DLA questions

Minerva69

gemmalouanna wrote: »

I think that because you can physically do these things you would not be entitled to the care component. Does your doctors evidence back up you not doing these things for yourself?

You can get the care component even if technically you are physically able to cook a meal. My OH has severe long-term mental health problems but he gets the care component as he would not eat anything if a meal was not made for him. I have to do everything for him and have done for years. DLA isn't just for people with physical disabilities.

Mrs Kelly - I would suggest you go and get advice about claiming benefits from the CAB, they will even help you fill in the forms. It sounds ludicrous to me that your OH didn't get anything.

MrsKelly_2

Minerva69 wrote: »

You can get the care component even if technically you are physically able to cook a meal. My OH has severe long-term mental health problems but he gets the care component as he would not eat anything if a meal was not made for him. I have to do everything for him and have done for years. DLA isn't just for people with physical disabilities.

Mrs Kelly - I would suggest you go and get advice about claiming benefits from the CAB, they will even help you fill in the forms. It sounds ludicrous to me that your OH didn't get anything.

CAB aren't much use they themselves said OH should get higher rate mobility and middle care but he got nothing and they said they can't do anything as no law was broken.

As for the people not having to have physical disabilities i did not dispute this i simply said there are people with those disabilities that don't even get what the OP does get, i know many people who get DLA for depression but my OH hasn't got depression he has 2 physical painful disabilities yet gets nothing.

As you say about your OH he would not eat if a meal was not cooked for him therefore he gets DLA, my OH cannot eat if it isnt made for him because he simply cannot do it, he cannot prepare or cook a meal, he can barely even stand most days without falling. I was not trying to say that mental illness is less important than a physical disability i just made the point that the OP gets mobility without having a physical disability and should be thankful because a lot of people don't even get that because the system is a shambles!

Minerva69

MrsKelly wrote: »

CAB aren't much use they themselves said OH should get higher rate mobility and middle care but he got nothing and they said they can't do anything as no law was broken.

I know someone who volunteers for the CAB, which is why I suggested going to see them, I didn't realise you'd already been. I've just spoken to my friend, who says that you should have got a letter giving the reasons why your DLA application was turned down. He said if you take that letter with you back to the CAB, an adviser will help you to make a written appeal. I'm only trying to help, do you think it's worth a try?

MrsKelly_2

Minerva69 wrote: »

I know someone who volunteers for the CAB, which is why I suggested going to see them, I didn't realise you'd already been. I've just spoken to my friend, who says that you should have got a letter giving the reasons why your DLA application was turned down. He said if you take that letter with you back to the CAB, an adviser will help you to make a written appeal. I'm only trying to help, do you think it's worth a try?

Yes we did get the statement of reasons from DLA but CAB advised us we could only appeal if the decision was illegal, not if it was wrong. The advisor seemed to think no laws were broken and we have to reapply, she didn't think that the Doctor on the day thinking Meniere's disease was a swelling of the leg and not an inner ear disease was an issue, nor the fact that they completely ignored all of the medical evidence but thanks for trying to help.

I don't think there is a lot that can be done about it now apart from trying again but our CAB advisor really didn't help us much at all she was a very rude lady, why she did a job that is meant to help people i do not know

SuziQ

My son gets lower rate mobility (he is autisitic) not because he has a mobility problem but because he needs constant supervision when out and about especially in new places.

MrsKelly have you tried getting advice from the support groups/associations for your husbands condition? They may be able to advise you the best way to fill out the form if you reapply. I got this sort of advice when applying from my son-I would never have known how to word things on the application form without the help of CEREBRA,and I know someone else on here who has won an appeal for DLA after getting their advice. Obviously CEREBRA doesn't cover your husbands condition but I am just using them as an example.It's shocking but unfortunately not all that uncommon for people to be faced in a medical by a doctor who doesn't know anything about or understand their condtion!

gemmalouanna

Minerva69 wrote: »

You can get the care component even if technically you are physically able to cook a meal. My OH has severe long-term mental health problems but he gets the care component as he would not eat anything if a meal was not made for him. I have to do everything for him and have done for years. DLA isn't just for people with physical disabilities.

Mrs Kelly - I would suggest you go and get advice about claiming benefits from the CAB, they will even help you fill in the forms. It sounds ludicrous to me that your OH didn't get anything.

Yes you are quite right this is the case when mental health issues are involved but is that the case here thats what I was meaning

krisskross

Menieres is nasty. My husband has it, he has been accused of being drunk because he has fallen over in the street. Luckily his is now fairly well controlled but does still flare up. He can't get out of the chair to go down the hall to the toilet without clinging onto the wall when it is bad.

My brother also has Menieres, doctor wasn't terribly interested until he fell over and fractured his femur. He did get DLA for a wee while after the surgery to pin and plate his bone.

MrsKelly_2

krisskross wrote: »

Menieres is nasty. My husband has it, he has been accused of being drunk because he has fallen over in the street. Luckily his is now fairly well controlled but does still flare up. He can't get out of the chair to go down the hall to the toilet without clinging onto the wall when it is bad.

My brother also has Menieres, doctor wasn't terribly interested until he fell over and fractured his femur. He did get DLA for a wee while after the surgery to pin and plate his bone.

Hi, My Husband doesn't have flare ups unfortunately it is constant and always has been no medication is working for him and he has tried a few, he has had this for 2 years now and his consultant still doesn't know what to do other than see him every 4/6 weeks and hope something helps. Thanks for the reply.

When he was first diagnosed our GP said a man getting Meniere's was nonsense it was middle aged women that got it, and he believes menieres is just an excuse to be ill for the rest of your life. Needless to say we changed GP straight away! Hopefully he may experience it first hand himself one day and realise nobody wants to be ill like that!

krisskross

MrsKelly wrote: »

Hi, My Husband doesn't have flare ups unfortunately it is constant and always has been no medication is working for him and he has tried a few, he has had this for 2 years now and his consultant still doesn't know what to do other than see him every 4/6 weeks and hope something helps. Thanks for the reply.

When he was first diagnosed our GP said a man getting Meniere's was nonsense it was middle aged women that got it, and he believes menieres is just an excuse to be ill for the rest of your life. Needless to say we changed GP straight away! Hopefully he may experience it first hand himself one day and realise nobody wants to be ill like that!

I really feel for him and you, I have seen my husband so very sick and dizzy, glad something worked for him.

Just a thought about the DLA. Try again and stress the danger both day and night for someone with constant dizziness. I bet you wake up if he gets up in the night etc. Did his consultant write a supporting letter? Unfortunately you have to know HOW to apply for this help.

MrsKelly_2

krisskross wrote: »

I really feel for him and you, I have seen my husband so very sick and dizzy, glad something worked for him.

Just a thought about the DLA. Try again and stress the danger both day and night for someone with constant dizziness. I bet you wake up if he gets up in the night etc. Did his consultant write a supporting letter? Unfortunately you have to know HOW to apply for this help.

I know this is the trouble, how to apply for it. I am going to try again its just very hard as i have to fill all the forms in and look after OH and my DD all at the same time, its not just the Meniere's its the combined hip disease for which he did get DLA his Mum always claimed it but he knew nothing of it didn't even know what it was until last year! He doesn't move day or night unless i am there because he just can't stop himself falling, the falls seem to be getting worse! Hopefully they will find something that works for him and i'm glad something works for your OH.