[Seti]

I hate threads like this because it makes me feel guilty. I had my own very succesful business before I was taken ill. At the time I was lugging a huge suitcase full of stuff I needed for work and clothes and such like up and down the country. Before I was running my own business I was Nursing. When I was first investigated I didnt' think that my condition was serious, although it stopped me from doing 90% of the things I used to fly through before. Soon I had to say good bye to my little business. When I applied for income support I was given £50 a week to live on as I was not considered ill by the government or DSS. I struggled on that for over 6 months. I kept a privately rented flat going, bought food, rescued a dog and continued my NTL subscriptions. It was hard and very stressful.

I applied for DLA before I got diagnosed and, suprisingly for me, I was awarded the highest rates of care and mobility and a severe disability premium. My Income support went up and in fact before I moved to a council house I was given a back dated claim of DLA for £1000. This helped me move. Yes, I am having an extension built by the ocuncil off a disability grant and yes i probably will try to buy my own house at the cheaper rate.

Some people would consider me well off. I get just over £200 a week to live on now. I've been on DLA for three years. Today I am buying the first pair of shoes I have had new for three years.

Recently I was invited for a medical. although the condition I suffer from, MS, is one of the prohibited conditions which mean I don't legally have to attend. I have filled three forms in telling the DSS this. Eventually they realised I wasn'f fraudelent and told me I didn't have to attend the medical. I already knew that.

I get "return to work" people ringing me up and asking me to attend interviews or loose my benefit. I attend and they can never find me a job that would allow me to sleep for a few hours in the day. Then they realise I am exempt from those meetings too. It's humiliating and embarrassing for me.

I work for the welfare section of my local MS branch and help people get their entitlements EVERY day. I am not ashamed to be doing this. I am also looking for a nice person to come and fix my laser printer (HINT HINT)

The reality is that we do not know the full story behind each claim or each disability. I suppose I oculd have become an alcoholic very easily. I mean I am a drain on society because thats how claiming makes you feel.

I wish I had £40,000 a year. Things like transport, paying for carers and getting around would be FAR easier. None of that is provided freely either btw.

I would hesitate to say my illness is all in my head. Although for a long time I did think it was. Many people going through any sort of aquired disability diagnosis do thinks that way. So I am a dredge on society and strangely becoming proud of it.

Sian.
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Scastle it isn't true that DLA amounts get affected by your work salary. You are given different rates, in some cases HIGHER, than you get when you aren't working. Oh and you can claim for transport costs etc.
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Oh and if anyone wants help filling in their DLA forms I will help you out. It's not easy getting it right first time. I can also help with appeals.