Advice on filling in Form for DLA please

Careful_with_that_Axe · 10 January 2008 at 3:22PM

I have a very complex medical condition where I have constant pain, mobility problems and am unable to carry out any "normal" tasks, i.e. shopping, housework, preparing meals and have been advised I may be eligible for DLA. I live alone and currently get great support from my Father, but he's in his 80's and I don't want him to have to continue to near the burden of my care

I have attempted to fill in the paper form, but cannot write for long enough - similar problem with on-line form. I also want to maximise my chances of succeeding in claiming and am unsure where to go for help with this.

I know Help The Aged have previously offered this service, but I'm only in my 40's even thought I feel and look aged!!

Any advice would really be welcomed please, but be gentle with me as I'm a virgin Poster :hello: although have been viewing site for ages.

mary43 · 10 January 2008 at 3:28PM

If you can get to a CAB office theyre very good at helping with these sort of things.
Only advice I can really give is that if you do manage to complete it yourself do it as if every day was a really bad day for you. Also, if they refuse you at first, ask them to review it. Sometimes this can make a difference to their decision.
Good luck. I've had to do one myself in the past and they're not the easiest of forms.

wornoutmumoftwo · 10 January 2008 at 3:30PM

A friend of mine was applying for her child and the social worker filled the entire form out.

hm71_2 · 10 January 2008 at 3:38PM

you can save online applications and go back to them if that helps- the best way to fill it in is to be honest- don't hold back- my friends mum a very proud woman didn't tell them a lot of her probs as "she didn't think it was important" so was not awarded. when the CAB helped her filling in all the facts she was accepted. so best advise be honest about everything regardless of how irrelevant you think it is.

wornoutmumoftwo · 10 January 2008 at 3:44PM

I've just filled in mine for my son (5) as he has Autistic spectrum disorder, and one of the things I was told is to not be positive about anything, write down all your worse case scenarios, and if it fails apeal.

There is a thread on here somewhere about DLA going to go find it now as the experts are on there. No, it was the Autistic spectrum theard I was thinking about sorry.

Poppycat · 10 January 2008 at 4:02PM

We went to the local disability action group (DAG) for help in filling in DLA after being turned down twice before in 2 separate applications

Careful_with_that_Axe · 10 January 2008 at 5:47PM

Many thanks for the advice so far - very useful. I do find it difficult to focus solely on the negative as it get's quite depressing when you immerse yourself in it! Had a medical yesterday for IB and, although doc was really sympathetic and understood the depth of my problems, it takes its toll on me emotionally as I try so hard not to adopt a "victim" mentality. Doc was brilliant though pointing out that even though I said I managed to wash my hair with difficulty that actually I couldn't do it and that he was going to put that down! Hope that gives something positive to those worrying about medicals for IB.
wornoutmumoftwo - I feel for you. My Nephew is at the severe end of the Autistic Spectrum so I have some knoweledge of how difficult it can be for Mums in this situation.

cattie · 10 January 2008 at 8:10PM

As far as DWP & claiming dla is concerned, housework is not one of the criteria for claiming & shopping isn't considered that important so don't focus too much on not being able to do these things & needing help with them.

Spend more time on your actual care & mobility needs & mention the shopping in the section where it asks what you would do if you had the help you needed, along with other things you'd like to be able to do with help.

spendaholicleo · 10 January 2008 at 8:17PM

Hi
I work for the jobcentre and the best thing when you are filling in this form is to complete it with the feelings of when you are at your worst and not being a martyr that you can do things......writing down almost everything..there was a time when the staff at the jobcentre could help and I was the queen of filling them in...unfortunately this is not the case now but Social Services or make an appt to see the Disability Employment Adviser at the job centre.......they are fab and can signpost you to all sorts of helpful people.....good luckx

seggy1 · 10 January 2008 at 8:27PM

hello we have a wefare rights dept in great yarmouth there are brilliant good luck never try to fill these forms out yourself to complicated for the average person arthur

Poppycat · 11 January 2008 at 2:50AM

When we were assessed in Dec 2007 for an appeal we were asked how the disability effects our daughter. TBH I forgot just how extensive it is sometimes

IE she has difficulty walking, balance, swallowing, gripping items.

Perhaps its best making a list of how the disability effects you before writing it all down.

Advice on filling in Form for DLA please

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