Skills response is very interesting to DLA etc .
I wonder how they view the supply of a vehicle or funding fro a vehicle under DLA?. What should the DSA pay for in such circumstances where the student has a DLA vehicle. The DLA covers the cost of the car, Insurances, road tax AND maintenance. Should DSA pay for the fuel alone, if so how should that be calculated? Does a disabled person drive more or less economically than an able bodied person?
It still seems to me that funds have already been made available for travel whether it's in the shape of a car or an allownace if chosen to be received in that form.
I make these observations from the point of view that the majority of assessments I do will be affected by this. My time is spent undertaking DSA assessments and Access To Work Assessments, two very different activities but still comparable. The truth of the matter is that the Access to Work assessment is more cost effective in terms of delivering results than the DSA probably because the governing body is acting from a position of understanding and knowledge. Before I am critised for being biased and uncaring I can also talk from the other side of the coin where a familly member is in reciept of DLA and from that point of view I believe the allowances are generous and as the DLA may confirm over-exploited already.
I am deeply concerned that we are viewing these funds as Cash Cows, just waiting to be milked to support our own needs. Is there an element of the more that can be claimed in the way of support the more we as a group become justified?. I have raised questions before about the spiraling cost of support, not based on need but based on the perception of need justified by the introduction of technology alone.
I believe we have a responsibility not only to the disabled but also to the tax payers of the country, and as such we need to be seen to be fair and even in our actions.
Am I the only one with such concerns?
I suspect I may have ruined a few holidays with my observations but they are made with genuine concern.
Terry Hart
UOP
-----Original Message-----
From: disforum [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tue 16/12/2003 14:21
To: [log in to unmask]
Cc:
Subject: Re: DSAs & DLA (mobility)
Sue
Skill has had a query about this and is discussing the issue with the DfES.
Skill's view is that these are separate costs - one for living and one for study. Travel for going to study becomes a cost in addition to the travel for living cost, so the DLA should not be considered for the purposes of assessing DSA travel.
We'll let you know response from the DfES.
Best wishes and happy holidays too!
Dee Juneja
Information and Research Worker
Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities
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-----Original Message-----
From: Sue Green [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 16 December 2003 13:44
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: DSAs & DLA (mobility)
Has anyone else had an LEA asking for evidence that a student has applied
for DLA (mobility component) before they agree to pay transport costs? We're
not sure at this stage if it's designed so the LEA can satisfy themselves
there is a need (which surely would already have been addressed in the needs
assessment) or, more cynically, so the LEA can say the DLA should pay for
travel.
Happy Holidays!
Sue
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