Disability Living Allowance changes begin






She does not know what she is talking about. I had five reviews and only had my definite award a couple of years ago.

Much talk on the radio this morning about how the government is introducing a regime of periodic re-testing, including for people who have incurable conditions. Somebody who has lost both legs is not likely to grow them back for example, so this basically a waste of money in a fair portion of cases. The cost of unnecessary retesting may even wipe out any savings the government is claiming to make.

Of course, it's all money in the pocket of ATOS/Capita, who aren't likely to object to being paid for easy work.

I can see where there's targetting to be needed. But agree that some people should be wholly excluded from repeat applications/assessments.

There are some who are eligible at the time but their circumstances change eg person who was disabled because of severe osteoarthritis then has curative surgery and is no longer disabled. There have been many anecdotes about patients complaining that they didn't realise they would lose their benefits because they've undergone a treatment that no longer makes them eligible for benefits. They now have to find work and don't want to, having had a cushy life on benefits. These need targetting.

Unfortunately for me, I have to face one of these people in an hour's time because they want me to write a letter to say they can't travel, despite the fact that they've just been abroad on holiday.

I know. Brain damage is permanent outside the first three years immediately after the injury. Yes I have still had to do reviews every three years. You have also forgotten the cost of appeals that will again wipe out any possible savings.

The problem is that they have also stopped life awards even if your condition is permanent. Though if someone undergoes major treatment that can cure them they will still need some rehabilitation. Though in which case they would be unlikely to be on DLA and not on a life award unless they were older anyway. I have an acquaintance who gets the highest award because of the side effects of his medication, I doubt that he would want to stop the medication if he would lose his DLA.

What I don't understand is how little is done in this country to allow disabled people to work. My mother is over 80% deaf and she had to get special equipment at work but apart from that, she's working a pretty normal job. There is a very high fine system for companies that do not higher at least 5% of disabled staff in France.

Well someone who looses both legs may not be able to do anything just after it has happened but after physio / fitting good prosthetics etc they may well be able to live a normal life and so not need the same level of PIP (I assume its a scale depending on your condition)

From the looks of the test they would not qualify for the mobility component of the Personal Independence Payment. It all depends if they include the use of wheelchairs and artificial limbs.