DLA Claim Form Example - Rheumatoid Arthritis

2

Comments

  • Actually though, forms don't have to backed up by medical professions and people lying on claim forms is unfortunately rife, which spoils it for the genuine people.

    I too though agree that whilst it's helpful to advise about the amount of information to put on the form, the verbatim listing of what one person suffers is not to be recommended and will ultimately make decision makers even more sceptical. 1000 people may have the illness and all be affected in different ways. You should put on the form how it affects YOU, not anyone else
    Sitting on a cornflake, waiting for the van to come!
  • What a fabulous post as it shows that it is not the diagnosis but the NEEDS of the person and how it affects their day to day living is what is required to be shown on a DLA application
    Blackpool_Saver is female, and does not live in Blackpool

  • I don't see how that's a post to describe how to fill in a form for specifically RA, it is a good example that people could apply to their own lives though - that all seems very relevant to one person. it's easy to misundrstand when you say detail quite how much you have to repeat yourself, reiterate what you mean and then say it again, and how blunt you have to be about how you feel (especailly when most of us spend our lives down playing everything to make life bearable - it's a total culture shock filling out these forms and actually telling the truth - and can be quite upsetting when you actually admit quite how much of a life you no longer have)

    They do take into account what your medical professionals say. I had a form filled out by a welfare rights worker - I was turned down (for HRM) becasue all my GP could be bothered to write was rhumatic right shoulder (I have hypermobility syndrome!) - when I have a hip that constantly subluxes and I have to use a whelchair outside. They didn't contact my consultant, specialist or phisio so there was no evidence to support me.

    You can't just write what you want on the form and have them believe it - if someone did that but was taking no medication or only saw their GP and not a consultant it would be seen immidiatly. You can't fake RA anyway, there are blood tests for it - now what I have - that you can fake as long as you are bendy (though the joints poping in and out is a little harder to do :rolleyes:)- which is I think why they were more stringent with me.

    By the way - I have a second hand motorised chair - it was my life saver, it cost around £1000 but I pay for it with the HRM. It takes away worry of falls and helps a little with pain levels. They can use different controls, you do have to be able to use a joystick action though, so maybe this wouldn't suit your friend. With HRM you get a free bus pass and the motorised wheelchairs can go on busses - no worries of being bumped into or falling over - she may still need someone with her but it doesn't half give you a sense of independance back - my MH improved dramatically once I could choose the direction I was headed in (and so did my pain levels becasue its so much more supportive thant the manual wheelchairs are). As you can tell I love it.
  • KrazyKel
    KrazyKel Posts: 492 Forumite
    Thanks for posting this, I had my renewal pack a few weeks ago and was trying to find my old forms out, we got help from A4U (Or Something) with all the forms last time and wanted to try and use my old ones to help with my renewal (But couldnt find them)
    I got High Mobility and Middle Care last time, and also things havent changed - apart from new tablets / more physio
    Make £10 a day Challenge June - £170
  • Molly41
    Molly41 Posts: 4,919
    First Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic First Post
    Forumite
    The_walrus wrote: »
    Actually though, forms don't have to backed up by medical professions and people lying on claim forms is unfortunately rife, which spoils it for the genuine people.

    Having just completed and been awarded DLA I would say that my claim was rigourously assessed and was backed up by lots of medical professionals. In fact my claim was delayed waiting for consultant and GP to get back to DWP. I also sent in reports from OT and physio. I dont think claims go through without medical support be that of your own GP or the DWP medical examiners.
    I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.
    Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
    I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over and through me. When it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
    When the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
  • Thanks for posting this. I wish I'd have seen something like this before my dla form was sent in as don't think I'd put enough details in my renewal, although it was pretty much the same as my 1st claim. My renewal isn't going as hoped though as my gp has been a little unhelpful this time :-)
    O
  • zaksmum
    zaksmum Posts: 5,529
    First Post First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    It's always important to describe how your illness or disability affects you, not just the condition itself. As the OP highlighted, just a few words in reply to each question really isn't enough.

    Someone who's suffered an amputation, for example, can manage perfectly well afterwards with very little pain or restriction, whereas another person with arthritis can be as good as crippled. On the face of it, the amputee would be much more disabled, but that can be far from the case.

    You need to stress how limited your daily living is by your condition, emphasise how bad the pain is and it's effect on normal activities. Or tell them how it stops you sleeping, depresses you, makes you dependent on others, and explain exactly how this happens.

    If your condition isn't physical, say how anxious you can be or how afraid to leave the house or whatever it is. The key to a successful claim is to ensure the decision maker gets the full picture and understands what you are suffering.
  • System
    System Posts: 178,077
    Photogenic Name Dropper First Post
    Community Admin
    edited 11 August 2009 at 1:07PM
    I wish i could fins this kind of guidance for filling in my claim for depression/bpd. as it is i've hit a brick wall. some people say describe asyour worst day. others say don't. but its so unpredictable. one day i can be ok the next i'm trying to kill myself. sorry this is kind of hijacking the thread. i can't do it. i tried asking CAB but they said to book and appointment and they are backed up by weeks. and in the jobcenter the women didn't seem to have a clue.

    i think what i'm trying to say is good on you for posting it :)

    edit: im an idiot for not reading the original post properly, reading the bit on MH feels liek im reading it about myself
  • Gemmzie
    Gemmzie Posts: 14,876 Forumite
    Hi messedup, have you tried MIND in your local area? They are mental health and very good at DLA forms. I struggle to fill mine in regarding depression / SAD so I know how you feel. Please keep trying with the CAB too. Oh and if you're under 25, try contacting your local council as they should provide an Advice and Guidance service who may be able to help.
    No longer using this account for new posts from 2013
  • We helped our son and his girlfriend fill in her application for DLA over the phone as she had left it too late to ask for professional help. She had a report/diagnosis from an Educational Psychologist from when she was at Uni. My son's girlfriend took a photocopy of this and we referred to it when answering the questions, highlighting the appropriate part of the report, and adding more when necessary. She then included this annotated copy with her application.

    I agree with a previous poster, tell it all and then more. Answer truthfully, but don't assume they know anything about your condition. Explain everything - why you can't do a certain thing, and/or how long it takes you. If you appear to be repeating yourself, then do so!

    I agree the OP is an excellent example of how to do it.

    (My son's girlfriend was awarded LRC and LRM, which is what we expected her to get).
    (AKA HRH_MUngo)
    Member #10 of £2 savers club
    Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is the Book of British Birds, and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology: Terry Eagleton
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 342.5K Banking & Borrowing
  • 249.9K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 449.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 234.6K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 607.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 172.8K Life & Family
  • 247.4K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 15.8K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards