How long have I got DLA for?

almar_2

How long is DLA awarded for?

many thanks

almar

Marg

When you claim DLA the person who decides your claim looks at all the evidence before them, taking into account your diagnosis, how much help you need etc. If you are awarded it they tell you in the letter how long it is for.

Presumably, when you made the renewal claim the person who looked at the evidence decided you were still entitled and you should have been told how long it had been awarded for. I guess from what you say they have awarded it for life.

If you are not sure how long it's for & can't find the letter they sent you last time, ask them to send you another notification letter which should clearly state how long it's awarded for. They always have the right to look at your claim again if they have reason to think there has been a change.

Don't worry, they don't usually suddenly take it off you without giving you the chance to put your case and to the best of my knowledge they have to explain in a very detailed way why they have stopped it and you should have appeal rights as well.

That said, if you are in any doubt whatsoever & think that your needs have got less (apart from the occassional 'good day') you are honour bound to tell them and ask for your claim to be looked at again.

Hope all this helps you.

I just wonder what has caused you to ask the question now?

scooby1001

Nobody gets DLA for life anymore they say indefinatly(which is what i have got) in the 5 years i have been getting it it has been reviewed twice causing a lot of stress. On the 3rd one this year i asked why if i had a indefinate award they kept reviewing it as i found it more stressful having a idefinate award and never knowing when a letter is going to fall on my mat saying they are looking at it again than to have an fixed award which means they won't look at it again until the award ends. Anyway the nice man said that he was going to say that as i have had my disability for 30 years and after 3 reviews nothing has changed they should not review it again. We shall see. I sometimes think an indefinate award is more of a curse than a blessing.

[Deleted User]

As has been said there are NO permanent awards now,if your decison letter has no end date then its an indefinite award,these can be reviewed anytime after 12 months under whats now know as RPP (right payment process)about 1% of claims are reviewed each year under RPP,which is around 27,000 cases,and even then its usually where they expect your needs to have changed.But under normal circumstances DLA will never just be stopped.

SuziQ

My son's was awarded for 3 years,am I right in thinking they can still review any time they want though?

healy

SuziQ wrote: »

My son's was awarded for 3 years,am I right in thinking they can still review any time they want though?

Unless they are informed of a change it should not be reviewed before the usual renewal process.

SuziQ

Thanks healy. I only ask,as he was awarded it some years ago before his diagnosis and the award said 3 years then,but after 10 months they reviewed and he lost it. I think he should have had the award all along but couldn't face the fight at the time as we were going through the mill with hospitalls,assessments etc plus I was ill myself. I think the reason he didn't get it when I submitted forms the second time was I didn't do a great job being ill myslef and I didn't submit any reports from any experts. I just hope he recieves it long enought to make some progress with the therapy the DLA pays for,I hate to think of having to cancel it,however he was only awarded in July this year so I think I need to take a chill-pill!

healy

I am surprised they reviewed it after 10 months, maybe it was a random check they were doing back then, but it seems a bit odd.

SuziQ

healy wrote: »

I am surprised they reviewed it after 10 months, maybe it was a random check they were doing back then, but it seems a bit odd.

Thanks once again healy.

I need to stop worrying about it,be thankful he has it at the moment and just deal with it if they review!

[Deleted User]

SuziQ wrote: »

My son's was awarded for 3 years,am I right in thinking they can still review any time they want though?

A fixed term award isnt usually reviewed before it ends,unless theres a change in needs,you will however receive the renewal forms 6 months before the end of the 3 years,always a good idea to keep a copy of each claim