From: Alan Kaminski [alankaminski@sky.com]
Sent: 14 February 2011 08:43
To: DWP Consultation DLAReform
Subject: north staffs healthwatch

Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Completed
north staffs healthwatch;
we can not see how the proposed reform to dla awards can be successful in the present climate.
it starts from the assumption that everyone who has disabilities is able to work in some way, and the system has no checks and balances.
this is not true."awards" of dla  are time -specific e.g.one year , three years, and only become indefinite,once the claim has been assessed that the applicant will not get any better over time.thereis medical assessment at any stage by the government's emp service, and g.p's.
this exercise has concerned everyone we talked to , the majority of whom see it as an exercise to "bash an easy and vulnerable target" and is not consistent with the view propounded of the big caring society.
as regards specfics in the paper,
mobility;if i get around on sticks, in a wheelchair etc. will mobility allowance be paid?
care:what will be the criteria for award,given that the majority of claimants can not work in any way.
most of business do not want a disabled person un their workplace ,where they are seen as a hindrance to safety, or an un -acceptable  cost imposed on their profits.
their are not sufficient jobs in the econony for all at he moment, or is the paper suggesting that the disabled  pick up all the jobs being cut by local government,for free.
we await the details of the new process as the present one has been so complicated as to need a skilled lawyer at all stages.