DLA for son - OK I do feel a bit guilty

[psychocandy]

I had a benefits type thread put in front of the firing squad last week. General doesn't seem quite the right place but I can't see an obvious home.

I'm pleased for you psychocandy and it sounds like a hard fought battle. To claim DLA or PIP these day you need a lot of solid evidence and usually get interviewed by an assessor after they've reviewed your 25 page application form. In other words you don't get these kind of benefits unless the DWP (or a court) decide you really need them and I wouldn't feel guilty in the slightest

I didn't apply for any disability benefits for 12 years because I didn't think my disability affected my day to day functioning. I changed my mind last year when the DVLA unexpectedly revoked my driving license on health grounds. It caused havoc with work, the school drop and many other things. I think it was right to apply for PIP in those circumstances.

BTW on the subject of what else we can claim. I have someone from the council inspecting my home this week to see if I'm eligible for a council tax reduction. If you think that wouldn't apply to Asperger's then you might be surprised.

worth looking in to.... I know we can get a reduction on water rates. Son uses a LOT of water..... Long story,

[psychocandy]

NLUK, some of us can form relationships outside of our accountants and don't shoot blanks, so we may talk about our families and children instead.

So we do also get a disability allowance for DS1 and frankly I'll take it. We could also have a disability sticker for the car if we wanted, but as he's able bodied and more likely to do a runner when he gets out of it, that one I invested in a pair of Nike Running shoes with the allowance instead.

I'm presently having to take on the local authority on over schooling. Coming up for secondary school DS1 will not be able to do a mainstream school and special schools will have to deal with his special needs specifically, so we're down to a shortlist of two schools out of 30 we've visited. The local authority would like to place him in the local mainstream school, even though he's not been in one for years and needs constant supervision.

So I offered to pay for one of the two speciailist schools, but you're not allowed to do that. So I now have a rather expensive £250 per hour solicitor on it, I'm around £7000 down and looking at £15000-£35000 to get the local authoritity to back down and send him to the school he needs. So in answer to the question, F U C K yes, I'd take the money because they're going to screw you over anyway in the end.

Fortunately, son is in mainstream. He struggles though. They have special needs specialist at school so they make allowance. Well if they werent so fricking lazy and useless. It amazes me when I got to parents evening and half sons teachers admit no-one told them he was ASD (surely thats the SEN persons job?)

Part of the delay with the court case was it took the school 6 months to send the form back to the court. They lost it once, forgot twice. I know.

[BrilloPad]

BUT I wonder how many people dont bother to appeal. Scandalous really....

Many will not apply. Most will not appeal.

Its like help for children with disabilities in schools. The process is long and tedious. You probably need a lawyer. So the children don't get the help they need. Government can say "we have a proper legal framework" even though it is effectively impossible to access and the local authorities save money.

[ladymuck]

Many will not apply. Most will not appeal.

Its like help for children with disabilities in schools. The process is long and tedious. You probably need a lawyer. So the children don't get the help they need. Government can say "we have a proper legal framework" even though it is effectively impossible to access and the local authorities save money.

And the process therefore disproportionately impacts poorer families who don't have the resources to challenge the crappy decisions being made.

[Halo Jones]

Don’t feel guilty – look as it as more getting the sprog in to the system for when you are not there to support him, if he were to go to for a PIP review the first question would be “why are you only claiming this now?” now he has an official record that can help in the future.

[BoredBloke]

Don't feel guilty about getting the benefits! You've paid into the system and that's what it's for. My son is blind and was diagnosed with Aspergers at about the age of 8. In all honestly, his Aspergers is more of a disability than his blindness at times. He's had DLA for years, recently moved onto PIP. We've always had the benefits paid directly into his account - now that he's at uni, it means we don't have to subsidise him quite so much!

[psychocandy]

Many will not apply. Most will not appeal.

Its like help for children with disabilities in schools. The process is long and tedious. You probably need a lawyer. So the children don't get the help they need. Government can say "we have a proper legal framework" even though it is effectively impossible to access and the local authorities save money.

Yes you're probably right. People like me and others on this forum who appeal and win are probably in a minority.
OK, DWP have got to pay out a nice sum in backpay to me now but its small change compared to the 95% they've turned down.

To be honest, the tribunal/court thing was easy and fair. We got more than we thought we'd get to be honest.

[sal]

We where on the fence whether to claim DLA for my 6 y.o. with ASD, as his is rather mild in most regards. Moral dilemma etc.

Then we overheard some of the moms of his classmates discussing how they are going on a £5-6k holidays this summer, despite living in council houses and sponging benefits.

Got awarded medium rate £50ish a week first try (expected the lowest rate), which pays for a decent 1 week holiday in Spain.

[mb31]

Hmmm, to be honest PIP only covers a tiny amount of the income I have lost on several occasions when people who are not medically qualified determined that I'm not well enough to work.

On the subject of holidays or days out, if you're a registered carer then the local council might be able to give you a small amount of money towards family days out. My wife was given £500 last year. We were supposed to keep the receipts but no one ever asked. She's due another carer's review shortly.

[GhostofTarbera]

Hmmm, to be honest PIP only covers a tiny amount of the income I have lost on several occasions when people who are not medically qualified determined that I'm not well enough to work.

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When you go contracting a few days off will get you canned


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