Government Trying to Abolish DLA and Attendance Allowance?

[garinda]

Originally Posted by BERNADETTE

But do you really think all this kerfuffle is needed? Health proffessionals should be aware of what you are entitled to both benefit wise and help with care wise as well. And a damn good place to visit if you think you aren't getting all you are entitled to is Welfare Rights, they are brilliant.

Many aren't aware, just as I wasn't aware for a long time, of the existance of Welfare Rights.

When the new changes happen, which they will, Welfare Rights will lose some of their burden, because all the information and help they give on care issues will be accessible via one designated care organisation.

Like I said, I don't class myself as being particularly thick, but even being very pro-active I didn't find the current system at all easy to fathom, mainly because it is so fragmented into totally different organisations and departments.

[garinda]

Last word, and I'm sorry to say it, but opposition to any change, even when it's been proven in the pilot schemes to benefit those most in need, smacks of 'I'm alright Jack', and sod making it easier for those who come after, and are trying to get what they need to make their lives more bearable.

[cashman]

All i will say on this is quite simple, years ago the CSA was introduced to make things easier n simple so errant parents etc would be able to get monies due fer childs welfare easier, whilst i can accept yer points rindy, having faith in any of these ******* to make life simpler is naive in the least. never affected me personally, but there were many suicides i recall reading about, after one body made life simpler.

[shillelagh]

better the devil you know ..

[garinda]

Originally Posted by shillelagh

better the devil you know ..

Devils, plural, and that's as long as you know of their existance in the first place, and know how to contact them, in their devilishly inaccessible and varied locations.



Whoops, thought I'd said my last word on this matter, as we seemed to be going round in circles.

Thanks Jen.

[shillelagh]

your welcome rindy ....

[Eric]

Originally Posted by garinda

Devils, plural, and that's as long as you know of their existance in the first place, and know how to contact them, in their devilishly inaccessible and varied locations.



Whoops, thought I'd said my last word on this matter, as we seemed to be going round in circles.

Thanks Jen.

Blessed are those that go around in circles, for they shall be called big wheels

[Taggy]

Originally Posted by garinda

Last word, and I'm sorry to say it, but opposition to any change, even when it's been proven in the pilot schemes to benefit those most in need, smacks of 'I'm alright Jack', and sod making it easier for those who come after, and are trying to get what they need to make their lives more bearable.

A more "joined up" system as to how to apply for and admister some services may well prove beneficial to many people, however if the benefits themselves are taken off individuals, and the finance given to social services instead to administer as assessed care packages, then i'm afraid there will be an awful lot of disabled people forced deeper and deeper into poverty because of this. Many Disabled people use their benefits to pay for extra costs associated with disability that would not be covered under new proposals. Disabled people for example dont get extra allowances for heating in winter unlike pensioners, yet because of mobility problems, will need their heating on for longer than most people. I know many disabled people who use their money in this way, and also for other uses which wont be allowed for in a Care Package provided by social services. Disabled people should be able to make their own individual choices as to how they spend their money for their own needs, not have this decided for them. If Governments can save money they will do, and its usually done at the expense of the weak and more vunerable in society, who provide them with least resistance. Would love to see the response if other benefits were targetted and perhaps paid "in kind" instead of cash, perhaps Food Vouchers, Gas/ Electricity Tokens, instead of unemployment benefit eh? I'm fed up of Governments bailing out greed ridden sectors of our society, and crapping on people they think wont protest!Adult green paper could be catastophe for disability allowance recipients - The Social Care Experts Blog

Best Regards - Taggy

[BERNADETTE]

Well said Taggy just a money saving exercise that will make the vulnerable in society more vunlerable and maybe not even with any improvement in services

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by Taggy

A more "joined up" system as to how to apply for and admister some services may well prove beneficial to many people, however if the benefits themselves are taken off individuals, and the finance given to social services instead to administer as assessed care packages, then i'm afraid there will be an awful lot of disabled people forced deeper and deeper into poverty because of this. Many Disabled people use their benefits to pay for extra costs associated with disability that would not be covered under new proposals. Disabled people for example dont get extra allowances for heating in winter unlike pensioners, yet because of mobility problems, will need their heating on for longer than most people. I know many disabled people who use their money in this way, and also for other uses which wont be allowed for in a Care Package provided by social services. Disabled people should be able to make their own individual choices as to how they spend their money for their own needs, not have this decided for them. If Governments can save money they will do, and its usually done at the expense of the weak and more vunerable in society, who provide them with least resistance. Would love to see the response if other benefits were targetted and perhaps paid "in kind" instead of cash, perhaps Food Vouchers, Gas/ Electricity Tokens, instead of unemployment benefit eh? I'm fed up of Governments bailing out greed ridden sectors of our society, and crapping on people they think wont protest!Adult green paper could be catastophe for disability allowance recipients - The Social Care Experts Blog

Best Regards - Taggy

That's frightening Taggy but isn't this another example of Big Brother, we know best how to run our life, the time to force things onto people is when they are unable to make decisions for themselves, until then leave well alone

[Taggy]

Yep i agree Jaysay, every disabled person is an individual, and they and/or their carers deserve the right and the respect to manage their own lives and finances if that is their wish, and they are able to do so. I do agree that the whole means around applying for Benefits and Care can be very complicated, and the care packages varry in quality and quantity dependent on where you live, which shouldn't be the case. So a system which would enable a better and easier to access care strategy would be an improvement, however the individual basic disability benefits paid to claiments should not be put at risk to finance a care package. People who receive these benefits can currently juggle their finances to meet their own particular needs. As i mentioned previously, if the Benefits are cut, where would be the provision for disabled people to use money to pay for extra heating needed or extra washing/laundry facilties. Care packages wont take into account the extra monetary needs of disabled people. So whilst there could be benefits from streamlining the system to improve access and delivery, at no point should anyone have to be made financially poorer. But without protest, you can bet your bottom dollar, that will happen!

Best Regards - Taggy

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by Taggy

Yep i agree Jaysay, every disabled person is an individual, and they and/or their carers deserve the right and the respect to manage their own lives and finances if that is their wish, and they are able to do so. I do agree that the whole means around applying for Benefits and Care can be very complicated, and the care packages varry in quality and quantity dependent on where you live, which shouldn't be the case. So a system which would enable a better and easier to access care strategy would be an improvement, however the individual basic disability benefits paid to claiments should not be put at risk to finance a care package. People who receive these benefits can currently juggle their finances to meet their own particular needs. As i mentioned previously, if the Benefits are cut, where would be the provision for disabled people to use money to pay for extra heating needed or extra washing/laundry facilties. Care packages wont take into account the extra monetary needs of disabled people. So whilst there could be benefits from streamlining the system to improve access and delivery, at no point should anyone have to be made financially poorer. But without protest, you can bet your bottom dollar, that will happen!

Best Regards - Taggy

Maybe if they put more effort into eking out the malingerers, instead of picking on the easy targets, those most in need, would make more sence. Nine times out of ten those who claim benefits erroneously are usually the best at pulling the wool over the authorities eyes, it comes second nature, but those in genuine need don't know the ropes because prior to becoming ill they always worked and paid their way

[Taggy]

Ive had a good long at the Green paper now to ascertain as to if the Government are seriously considering getting rid of some Disability Benefits and heres some of the terminology being used.

Page 15 "Integrating some elements of Disability Benefits, for example Attendance Allowance to create a new offer for individuals with care and support needs."
" We want to ensure that people receiving any of the relevent benefits at the time of reform would continue to receive an equivalent level of support and protection."

Page 40 "If we do not reform the system, in 20 years time the cost of disability benefits could increase by almost 50 per cent."

Page 41 "Funding for disability benefits will also come under increasing pressure."

Page 103 (Talking about a 2006 review by "The Kings Fund") ..."The review recommended that if the social care system were able to mostly meet the care needs of people who may currently only be supported through the disability benefits system, there would be less need for some of these benefits, and there might be the case for integrating some disability benefits such as Attendance allowance into the care and support system."

This tends to support the thoughts that the idea of abolishing some of the disability benefits is indeed very much on the Governments agenda. Also notice that although Attendance Allowance is the only one specifically mentioned, the broad term Disability Benefits gets several mentions, and quotes mentioning AA usually incorporate the phrase "benefits such as AA," which leads one to assume that all Disability Benefits are being looked at.

Best Regards - Taggy

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by Taggy

Ive had a good long at the Green paper now to ascertain as to if the Government are seriously considering getting rid of some Disability Benefits and heres some of the terminology being used.

Page 15 "Integrating some elements of Disability Benefits, for example Attendance Allowance to create a new offer for individuals with care and support needs."
" We want to ensure that people receiving any of the relevent benefits at the time of reform would continue to receive an equivalent level of support and protection."

Page 40 "If we do not reform the system, in 20 years time the cost of disability benefits could increase by almost 50 per cent."

Page 41 "Funding for disability benefits will also come under increasing pressure."

Page 103 (Talking about a 2006 review by "The Kings Fund") ..."The review recommended that if the social care system were able to mostly meet the care needs of people who may currently only be supported through the disability benefits system, there would be less need for some of these benefits, and there might be the case for integrating some disability benefits such as Attendance allowance into the care and support system."

This tends to support the thoughts that the idea of abolishing some of the disability benefits is indeed very much on the Governments agenda. Also notice that although Attendance Allowance is the only one specifically mentioned, the broad term Disability Benefits gets several mentions, and quotes mentioning AA usually incorporate the phrase "benefits such as AA," which leads one to assume that all Disability Benefits are being looked at.

Best Regards - Taggy

So in other words Taggy the Disabled are going to pay for 12 years of reckless spending, beam m up Scotty

[Taggy]

Originally Posted by jaysay

So in other words Taggy the Disabled are going to pay for 12 years of reckless spending, beam m up Scotty

Kinda looking that way Jaysay aint it!...This whole Green paper rather looks like a Fishing expedition really, a lot of half thought out ideas and suggestions, but no real thoughts on how things will be implemented, by whom, and at what cost! As ever, there are certain things, in this case the Disability benefits questions, which are being hidden within a lot of waffle and jargon, probably to see if they can slip this kind of change in to an overall package, without people noticing...until its too late!!

Best Regards - Taggy