DLA over retirement age

Survivor wrote:

I read a government document (sorry, I've lost the link) in which they seemed to have come up with some evidence that people on DLA were less likely to be in work than people with comparable needs that weren't on DLA.

However, their deductions from this seem to have the classic problem of which is the cause and which the effect.

They seem to be assuming that the way it works is that once people get DLA they don't want to go out to work.

However, it may be the other way round. It may be that it is the people that seem, on the surface to have like for like needs, but who are capable of working, who are less likely to find the need to claim DLA.

I'm afraid I don't trust the government's research to have accurately gauged the relative needs of people in and out of work. You can count a person's amputations, but you can't simply by doing so know which of two people can more easily get around, because you don't know how well the stumps have healed or how much muscle has been removed, or whether there is associated CRPS (cont. p94). Or at least, I very much doubt whether the research concerned has gone into that level of detail.

From years of hanging out on disability and mental health websites, I know that a bare diagnosis tells you only a small part of the picture. I can think of two people with bipolar disorder in the same support group. One was working as a successful lawyer, the other had spent several months in hospital every year for many, many years. Same label, different degree, different impact.

But there you go, most of us on DLA are scroungers and it should be taken off us, or if not, reduced to minimal payments carefully controlled, taking away all the flexibility that enables us to make the most of our money.

I'd better stop - my anger levels are rising.

your post very interesting... the bit about " most of us on DLA are scroungers "


what would be the total income of someone on higher mobility middle rate care .... in the support group of ESA partner getting carerers allownace ? 2 children ?

I'm too tired to calculate it and I doubt whether the politicians who are so keen to label us as scroungers and responsible for the financial crisis the country is in have the faintest how much we get or how people live on it.

If already in receipt of DLA and are now over retirement age what is the current position. In view of all working age recipients being retested from 2013. Will retesting apply to those over age 65 in receipt of DLA.

Plum Howard wrote:

If already in receipt of DLA and are now over retirement age what is the current position. In view of all working age recipients being retested from 2013. Will retesting apply to those over age 65 in receipt of DLA.

Hi,

The current position is you continue to receive DLA as normal.

The future position is somewhat unclear, particularly if the legislation is passsed to replace DLA with PIP, which according to the target introduction date may preceed any retesting of DLA claimants, particularly those of non working age.

Pete

Hi Pete,

This is a statement from Maria Miller (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Disabled People), Work and Pensions; Basingstoke, Conservative) made in the Commons yesterday Disability Living Allowance

As you'll see, she states DWP have launched a consultation, and immediately after, states " a new benefit-personal independence payment to be introduced from 2013."

So much for consultation, and no mention of any reassessment.

I wonder if she realises that to abolish DLA, would mean the repeal of

Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 Part III sections 71-76 and
The Social Security (Disability Living Allowance) Regulations 1991 parts III and IV.

And new legislation, passed by both Houses Of Parliament for PIP.

What a shambles, as are the plans for a Universal Credit, which IMO would take 10 years or more to implement.

Jim