DLA changes petition - please sign up

[andreafm]

Hi there everyone there is a HM government petiton against the DLA to PIP changes.

The link is

submissions.epetitions.dire...

Have a look and sign up to it if you have concerns as I do

Andrea

[andreafm]

Hi sarah lou

People who are already on Disability Living Allowance or will be starting from April 13th 2013. Will have to go though a much more rigerous assessment than they had to during the past when applying for DLA. This will be cahanging to a new process called personal independance payment [PIP].

The DLA payments are for disabled people whether they work or not, in recognition of the extra difficulties and cost of being disabled.

It is dressed up in the guise of being better and more fairer than D.L.A but as we all from the recent ESA [employment support allowance] assessments done by ATOS. It is really means a cutting of the Benefits Budget down by getting people off benefits. Whilst some would agree that there are some people frauding the system, this is apparently not as a large number as the government would have believe.

People against these changes say they are very unfair and suggest that the fallout of 8 out of 10 people already receiving DLA will lose there rights to any Benefits.

I have a couple of links that may help you to grasp it - one from the BBC and another general info on the benefit changes from Disability Rights UK who are campaigning against it.

bbc.co.uk/news/education-19...

disabilityrightsuk.org/f60.htm

Not meaning to worry anyone who is already on DLA or anyone that might be in the near future - but these changes to me are very worrying.

Hope this helps

Andrea

[Hidden]

Thanks Andrea. One thing that seems particularly unfair is that even those who have a 'lifetime' or 'indefinite' award will have to start from scratch.

Also, I fear there will be discrepancies where people in receipt of Carer's allowance will find the person they care for is deemed fit for work!

[andreafm in reply to Hidden]

That's right and it is all very worrying

I have had an indefinate award for higher mobility and low rate care on DLA, for many years - unchanged as I hadn't asked for the personal care to be reviewed.

I also was re-assessed by the ESA people a few years ago, when Labour had a go at re-assessing people. Against the odds, I was awarded an unable to work indefinate status on that as well. I don't see why they couldn't take certain cases out of the equation or make it new cases only.

This only goes to my thinking in that it is a way to get people off the system, it is a mess and I am hoping the whole thing will collapse in a heep and become unworkable so that they will stop what they are doing.

Hopefully if all sign this campaign, things will change...although I somehow don't think so as this government is pretty ruthless. We have to stand up and be counted [as they say].

I will now have to go through the whole thing again and I am worse now than I was then but daren't rock the boat with attempting to have it reviewed because I just don't trust the system.

Just holding my breath and takling it when the Brown Envelope drops through the door.

Frightening

Andrea

[Hidden]

Thanks for info Andrea, although I am lucky enough to still be able to work a few hours a week in my family business, there are issues I have with simple things like picking up the kettle to make a drink and lifting pans from the oven etc so there is no way I can make a hot meal without help. I have been awarded low rate DLA which is a real help financially as I would most definatally struggle to hold down a job in the real world. Working for my family business allows me to work from home if I need to and I can do flexible hours which is fantastic.

I have signed up to the petition.

Take care C x x

[andreafm]

Sorry this posting is falling off the bottom of the page and so I have done this to bring it up again.

No other way of keeping it on the arena and the petition doesn't run out until next year.

[lizzykarma]

im in the process of applying for dla tbh and really nervous about what to put on the form. does anyone have any tips? xx

[andreafm in reply to lizzykarma]

I photocopy it first so not to make mistakes on the form and then photocopy the final form so you know what you have said.

The main thing to remember is to fill out the form as if it was at it's worse. Also makes sure that you say if it is variable and if frequent or unrelenting

Be honest about the embarrassing side of your condition and the chronic fatigue.

Get copies of any hospital reports, tests etc and send them with the form.

Write a 1 page personal story of what it is like to be you. If you working and have to have time off or have missed hospital appointments because you were too ill. How you have to have assistance and/or personal care] with things and describe what and when.

Any problems you have had with medication or mobility etc

There is some info on the Behcets Society website on this link

behcets.org.uk/menus/main.a...

They will be able to send some info if you contact them

Good luck with it

Andrea

[andreafm]

Hi there

I have found some very helpful information on the rules for the new PIP coming in in 2013.

ageuk.org.uk/Documents/EN-G...

The link has been written by ageuk but applies to people under 65years

It might be helpful to some people

Andrea