"@paullewismoney: I have just published my blog 'Benefits and the F word' here http://paullewismoney.blogspot.com/2012/02/benefits-and-f-word.html

My thoughts:

What most people don't realise is that in order to be "officially" recognised as Disabled you *must* be in receipt of DLA. Without it, it is impossible to get much needed help and support - even something as basic as a blue Badge, utility bill discount or motability car. The various programmes that exist are also run along the same tiers used by the DWP - ie, lower, middle & high rate for both care and mobility. If you don't get higher rate of mobility or care, youre out of luck. This was my experience after becoming disabled a few years ago and using my savings, post-redundancy to fund my needs. Once that money was gone and I needed help, only then did I begin the arduous process of claiming benefits to try and keep going while I aimed for self-employment.

Were DLA not the determiner for access to services etc, I would say it is a moral issue for wealthy people like this man or David Cameron - and given the difficulties of those without such financial comfort in trying to meet the most basic of needs, the wealthy should bear the costs of their needs as long as they are financially able to do so.

Yet again - the system that is at the heart of the problem even more than any one person's sense of "entitlement".

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