Wednesday, August 08, 2007
MLAs claiming DLA
The Assembly published the register of interests last month. Reading through it you will notice that Mayor of Carrickfergus David Hilditch and West Tyrone MLA Allan Bresland are both:
In receipt of Disability Living Allowance since retirement on ill-health grounds.
I seem to remember ethical questions being raised about Cherie Blair claiming child support benefit some years ago. DLA is NOT (see comments, I was led to believe that DLA is means tested) means tested, but in a welfare state should benefits such as DLA and child support benefit be capped based on your income?
Michael Shilliday @ 01:13 PM
You truly are a nasty piece of work Mr. Shilliday. The whole point of Disability Living Allowance is that it should actually encourage people into the work-place.
Posted by on Aug 08, 2007 @ 02:35 PMNot so sure about that, its slightly disturbing that they are deemed medically unfit for work, compensated accordingly yet they are politicians, trusted to work tirelessly to represent their constituents. There is something dodgy about it.
Posted by on Aug 08, 2007 @ 02:44 PMDLA is about paying for genuine mobility and care needs. To my knowledge it is “tax free” and not means tested. I’m no expert, but that is my understanding.
They may not even be claiming for themselves, but a child, so I would take this nasty little post down right now.
Posted by on Aug 08, 2007 @ 02:47 PMI have no brief for the DUP, but this is a new low for the Cunningplan House typingpool. Or perhaps this is the big idea from the 2 day UUP war cabinet
People in East Antrim know that David Hilditch has had serious health problems for some time- it’s to his credit that he still is a public representative.I don’t know anything about Bresland- nor probably, do any of his constituents, given his low profile.But there is no ethical question here, nor any possible connection to Cherie Blair. There’s only a juvenile attempt at a smear- the only inference that can be drawn from this horrible little thread. Presumably the UUP’s next crusade will be to demand a public inquiry into whether David Blunkett is claiming from the state for his guide dog’s biscuits.
Still, when the UUP is only a memory, we’ll all know why it curled up and died.
Posted by on Aug 08, 2007 @ 02:49 PMA possible omission from Edwin Poots: according to this, he’s still Treasurer for Laganside Rural Development Limited.
According to this, Chairman of Laganside Rural Development Ltd is a Robert Poots; who juts happens to be the director of Diversitec Ltd. (Check the link conspiracy theorists!)
And according to this:
The company’s (Lisburn Leader Ltd) first success, confirmed just before Christmas 2006, was to apply for and secure from Laganside Rural Development Ltd, a funding package of just under £500,000 for the delivery of the “Rural Lisburn Regeneration Programme”. This funding will be distributed to eligible individuals and businesses for new projects
Cosy eh?!
Posted by on Aug 08, 2007 @ 02:52 PMSceptical: “Not so sure about that, its slightly disturbing that they are deemed medically unfit for work, compensated accordingly yet they are politicians, trusted to work tirelessly to represent their constituents. There is something dodgy about it.”
The devil, as with most other assorted goblins, ghosties and long-legged beasties, is likely to be found in the details.
Arguably, I find it heartening that the state, potentially, does not consider politics to be a profession, per se, and, as such, does not disqualify the recipients of the DLA.
Darth: “Still, when the UUP is only a memory, we’ll all know why it curled up and died. “
I don’t think they’ve reached “acceptance” yet, Darth, what with all the flailing and throwing mud to see what sticks… I’d say they’re running about and thrashing like a headless roach—dead, just not quite aware of the fact yet.
Posted by on Aug 08, 2007 @ 02:58 PMMichael
perhaps this is another blog you should consider resigning from if this is what you feel is a fitting thread.
Posted by on Aug 08, 2007 @ 03:02 PMMy main work is in the field of benefits, so I would immediately refute the post’s claim that DLA is means tested. It is most certainly not.
DLA is a difficult benefit to get, and I widely encourage my client base who are in employment to apply for it if they qualify. For one thing, when people have chronic long term illnesses, their income is often affected through frequent short absences, DLA helps to compensate for this.
In addition, DLA is designed to help pay for care that is required by individuals who qualify for the benefit.
I would like to see the post corrected to accurately reflect the issue.
Posted by on Aug 08, 2007 @ 03:16 PMI’ll just add this for anyone unfamiliar with the benefit:
Disability Living Allowance is a benefit that can be paid whether you are in or out of work or training, providing you have a level of care or mobility needs which meets the entitlement conditions. If you are receiving Disability Living Allowance and about to start or return to work your Disability Living Allowance will remain the same as long as your care and/or your mobility needs have not changed.However, if you are starting or returning to work or training because your care and/or mobility needs have changed and you have not already reported this change in your needs to the Department for Work and Pensions, then you need to report the change so that your benefit award can be reviewed and, if necessary, a new decision made. This could result in either an increase or a decrease in the amount of Disability Living Allowance you are entitled to.
Posted by on Aug 08, 2007 @ 03:20 PMA little knowledge….
Ill informed, amatuerish threads like this do Slugger no favours at all.
DLA is not means tested and is not related to whether someone is fit or not for work, that benefit is Inacapacity Benefit. DLA is intended to help someone cope a health problem or Diability, whether in work or not. It is not intended to be the foundation for low brow digs.
Child Support is not a benefit as such, I think you must mean Child Benefit. This is not means tested either and is a univeral payment for every child. It has been the subject of minor debate in the past around it’s universality, whether it could better targeted and whether it should be taxable.
Cherie Blair would only be claiming “Child Support” if she had separated from her partner - maybe I’ve missed something in the News, I somehow doubt it though….
Posted by on Aug 08, 2007 @ 03:23 PMI missed that Star Hound, but you are spot on. The post must mean child benefit
Posted by on Aug 08, 2007 @ 03:25 PMOutrageous post MS. You should apply to join APNI immediately.
Posted by on Aug 08, 2007 @ 03:31 PMDarth,
People in West Tyrone, particularly anyone living north of Strabane know all about Allan Bresland - look at his Council election results if you want proof of that. Maybe he’s not on the news every day, but certainly someone you go to if you want something done on the ground.Anyway, like David Hilditch, local people know he has a health problem. As has been pointed out, DLA is not means tested - should be not be claiming a benefit which he is entitled to? Disgraceful little post, one which isn’t even based on facts and clearly lacks even the most basic research…. Its called GOOGLE you know!
Mind you, I think we’ll all know now not to go near any Ulster Unionist though if we want to know anything about the benefits system. It would seem that petty personal attacks are more their forte.
Surely Slugger wouldn’t miss this blogger would it?
Posted by on Aug 08, 2007 @ 03:33 PMMick I sincerely hope you do a cull before the new bloggers arrive. This is twisted shite.
Posted by on Aug 08, 2007 @ 03:39 PMparcifal,
Well in the spirit of ‘foot in mouth’ from Mr Shilliday a cull surely would be in order.Is that the height of Ulster Unionist research? Dear, dear, lets hope my local UUP MLA know’s more about benefits, but I doubt it!
Posted by on Aug 08, 2007 @ 03:41 PMI’m not commenting to the merits or not of whether the two individuals should be in receipt of DLA. I was aware that David Hilditch has health problems. I did a little bit of research and was assured that working disability living allowance was means tested, perhaps that was mis information.
I actually meant this to be a broader point on state benefits. As I remember the debate about the Blair’s was that one parent is PM, the other a successful barrister; is it right that those in desperate need of a benefit are treated equally to a family with an income in excess of £100k? Personally I don’t think so. I know people who rely on DLA to live on, and for such people it simply is not enough. Even if we take this away from the individuals involved, is it right that someone who earns, lets say more than 30, 40, 50 thousand can claim DLA, even if they genuinely meet all the medical requirements for the benefit?
Surely the point of the welfare state is to provide for those for whom without the safety net of the state, life would be destitution. At least that is my view of what it should be.
Posted by on Aug 08, 2007 @ 03:48 PM“I actually meant this to be a broader point on state benefits.”
Yeah I’m sure Michael, it’s just so politcized that no one can be arsed taking it for what it is given the comparators you have used to stimulate a debate.
You and the UUP are a right bunch of juvenile and amatuer political strategists.
Posted by on Aug 08, 2007 @ 03:54 PMFairly typical of Michael’s grasping-at-straws criticism of the DUP. He really is a rung or two below the rest of the blog-staff in terms of quality. Mick, get rid of him.
Posted by on Aug 08, 2007 @ 03:55 PMMichael
With the greatest of respect, I dont think you have a full grasp of the benefit system here. Incapacity benefit is what people ‘live on’, and as such it is a means tested benefit, and is also affected by occupational pension.There is no such thing as ‘working DLA’. That is a nonsense. DLA is meant to enable people of all means and none to retain their dignity and mobility when faced with a serious illness. If you were trying to create an environment for a wider debate, I think you need to have all of your facts straight, as this can be an emotive topic.
The rules and regulations on DLA have tightened considerably in the past few years, and it is no longer as abused as it once was. Having said that, I know many people who I feel are entitled to it that are turned down for spurious reasons.
Posted by on Aug 08, 2007 @ 03:57 PMMichael,
All the back-tracking in the world wont change things now. Firstly you were silly to be given reassurance from someone who clearly was talking out of an orifice other than their mouth. Its not that hard to do even the most basic research.I stuck ‘Disability Living Allowance’ into Google, (not the most original search, but remarkably productive) and found in, wait for it, the first result:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/DG_10011731
Maybe that’s beyond the average member of the Cunningham House typing pool, but itself says a lot.
Now on to the point you claim you were making, maybe you do have the basis for debate there, but you just couldn’t resist sticking in a few personal jibes at the same time. You just might have got away with the claim that you were trying to open up a sensible and rational debate if it weren’t for all your other posts which don’t usually revolve too much around high-level debate but are more concerned with blatant UUP glorification or blatant DUP bashing.
Not too difficult now to understand why people would see your latest drivel, sorry post, in the same light.
Posted by on Aug 08, 2007 @ 03:59 PMYou don’t know anyone who depends on DLA to live on because it is not an income replacement benefit. That is the whole point of DLA. It is for a wide range of people with genuine needs which are confirmed on the DLA Form by medical staff, normally a Doctor.
“perhaps that was mis information”
So what, you were wholly wrong and should at the very least alter the post. When you do, you will realise that without that pathetic, misleading and tendentious interpretation there is no substance to your post whatsoever.
Take the honourable way out and admit you got it wrong and potentially damaged innocent individuals. If you want to make points about universal benefits, why don’t you just join Cameron’s Tories.
Posted by on Aug 08, 2007 @ 04:01 PMMichael
Seriously, can you change your use of the term ‘working DLA’. It doesnt exit, and it really makes the whole thing look a little silly.
I spend all of my time on benefits, so please, take this as a genuine piece of knowledgable advice!
Posted by on Aug 08, 2007 @ 04:01 PM“Reading through it you will notice”
Why would anybody want to read through it ?
Did you read it cover to cover for fun? Or did you check it for a specific reason, to muck-sling ?
Posted by on Aug 08, 2007 @ 04:03 PMPerhaps you could point out the personal jibes for me, I don’t see them. If I wanted to point score, I’d have pointed out that they were DUP MLAs, as it happens no other MLAs declared DLA as an interest.
Posted by on Aug 08, 2007 @ 04:03 PMOne correction down Micky boy and your post is still incorrect. Do we not need better quality control of blogs?
Amateur hour stuff this really.
Posted by on Aug 08, 2007 @ 04:05 PM
