From: DAGLA [dagla@hotmail.co.uk]
Sent: 18 February 2011 18:40
To: DWP Consultation DLAReform
Subject: DAGLA

DLA --- PIP

DAGLA read the Consultancy Document

These were the Concerns Raised by members

One is cost of implementation, as this government needs to save monies.

The DLA already has the ability to claim back monies due to fraudulent 
claims and not informing changes of circumstances.

The DLA has an ability test and can take into account your needs. PIP's 
is doing the same but adding adaptations into the test for benefits. So 
will they count towards getting the benefit or against ie

If you use a wheelchair in everyday life and cannot walk, you will not 
be entitled to the PIP award as you can get around in your wheelchair 
but if wheelchair breaks you will have to prove you cannot get around 
for 6 months then be assessed, then await another 6 months to get the 
award. This could be the same for prosthetic limbs and guide dogs.

Mobility component of PIP's how will you get a car on motability with 
yearly checks.

Direct Payments for your care, due to your care and adaptations your 
amount of need is reduced under PIP's so theoretically you could fail to 
prove your case as everyone has to apply to get the PIP award so will 
funding for your care be removed.

Planning a journey which is part of the PIP's assessment, you can plan a 
journey but cannot get there because lifts do not work there is no 
accessible public transport or for rail no ramps, so you cannot complete 
journey and are stuck asking for assistance miles from home is this a 
fail or a pass.

It was also felt that some DLA claimants had been on attendance 
allowance for this allowance and you had to be examined by Doctors then 
we all had to change to DLA during the changeover some claims were 
mislaid or lost so you had to reapply, now under the new PIP you are 
going to apply for the new benefit and be seen by Healthcare 
professional or a Doctor for a new style assessment that according to 
this Consultation Document they are not certain what it's going to be, 
so how can they say it will improve the needs of the people who need it 
and will be targeted. Already we have targeted benefit the DDA mobility 
component is targeted by Motability who want you to have a car but then 
you have no monies left to buy fuel for it.

So targeted benefits do not always work in the appropriate way.

Barry Appleby Chair DAGLA