Personal Independence Payment

DLA Change to (PIP)
by Alan Bruce

Forgive me if I don’t laugh about the change the Government propose to DLA because I feel this will be a retrograde step back to a time.

Before 1976 the choices for disabled people were a blue trike (or “Diddy” car as I knew it) or a private car allowance consisting of £100 per year (paid 3 monthly) and free road tax if you bought and drove your own car.

The Mobility Allowance in 1976 improved matters giving the disabled a choice, with a cash payment regardless if they could drive or not, therefore no longer imposing what the disabled should get regarding transport.

Motability was born in 1977, set up as a charity it was able to raise funds and give grants; with the help of the car manufacturers cars became available to the disabled, using the mobility allowance a fully insured, serviced, and with breakdown assistance, a car could be obtained.

The first Motability Scheme vehicle handover happened mid 1978; a young lady called Julie who was disabled by polio received the keys to her new car thus allowing her freedom and independence for the first time.

Having suffered polio at the age of 2yrs my legs have never been good, in fact the Doctors told my parents I would never walk, needless to say with help and callipers I got about.

I only mention this because I have availed myself of all three stages of improvement in Government help over the years.

I had friends who used the “diddy” car, not for me though; luckily I managed to obtain second hand cars and so used the private car allowance. As time moved on Mobility Allowance came in I applied. I was refused after an interview with an appointed health worker who asked me if I could get from a post to the bus stop outside his window.

‘Yes’, I said, not realising that my answer should have been more qualified with “with stopping and a little difficulty I would make it eventually”, but then you answered not knowing it was a trick question and no leeway was given.

I know disabled people are their own worst enemy, sometimes pride gets in the way and the mentality that you can manage is a big problem when it comes to answering questions or filling out forms involving any Government dept.

I re-applied some time later having learnt my lesson the first time, I qualified every answer to every question leaving no room for doubt on either side at the end of my interview, I was granted mobility allowance some time later.

The Mobility scheme was brilliant, after years of second hand cars that were forever breaking down and not that reliable, getting a brand new car with service and insurance was like winning the lotto, my life was changed for the better, allowing me to engage more fully in a social life.

Hot off the press, the second reading of the welfare reforming bill has been delayed because of the Lords’ concerns, so the house of commons needs to lobby peers some more to allay their concerns; What about the disabled folks concerns don’t they matter to?

An original Poster for the 'noddy'

I’m not sure when mobility allowance became part of what’s known as disability living allowance or DLA but the Government in its wisdom pulled the two allowances under one umbrella and decided, although it will be all DLA, it still had two distinct parts - a care component and a mobility component, neither one really dependent on the other to receive either award.

After many years using Motability my health began to get worse and resulting in my having to apply for the care component of DLA. Big forms to fill in and questions galore followed, needless to say I didn’t understand the format that needed to be followed to enable me to succeed in my application - I was refused the care component.

Through my Doctor I was advised to see my health worker and together we went through the forms again, this time with things explained as each question came up. Once again the matter of qualifying each answer reared up but my health worker was up to the task and my application succeeded this time.

Now I’m no Tolstoy and this is not supposed to be war & peace but as this debate goes on it could end up being as large.

I have worked most of my life, run my own business, employed staff, paid tax etc. The disabled community don’t want charity, and as each Parliament & MP’s over the years has improved the lot of the disabled, it becomes obvious that there is a real need for DLA in the disabled community otherwise it would never have been passed into law in the first place.

Moving on to David Cameron, our Prime Minister who had a disabled child and attests he understands the problems of disability.

I find this totally smoke and mirrors; Mr Cameron and his parliamentary mates wouldn’t understand this if it fell on them from a great height. They don’t live in a poverty driven world and never have, they have money to get around, problems that arise in their lives don’t result in them having to go and claim housing benefit, income support or struggle in any way shape or form. What the hell do they know about the everyday disabled person lives?

Oh and should I mention the expenses debacle? MPs get allowances to help them do the job, hell isn’t that what the DLA is all about, and now they want to take it away from as many people as they can.

I’ve just seen the Government daft (sorry that should read draft) proposals for replacing DLA with PIP (Personal Independence Payment) what a crock. It’s ill formed and totally biased towards getting claimants on lower benefit or off the allowance altogether. The whole point of this new benefit is to save money from the public purse and as this is a big part of spending for the Government the premise that things need to change for the better is just a smoke screen for Cuts!

The Government consultation on the reform of DLA closed in Feb 2011 and so far all parties agree that concerns recorded by individual’s charities or health workers in the consultation paper have been ignored in the draft proposal.

Several disabled charities have now decided to legally challenge the Government on this matter, so it seems to me my voice may not just be a lonely howl in the wind but others agree this is about MONEY.