The DLA Reforms and Benefit Fraud

At present there are protests going on, against the planned reform to the DLA - Disability Living Allowance benefit. 

Too right. It is a good thing. According to George Osborne, the costs of DLA have soared in recent years. During his emergency budget in 2010 he stated:

" "Mr Deputy Speaker, it is right that people who are disabled are helped to lead a life of dignity. We will continue to support them, and we will not reduce the rate at which this benefit is paid. But three times as many people claim it today than when it was introduced eighteen years ago. And the costs have quadrupled in real terms to over £11 billion, making it one of the largest items of government spending. We will introduce a medical assessment for Disability Living Allowance from 2013, which will be applied to new and existing claimants. This will be a simpler process than the complex forms they have to fill out at present. That way we can continue to afford paying this important benefit to those with the greatest needs, while significantly improving incentives to work for others. " "

We all know that there are many who fraudulently claim DLA, even though they are well able to dance, play darts or even golf. This report in the Telegraph states:

Criminals are estimated to defraud the DLA, which is intended to help the handicapped pay for care and remain mobile, of £1 billion a year - more than a third of all benefit fraud. Able-bodied criminals target the DLA because, in many cases, they only have to fill in one form before they start receiving payments.

It is a great thing that this benefit will be cut, no more benefit-scrounging scum wasting hard-working tax payers money. 

Or is it?

Who receives DLA and what is it used for?

To be eligible to claim DLA you must prove that you are disabled - not simply fill in a form - it is a 40 page form that delves into every area of your life. If you can walk, talk, dress and go to the bathroom unaided. It is very thorough and is followed up by a consultation with independent experts to check your claim. So to claim that it is easy to receive is simply wrong.

DLA is used to pay for the adaptations and extra costs that are incurred by a disability. This could be a specially adapted car suitable for a wheelchair, or alterations to the house, or an electric wheelchair. It could also be used to hire professional carers to give respite to the person caring for the claimant of DLA. The great thing about this benefit is that the recipient can decide what to use it for. 

Contrary to Mr Osborne's statement, DLA claimants and the costs of the benefit to the country have not increased in real terms since it was introduced, as this article proves. 

In fact, DLA can be the benefit that enables the person to go out to work. To earn money and pay taxes. 

Not only that, but contrary to general opinion, it is the benefit with the lowest fraud rate. The Department of Work and Pensions figures show that the fraud rate is just 0.5% - lower even than  the 0.8% that the DWP admits to paying in error. Compared to other rates, such as Income Support and Job Seekers Allowance, which stand at just under 3%, that is very low. 

Added to this there is the interesting statistic that 40% of those eligible for DLA do not claim it. 

Yet Mr Osborne wishes to cut DLA by 20%. This means that those affected by the cuts are eligible. That the cuts will hurt those who need DLA.

Why do we have this impression that DLA should be reformed? That so many are cheating the system? Almost everyone seems to have a story about a friend of a friend, or a neighbour who has a motibility car, or claims DLA and there is nothing wrong with them. 

The impression is fueled by the media, that is certain. There is nothing the Daily Mail likes more than stories about benefit cheats, unless it is immigrant benefit cheats. 

There is also the tendency to lump "benefit cheats" together, so perhaps the neighbour is claiming incapacity benefit, or job seekers allowance and not DLA, which is much harder to apply and have granted.

Basically, those who cheat the system are thieves. They are cheating the system because of their low morals, and care not for the damage they are doing to those who rely on DLA to make ends meet. 

People like those who have posted on the Mumsnet thread about the DLA reforms. People who struggle now to get through the day, to get through the week. Who have little or no official respite from their carer responsibilities and are facing cuts in DLA which will mean that they cannot pay for respite themselves. People such as these posters:

"I am Mum to a 6 year old boy with complex and severe special needs plus 2 other children. i had to give up my career to care for him 24 hours a day and my husband can only work part time. If we lose our DLA we will be on the breadline. It's hard enough having to care 24 hours a day whilst grieving for the child you almost lost to meningitis, If I have to worry about food and clothing and heat too i will not survive."

"My DH is disabled we have the car and the DLA currently its paying our mortage.

Without this money we will be homeless. I have deprssion and DH [darling husband] works but is deteriating. We have a 2 year old and are currently living on 13k pa.
The toris have taken away child benefit [ok frozen it], now they want to take the DLA.
How do they expect families to live? we already sleep in one bed in one room as we can't afford to move."

This is about our country, about the way we treat those most vulnerable. About protecting them, aiding them. This is why we have a benefits system. 


The advisary period of the DLA reform ends on 14th February.

We have only until the 14th February to stop the reform of the DLA. If you have not done so, please sign the petition here

Have a look at the One Month Before Heartbreak Blog here for more information.


Please write to your MP to ask him or her to sign the EDM (Early Day Motion) that has been tabled by Hywel Williams MP.