Them and Us
Posted , 4 users are following.
Not so much a case of asking a question more a case of 'us' and 'them'.
I am a subscriber to 'Rightsnet' which as you know is a forum used by Welfare Rights workers and such like. These people do an amazing job in helping each other out with the complexities of the Welfare System.
There are so many ordinary people in this country that never receive their full entitlement to benefits simply because they just don't have the detailed and enhanced information on how to present their case to it's maximum. Then there are others that are lucky to be able to access these WRO's and receive the help that they deserve.
The latest suggestion regarding maximising the points needed for PIP is that false teeth are claimed as 'aids' to enable people to eat!
It is a poor country when you consider that you have more chance of getting the maximum out of the system if you happen to live in an area where these people are based. Those living in my area (South East) have very little support. The nearest law centre that covers the whole of the South East and London is in West London. Just the one!!
There are so many experienced advisers out there but unfortunately for many they are unable to tap into their knowledge.
0 likes, 5 replies
sarah87162 les59996
Posted
I did not consider myself to be particularly lucky to me it was simply what I was entitled to and I asuumed everyone else would also be entitled to that help.
Sarah
les59996 sarah87162
Posted
CAB, certainly in the South East, have lost most if not all of their full time WRO due to Legal Aid being cut on the basis that getting professional help paid for by the government to claim benefits is said to be wrong. All that we are left with are volunteers that offer basic advice only.
When I travel to the North West - Manchester/Liverpool, there seems to be a law clinic on every corner of the street!
marshall71 les59996
Posted
les59996 marshall71
Posted
It is ridiculous to suggest those with false teeth would get 2 points, those that have a dossette box for medication get another 2 points, those that use a long handled brush for their back when bathing get another 2 points, those that sit on a bed or chair to put their socks on another 2 points, those that use a hearing aid, another 2 points. 10 points but are they genuinely disabled?
Grief I would get those points and more besides if I wanted to twist the rules. This is what happened to DLA - by the time it had come to an end the definitions, thanks to court decisions, were so far from what was intended that everybody and anybody with a little creative thinking could have got a DLA award.
Surely it would help every disabled person if people actually stopped this attitude.
No wonder the DWP are giving ESA and PIP applicants a hard time.
anthony97723 les59996
Posted
Well it seems the Government have listened and aids for toilet and dressing have been cut to 1 point and there is more changes to PIP coming in January 2017.
As you pointed out the reason for this is the judicial decisions given on what constitutes an 'aid'
The original idea of DLA and then PIP is to compensate for the extra cost disability and having to ‘buy’ aids was obviously an extra cost. However, it seems the Government have an issue with ‘ongoing’ costs i.e. does the aid require extra expenditure, or is the aid something you would expect to have even if you were not disabled? I suppose if you go for the pillbox then some are battery or electronically powered to provide a severely disabled person with a reminder via an alarm to take their medication and therefore incurs an extra cost. Also a specialist single bed which can cost up to £1,500 and is electrically powered and again incurs an ongoing extra cost
However, the most obvious extra cost is someone to provide personal care. Even if they are a family member an ‘extra’ cost will be incurred as a wife cannot work if she provides full-time care. Those who live alone and need someone to call in and help again incur extra costs as it is only fair to pay the travel costs and time for the help provided.