General Chat

I really wish that people who complain about ex pat pensioners getting the winter fuel allowance would realise that living in Spain in the winter is nothing like the Spain you experience lying on the beach in summer.
I can assure you that where I live the temperature hasn´t risen above 5c for the last 2 weeks, it´s wet & we have 80 kilometer per hour winds. From November to April, it´s no warmer than England & the snowfall on the mainland is always as bad as anywhere else in Europe.
I´m quite sure that no one living in England would feel they could do without heating in temperatures below 12c.

When is 'enough' enough?

Compared to some MPs who illegally claimed expenses, it seems the lottery winner is acting totally legally. Rules & regulations cannot be changed ad hoc to fit varying circumstances.

Consider the positives of this win.
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Well if I was his wife I know which house I would prefer to live in. Losing £5000 per year would be a small price to pay with all that money in the bank.

no I wasn't Sue, nor at anyone who is entitled and who claims ANY benefit that will help when needed.

I've seen too many people who really need it and don't get I suppose, and a few who 'got' and didn't need :-(

I think, to be honest, most people would NOT claim DLA if they won £10m, But, I can't judge that person until I know what he is in receipt of DLA for.

Money can buy equipment etc, but often not the help you need in disability, and I really think people should not judge until they have to deal with disability and the liftstyle changes that comes with it.

DLA is not means tested, because it is there to help people with their disabilities live a more independent life, it pays for the extra things you may need, especially as they need to attend hospital more than most, either for consultant appointments or physio etc etc. It is based on the disabilities alone, it is NOT an income.

Income should be means tested. DLA is not an income and is not taken into account as such when claiming other benefits. However if you are in receipt of DLA, you can get higher benefits due to disability premiums on those benefits.

It is not designed to be discriminatory toward any disability. Many many people who are entitled to it simply don't claim it because it is so difficult to do so successfully first time round and they give up.

It amazes me how many people can actually manage to scam the system, we've had months of battling with the DWP to get what we're entitled to which is the biggest stress after my partner's amputation. If I was scamming the system, I'd have given up long ago, but I'm not, we are genuinely entitled to those benefits, we have nothing else and without his DLA, even when it was still at the lower rate, we'd have been on the streets by now.

I agree the guy should seriously consider giving up his DLA, but under the law he is entitled. As I said before, it's not an income benefit, it is an aid to the much higher cost of living with a disability. I agree he could fund that himself, and believe me, we certainly would.

But I still believe, because of the purpose of DLA and the fact that it is NOT an income, it should not be means tested. Disability doesn't means test you, why should that?

That's OK our Rose, I know you aren't getting at me :-D

If I had £10m I wouldn't be claiming anything...OH what freedom from the State that would give me :-D

Sue x

Yes people are entitled to the pension which most of us have paid into.(.sorry can't say everyone.)

But my bugbear is are they entitled to heating allowance when they live abroad 52 weeks of the year.and if it goes below -4 and under they also get extra heating allowance which is £25 extra a wek.

Do you agree that they should claim the heating allowance when they live abroad.
or do you think they should pay it bacvk to the DWP.

It is as bad as what the chap is doing claiming DLA and he has got £10 million.
Sue

Fair enough TW and Sue, I don't have a car so the expenses of servicing one etc are a mystery to me.

though I think having 10 million in the bank would stop me from claiming one if I could, on the grounds the saving could then be used for someone else, either for the car or transport costs.

Because services and MOT's become much more expensive than just providing a new car.

I don't begrudge any disabled person their right to transport, be it a car or free public transport. It's the difference between freedom and being stuck. Not all disabled people are in wheelchairs, and not all those wheelchairs are motorised. Chris could wheel himself down to the shop about a mile away, but with a load of shopping he couldn't wheel himself back again it's all up hill.

I have a new cripmobile every 3 years, even when I was working, without that I would not have been able to get to work and pay a huge amount in TAX.

Now I am no longer able to work and there is no public transport I forfeit my weekly payment in exchange for a car. This means I can get out of the house, even though I can't drive anymore.

That award from the DLA gives many of us freedom.

Sue

no i would not

I'm not saying a car isn't a valid provision Teresa, just that a new one every three years seems excessive, a paid for full service perhaps?

But back to the original question...

The guy has 10 million....why does he think he's still entitled to benefits?

I wont' say anything abotu the new car provision. You HAVE to be in receipt of DLA at the higher rate mobility to get that, it's not automatic...but with the higher rate mobility component on DLA, then a car IS necessary. I could claim on for us, except I don't drive...nor could I afford to run it. That's not paid for by the DWP.

The same as free public transport...that only comes about for people on DLA at the higher mobility rate. Those on the lower rate simply don't get it. You have to have a certificate to prove you are on the higher rate before you can apply to the County Council for your travel card. (I know because I'm in the process of doing it)

Whatever disabled people get, genuinely disabled that is, they are entitled to, to help them live more independently. Savings in the bank won't get much of that help, but DLA will. DLA is not means tested because it is based on the disability.

But other benefits, ESA, JSA IS, and all the rest of it, is means tested to an extent, in that you must have no income and savings of less than £16k

I don't count pension as benefit. I have no problem with anyone getting that if they've paid in for it x

Savings DO come into play when claiming benefits, you're allowed up to £16k savings..(yeah right, I wish),

So no, with £10m in the bank, they are definitely NOT entitled to benefits, except maybe DLA, and that is a very complex area...and isn't treated as income.

Pension shouldn't be regarded as benefit, even state pension, if you're retired, you've paid into it one way or another, through NI or privately, it's yours, you earned it. If the pension is low, you're entitled to income support and pension credits, but that still depends on savings.

Another thing I don't agree with is the provision of a new car every three years, that is totally un-necessary, and certainly should be means tested.

No I wouldn't take a benefit (though like Eldrick I would take a pension I had paid into) . Having to claim a benefit is no fun, the endless forms, the interviews, the general view that you are a scrounger not doing enough,

10 million and I could live in absolute comfort without worry and stress for me and mine, and give generously to so many. oh bliss.

I dont see the pension as a benefit. Having paid national insurance for donkeys years i am dammed sure i would take my pension no matter what the size of my lottery win. I might give it to the landlords benevolent society, but I would take it regardless. And i dont care what anyone says!

You need to Read this....explains everything about DLA.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Disabledpeople/DG_10011816


Then read this,,,,

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/BritonsLivingAbroad/Moneyabroad/DG_4000102

and this


http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/Benefits/BenefitsInRetirement/DG_179768

and then tell me who is taking money out of the system..

Not that I agree with what the couple are doing claiming DAL.

Sue