Government Trying to Abolish DLA and Attendance Allowance? - Page 8

garinda · 24-10-2009, 10:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taggy

Ive copied some of what is being said.

Here are some of the words being used in the Green paper, so that you can see that "Disability Benefits" are definately a target under this proposed scheme.

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 "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".
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I had a Father with Parkinsons Disease, a Mother with MS, and i have a severely disabled Son with Hydrocephalus. I know what a great struggle life is for Disabled people, and on top of a good care package, Benefits such as AA, DLA and IB are crucial for them to be able to get through life with a modicum of independence, pride and comfort. Quite often Benefit money is used to help provide for extra Disability needs which would not be covered within a Social Services Care package.

Best Regards - Taggy

I know your situation Taggy, as you know mine, and I'm not being purposely obtuse, but again there is nothing there saying there will be cuts in the money that disabled people receive.

It might be paid from another body, under a different name, but nowhere have I seen it stated the monies will be reduced, and yes I have read the whole thing.

Without going into another long debate, as I've made my thoughts known earlier in the thread, and it would be covering the same ground, in theory I support the idea of an umberella care body, instead of the present system, which I found very hard to access, and I personally know other people do too, and that's not just people with Parkinson's, but through other disabilty rights groups I'm involved with.

I'm not saying you are wrong, you are obviously worried and angry, but for the reasons I've stated, we'll have to agree to disagree on this issue.

garinda · 24-10-2009, 10:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taggy

Trust me Looked at, and Considering, and Integrating, is definately Political Speak for Cutting! And the comments on page 103 certainly refer to there perhaps not being the need for certain of these benefits.

As for the financial costs....well they havn't made any attempt at explaining how its going to be paid for!! Very Mealy mouthed wording, with the devil hidden in the detail!

Best Regards - Taggy

I prefer to deal with actual evidence, not being Mystic Meg.

In the event of Labour not winning the next General Election, which seems highly likely, this Green Paper stands little to no chance of progressing any further, which considering the nightmare the current system is, with many people unaware of help they might be entitled to, would be a shame.

Taggy · 24-10-2009, 10:15

The protest is about possible Benefit Cuts, not the Green Paper as a whole. So it would be quite easy and understandable for people whilst being in agreement in principle for changes to be made....to also state that they do not wish to see Benefits cut as part of that change. Most Charities including PDS as you will well know, have been asking their own members to contribute to this debate, so that they can make a proper response to the Green Paper. There are areas within the questinaire's where anyone can state that Cash Benefit reduction is not what they want. So its quite easy to support the principal, whilst reminding Government of the importance of Cash Benefits.

Best Regards - Taggy

Taggy · 24-10-2009, 10:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

I prefer to deal with actual evidence, not being Mystic Meg.

In the event of Labour not winning the next General Election, which seems highly likely, this Green Paper stands little to no chance of progressing any further, which considering the nightmare the current system is, with many people unaware of help they might be entitled to, would be a shame.

I think thats a bit "Head in the sand" approach to be honest! If the next Government can see there's been little objection to Benefit cuts then they will need little encouragement to implement it!

Its not a case of Mystic Meg....In the same way that Government is clearly sending out feelers to see what people think....then we should send our opinions back, both positive and negative of what potentially might happen. You are saying that its not concrete that they will cut benefits so you wont object to that, well its not concrete that anything else within the Green paper can or will be implemented either....so your saying its ok to support a "What if" but not to oppose one??

Best Regards - Taggy

garinda · 24-10-2009, 10:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taggy

The protest is about possible Benefit Cuts, not the Green Paper as a whole. So it would be quite easy and understandable for people whilst being in agreement in principle for changes to be made....to also state that they do not wish to see Benefits cut as part of that change. Most Charities including PDS as you will well know, have been asking their own members to contribute to this debate, so that they can make a proper response to the Green Paper. There are areas within the questinaire's where anyone can state that Cash Benefit reduction is not what they want. So its quite easy to support the principal, whilst reminding Government of the importance of Cash Benefits.

Best Regards - Taggy

Like I said I'm not Mystic Meg, and until there's any concrete evidence that 'possible' becomes 'actual' or even 'proposed', I'll then join you on the barricades.

garinda · 24-10-2009, 10:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taggy

I think thats a bit "Head in the sand" approach to be honest! If the next Government can see there's been little objection to Benefit cuts then they will need little encouragement to implement it!

Its not a case of Mystic Meg....In the same way that Government is clearly sending out feelers to see what people think....then we should send our opinions back, both positive and negative of what potentially might happen. You are saying that its not concrete that they will cut benefits so you wont object to that, well its not concrete that anything else within the Green paper can or will be implemented either....so your saying its ok to support a "What if" but not to oppose one??

Best Regards - Taggy

I assure you my head certainly isn't in the sand.

I personally know there is a clear case of newly diagnosed people not accessing the help that's available, because the current sysyem is so disjointed, and hard to access.

After years when I suffered, and if I wasn't lucky enough to have a family that helped pay my bills, and allowed me to carry on living independently, I would have been destitute, and even though I'm not paticularly thick, the help I was entitled to was very difficult to get.

I'm not going to try and second guess what might happen in the future, until I see any actual evidence, but I'm certainly not going to become a 'I'm (now) alright Jack' type, because I personally know that today there are many people who are struggling to get the help they are entitled to, because the present system is so flawed.

Personally I prefer to fight the discrimination that's in the here and now, and not try and second guess what might happen in the future, when there is such scant evidence that financial benefits would be cut.

Taggy · 24-10-2009, 16:15

I guess we will just have to differ in our approach to this really. I totally agree with what you say about change being needed, however i do feel you are underestimating the likelihood of these benefits being attacked and cut.

I prefer to take a proactive approach to this rather than reactive, i want the Government to know at this stage whilst they are in the process of sounding out opinions, that people do not, under any circumstances, want their financial benefits reduced, to be replaced wholely or in part, with "Benefit in Kind" I dont think the evidence is scant, i think its there for all to see, but craftely hidden by scattering a few phrases around the Green paper in the hope they wouldn't be noticed.

I'd love to hear what the response would be, if it was suggested that some or all of job seekers allowance, should be replaced by Food or Utility Bill vouchers!

As i said, this is the only part of the Green Paper i'm objecting to at this stage, and its only this part that the petition is aimed at too. However i dont want to look back later, and realise the Horse has already bolted, and that my effort then is too little too late. The Green Paper is about seeking out views....so now is the time to air them.

Best Regards - Taggy

Taggy · 28-10-2009, 13:26

Well it seems like Government has been taking notice of the concerns that people have over this. Andy Burnham has now made a statement that DLA will not be abolished....for the under 65,s!! So although thats good news for some, which has certainly been brought about by people making their feelings known, its not good news for those in receipt of DLA who are over 65 or indeed the ones aged 60 plus. Neither is it good news for people on Carers Allowance who provide support to these people, because that benefit requires that the person they care for be on at least the middle band of DLA!

Also no mention of AA....the silence is deafening!

I was talking last week with a specialist Medical Negligence Solicitor in Manchester, they are well aware already of these developements via the Green paper, as factors such as cash disability benefits will have a significant effect on estimating future care/quantum costs of cases going through the courts.
Carer Watch.com / Benefits – help us protect Disability Benefits

Best Regards - Taggy

jaysay · 31-10-2009, 14:35

The trouble with AA DLA is there are so many people claiming that are just not entitled, which is regularly pointed out on news channels were people are prosecuted for false claims, in some cases for hundreds of thousands of pounds. I would think no body begrudges these benefits for those who deserve it, who are genuinely sick or disabled, its the spongers that need to be sorted out, then maybe the genuinely sick and disabled will e treated more farley