully qualified College and University Lecturer capable of earning over £60K a year but I get about 10% of that in benefits. Sometimes you just have to take what life throws at you but now it looks like some of that is going to be taken away if I'm reading this right.

Posted by: Alan | Jun 24 2010

Not so sure

I have to agree that there are many people claiming DLA who do not need it. My main concern is people with fluctuating conditions who may be having a good day at the time of their medical. My son claims dla for severe asthma, 80% of the time he has care needs as he struggles to breathe, has problems sleeping at night, finds walking from room to room a struggle and has regular hospital admissions. He has side effects from the 9 different medications he takes every day and can only attend school about 50% of the time. I am unable to work due to the nature of his illness as it is so unpredictable and am often asked to collect him from school because he has become too unwell to be there. On a good day he would not be entitled to anything. His quality of life is severly affected by his condition and he receives psycology support to help him cope with this. People do not realise Asthma is a life threatening condition or the impact it can have on peoples lives. I just hope the medical assessment can cater for conditions such as these, as a snapshot of someones life is often not enough.

Posted by: Nicolette | Jun 22 2010

GOOD !

I am disabled and its taken me THREE years to apply as I didnt want the "label" at 33 of being disabled. I have to walk with crutches due to having arthritis in spine and loose bones/pelvis due to bad pregancy. I am GLAD this is being done as I see people thinking this is an "easy" way of getting benefits. If I did go for a test earlier perhaps then I would have been told to go for help earlier instead of being "left to deal with it"..? Genuine disabled people need not worry ..its those who live off the the state with every benefit going they should be alerted too and looked at .

Posted by: Collette | Jun 22 2010

Stress DLA?

Surely if DLA test is too stressful then people don't have to do it, they can always not take the benefit. I find working stressful, but still have to do it because I want to eat!!! The system is abused and testing is sensible thing to do, scrap the test and I'll apply, I'm sure I can convince a doctor somewhere to sign me off long term! then I'd be set for life :)

Posted by: Mark | Jun 22 2010

Testing is a must

It is essential that people are not encouraged to be on benefits permanently and with advances in medical science daily, testing is a must to ensure that those in most need get the correct amount of benefit. Every person in Britain knows of at least one person claiming these benefits which do not prevent them from carrying out any other activity except for working for a living. Surely it would be better for many people (not with chronic irreversible illnesses) but with controllable ailments to be encouraged to work even if part time and to encourage employers to take on these people knowing their limitations. This would help with self esteem issues and the many thousands of people in this country who are prescribed anti depressants due to esteem issues. The gravy train of benefits has to stop for the many many people who are perfectly capable of working to enable those who aren't and have genuine problems to get the full cover that they should be allowed.

Posted by: Julie Taylor | Jun 22 2010

HOORAY!!

i agree that this should be done!yes there are alot of people out there that need the money and will pass the test with flying colours but there are also people out there trying to pull a fast one. my sister is one of them she makes out her twin sons are ''autistic'' which they are not!!and she recieves over £800 a week!!

Posted by: dave | Jun 22 2010

Good News!

I my self receive this very useful and vital benefit, while medical testing is always stressful it is a vital tool in weeding out those that are sinmply put "Pulling a fast one". I myself suffer with complex regional pain syndrome in my left leg, I have had serveral operation in relation to this but nothing seems to work. However I know people that have this that are simnply taking the rest of us for a ride. To me this is good news as long as those that need it get it! and those that dont, dont!

Posted by: Jonathan Wilkinson | Jun 22 2010

Means testing benefits is better

I do not think the Government is concerned about the stress that these assessments put seriously ill people under. It would be better for these allowances to be means tested. Therefore giving the money to people who need it.

Posted by: tony | Jun 22 2010

DLA!!!

Re DLA, it is a MUST that people with CHRONIC illness and Neurological disabilities that will NEVER improve, and will only get worse are treated properly. They MUST NOT BE MADE TO have an repeat medical assessments, as these illnesses will only get worse until they die, and MUST NOT BE TREATED THE SAME AS ILLNESSES THAT PEOPLE GET BETTER FROM. If people with these illnesses are made to regularly attend medical assessments it makes there illnesses worse!

Posted by: Greg | Jun 22 2010