[senco-forum] Disability Living Allowance

No, no carers allowance - even when he was being fed overnight by pump through his nose sleeping in our room - because I was 'working'.  But I was working at the school where he is a pupil, LUCKILY.  So I could teach, then dash to his class and wizz him off to his next class, or his brother could do it.  His friends used to vie to push him around at top speed until they tipped him out onto his head!  Later on he got an electric scooter and was the coolest guy in school.  Now he is just the weird dude in the 6th form and those in the years below who didn't go through it with him at the time can be pretty nasty sometimes.  He still takes refuge in my room at some point on most days.  Anyway, he is alive and I have given up on the whole claims thing - I haven't got the stomach for a fight - I used up all my willpower at his bedside. 
Thanks.  

Ally

	-----Original Message----- 
	From: senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk on behalf of David Bowles 
	Sent: Tue 06/06/2006 20:22 
	To: senco-forum at lists.becta.org.uk 
	Cc: 
	Subject: Re: [senco-forum] Disability Living Allowance

	Hi Allyson,

	Thanks so much for your contribution. I feel both angry and sad that
	the most deserving people, such as your son, are all too often not
	eligible for DLA. Do you at least get 'Carers Allowance' or is this
	yet another can of worms?

	As this thread draws to a close hopefully those who have been peddled
	the myth that DLA is a doddle to obtain and involves filling in a
	simple form now realise how far from the truth this is. Not only can
	it take six months or more to get a decision after going through the
	application process, the same applies (and worse) to appeals against
	its refusal many of which are successful in the long run.

	What are the assessment criteria? Well these seem to have been
	designed by a committee of solely able bodied people who appear to
	have based these upon the support needs of a geriatric population
	that's loosing its physical and mental faculties, ironically the one
	group that's not entitled to receive DLA. In short it's a lottery and
	it's not fair when thoroughly deserving people don't qualify simply
	because the ridiculous assessment criteria don't happen to fit them.
	At least the vast majority of those who are eligible are extremely
	deserving of this allowance.

	Incidentally DLA is to some extent means tested ...indirectly. Why?
	Because if you receive DLA at the medium or higher rates then certain
	other means tested benefits are also increased.

	In some counties DLA also used to entitle people to receive a buss
	pass that got them half-price travel. However with the government's
	insistence that disabled bus travel must be free from April 1st many
	counties have severely tightened up their eligibility criteria so a
	great many deserving disabled people now have to pay the full fare.

	"The government giveth and the councils, LEAs whomever taketh
	everything away"

	David Bowles

	> I've been trying not to answer this thread but can't resist the
	> temptation - sorry.

	> Don't feel guilty - feel thankful that you were granted this
	> allowance.  My son who had a brain tumour 5 years ago is not so
	> lucky.  He has had 5 operations on his brain, which left him with
	> some damage and he has ataxia down one side - is 100% deaf on the
	> same side and has restricted vision.  He had radiotherapy and
	> chemotherapy for one year, he was in a wheelchair for two years and
	> nearly died of the treatment.  He is left with kidney damage and
	> osteoporosis as a result. His spine has not grown due to radiation
	> so he has a very short torso, the radiation also knocked out his
	> endocrine system for ever so he is supported on artificial hormones
	> and thyroxine.  He now walks with a lurch which means he cannot
	> catch a bus or anything that might knock him off his feet.  He was
	> turned down for all levels of the DLA as he could "walk 100 yds
	> without PAIN and he could open a tin of beans to feed himself"
	> which was the criteria.  No other circumstances were taken into
	> account.  Yes he can walk without pain but in an alarming zig-zag
	> way! And he can pick up the phone and call for Pizza which he does
	> on a regular basis.  But normal life - no.  We have appealed and
	> been turned down.  We have had to spend over £1,000 adapting a car
	> for him to try and learn to drive in - not really successfully - I
	> don't think he will be able to at least for a while yet.  We are
	> having to move house as we live in the sticks and he leaves school
	> in 2 weeks and will be stranded at home without a chauffeur (me), as
	> I will be at work - filling in forms no doubt.   I may add that our
	> forms were filled in by a social worker - expert in these matters
	> and signed by the consultant.  This is not a pity seeking call - he
	> has just reached his 5 year remission - hooray,  merely a
	> demonstration of how difficult it is to get this darn allowance. 
	> So, if you are offered it - go for it. 

	> PS I throw into the ring the Disabled Student Allowance of laptops
	> and other goodies which my other (Dyslexic) son, about to go to uni,
	> will get - lets face it - without much difficulty.  Have we got this
	> right?  I was called yesterday by a (wealthy) parent of a 13yr old
	> boy who had heard about DSA and wanted to register her son early... 5years?!

	> Which of my sons is disabled?  Yes, the one who drives a car, has
	> the stamina to earn money by working unsociable hours, meets his
	> friends, can hear in pubs, can walk straight, can play sport, can
	> catch a train and can peel potatoes with both hands. 

	> I'm all for DSA if means tested...  I'm ready - flak jacket on - for the replies.

	> With kind regards

	> Mrs A J Bremner
	> Head of Curriculum Support

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