Applying for things

Sandra7

Hi everyone, I want to know how others deal with the challenges of applying for for what they should be entitled to? Maybe I find is especially hard because I have Dyslexia, but even so, surely it shouldn’t be as hard as it is for genuine disabled people. After spending so much of my time over the last two years applying for things, for our daughter I can’t help but feel that something more should be done to protect those who find form filling difficult. Citizens Advice used to be a good go to place, but it is becoming impossible to get an appointment. Not everyone has family or friends to advocate for them. I’m sure this has been said many times in many ways. As for gathering up to date evidence for people with Chronic illnesses or disabilities that are not being seen regularly by specialist because nothing further that can be done medically, surely there could be a central official data base that is updated when things change in this age of technology. It’s hard enough coping with a disability without dealing with bureaucracy on top. I know lots of people are worrying about potential changes to PIP but it seems to me that many people are already being denied benefits by the system.

Rachel_Scope

Hi @Sandra7.

I completely agree that it is difficult to apply for benefits you're entitled to. I receive PIP and found the whole process quite stressful when having to gather evidence, especially as I rarely see my specialist and she has no idea what I'm like day to day. I was lucky enough to have a supportive family who helped me through the anxiety but it must be so difficult if you don't have a support network. The idea of a central database would be amazing, but I think that's something we can only dream of unfortunately.

Sandra7

Hi Rachel, I was so pleased to hear that you had a supportive family to help you through the anxiety of PIP. It’s such a tough process for those who need the extra support that PIP provides. I’ve always dreamed of a society that considered what was best for those with disabilities rather putting individual budgets first. We need more neurodiverse people making decisions about the way our society supports one another, especially in this day and age of tick boxes. Change is a very slow process. I suppose we have to keep believing change is possible. Scope is such a positive force supporting people

Jimm_Scope

That is one of the reasons we believe that disabled people should be better represented in the workforce. Because they have actual experience of what it is like. I think it can be difficult for someone who is not disabled to really fully understand what it's like to be disabled.