DLA / AA Decision Maker - CLOSED - REFERENCE ONLY

pols090607

hi thanatos and thank you firstly for the useful information you've provided so far !

i'm hoping you may be able to give me some advice. I have arthritis and was receiving lower rate care component of dla for two years up to may 07. i then didn't renew my claim form as i was planning a pregnancy and my illness almost disappears during pregnancy. however, after having the baby, i've since now filled out the forms again (jul 08), nothing has changed, if anything i'm worse now yet i have been told i'm not entitled to anything.

i phoned up as i was very upset and they've now sent me an appeal form. i just don't know what to do ? how can it be possible to receive a benefit for 2 years then all of a sudden i'm not entitled to it ?

has not claiming last year had an adverse affect on me ?

they have received written reports from my doctor and consultant too.

any advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks in advance x

harveysmummy_2

Hi there!

I have Multiple Sclerosis (dx in 2005 officially but problems since 2003)

I have continued working all the way through up until May 2007 when I suffered a bad relapse and was unable to even hold a pencil and because I was still on a 3 month new starter probation at my admin job I decided that it would be better if I left to get better.

I recovered almost completely from that relapse but it took almost a year to get there, I tried to get a job lots of times but as soon as they asked why I had been out of work for a year and MS was mentioned it was very much 'Thanks but no thanks'!!

Anyway in Aug this year I started having symptoms again (tingling, numbness, visual problems, balance problems) and then in the last 4 weeks my legs have become very week forcing me to now use a stick for walking. Another relapse!!

I have been on Incapacity since I stopped work in 2007 but a few people have advised me to apply for DLA. I cant have a shower, lift my 5 year old son out of the bath, pour a full kettle or walk up the 2 flights of stairs to my flat without my partner being her due to poor balance, numb legs and poor grip!

I would be very interested to hear your thoughts

Many thanks

Mel

altocumulus

Thanatos wrote: »

Never tried it to be honest, although I must admit I prefer the paper based ones - the questions in the online versions are in a different order and generally dont have as much detail.

That said, I know all forms (both electronic and paper based) are being worked on to make them easier to use

Oh, they're very easy to use...

Please give as much detail of your condition (maximum 500 CHARACTERS).....[or similar].

Now if only the forms would not be so tempermental...

~Chameleon~

Thanatos wrote: »

That said, I know all forms (both electronic and paper based) are being worked on to make them easier to use

Will they become more user friendly for people writing about MH problems? Until now they seem to be more focused on physical problems, hence why, as mentioned above, I struggle to make my answers fit the boxes available

Point taken about adding in extra sheets to make it easier to read though

globbits

A public and grateful 'THANK YOU' to Thanatos, for a quick and thorough answer to my query. :beer:

Thanatos

pols090607 wrote: »

hi thanatos and thank you firstly for the useful information you've provided so far !

i'm hoping you may be able to give me some advice. I have arthritis and was receiving lower rate care component of dla for two years up to may 07. i then didn't renew my claim form as i was planning a pregnancy and my illness almost disappears during pregnancy. however, after having the baby, i've since now filled out the forms again (jul 08), nothing has changed, if anything i'm worse now yet i have been told i'm not entitled to anything.

i phoned up as i was very upset and they've now sent me an appeal form. i just don't know what to do ? how can it be possible to receive a benefit for 2 years then all of a sudden i'm not entitled to it ?

has not claiming last year had an adverse affect on me ?

they have received written reports from my doctor and consultant too.

any advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks in advance x

Ok, firstly the fact you didn't claim for a year will have nothing to do with it, that said its hard to know what did cause this to happen - it could simply be a difference of opinion, with the current DM disagreeing you need the help, or the medical reports may not have been as supportive as you had hoped - Doctors are notorious for not completing these forms properly...

I suggest continuing with the appeal based on the fact over 50% of all claims are overturned at appeal. Also try to come up with any supportive medical evidence you can to present to the appeal board.

Hope it works out for you!

Thanatos

harveysmummy wrote: »

Hi there!

I have Multiple Sclerosis (dx in 2005 officially but problems since 2003)

I have continued working all the way through up until May 2007 when I suffered a bad relapse and was unable to even hold a pencil and because I was still on a 3 month new starter probation at my admin job I decided that it would be better if I left to get better.

I recovered almost completely from that relapse but it took almost a year to get there, I tried to get a job lots of times but as soon as they asked why I had been out of work for a year and MS was mentioned it was very much 'Thanks but no thanks'!!

Anyway in Aug this year I started having symptoms again (tingling, numbness, visual problems, balance problems) and then in the last 4 weeks my legs have become very week forcing me to now use a stick for walking. Another relapse!!

I have been on Incapacity since I stopped work in 2007 but a few people have advised me to apply for DLA. I cant have a shower, lift my 5 year old son out of the bath, pour a full kettle or walk up the 2 flights of stairs to my flat without my partner being her due to poor balance, numb legs and poor grip!

I would be very interested to hear your thoughts

Many thanks

Mel

Hi, I answered a question in post #172 of this thread regarding relapsing MS - it pretty much applies in your case too:

Relapsiong and remitting MS is really hard to make an accurate decision on. I would suggest using the boxes on the form and the spaces next to the boxes to report both sides of the coin (the good and bad preiods)

Explain as much as possible the variations you have. We are familiar with the condition, so they will be aware of the fact it is subject to short to mid term fluctuations. They just need to know how often and how long. (hard I know!)

Definitely worth putting a claim in though - the worst that can happen is they say no and you lose nothing

Thanatos

altocumulus wrote: »

Oh, they're very easy to use...

Please give as much detail of your condition (maximum 500 CHARACTERS).....[or similar].

Now if only the forms would not be so tempermental...

Sorry!

Thanatos

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

Will they become more user friendly for people writing about MH problems? Until now they seem to be more focused on physical problems, hence why, as mentioned above, I struggle to make my answers fit the boxes available

Point taken about adding in extra sheets to make it easier to read though

To be honest, I am not important enough to be told specifically what they are doing, but I know they have been looking at mental health for a long time...

What I do know is, that the forms are almost constantly reviewed and trials take place all the time with feedback from those customers involved in the trials taken into account.


They are better than they were, but trying to create a form that covers every concievable problem for ever concievable condition is virtually impossible...

TheWhiteButterfly

Thanatos wrote: »

Ok, I split this one in two

If you have had four letters saying we are approaching various people, it can only mean one thing - no one is responding to us or they are sending us wishy washey "I dont know" responces. I would suggest asking DLA for copies of all medical reports they have recieved back and ask which ones they havent. Then phone up whichever doctors hasnt responded and give them hell. (I wish we were allowed!!!)




A supersession is a decision that superseeds the previous decision (eg a new one that replaces the old one). Renewals that show the condition has got better or worse may be converted to supersession decisions rather than staying as renewals.

and yes, send in all the extra information!

your a star thankyou thanatos, what i did today was phoned dla up and spoke to a lovely lady who was getting annoyed at the banging at the background lol, think they were having work done in the offices lmao, anyhow i spoke to her about the additional stuff/people i had and she kindly took names and addresses down, she said that she was suprised i had not been awarded/not awarded yet as it had been 15 weeks, but she did say that if i was awarded it was going to be backdated so if i didnt mind waiting and i did get awarded i would have a lovely sum of money which she expected would help out enourmously which it would, just thought never asked the nice lady if i wasnt awarded and i went for an appeal and won would it still be from the first date which is 1st august?

didnt know i could requested copies of reports from various people think i will ask for that on monday cos that would make life easier for dla if i chase these people up, and i think i will also if im allowed to, is get my new physios to do a report for me and my Psychiatrist and my doctor who is heavily involved and from the start to do a letter too, that would help dla very much if i can do that cos i have to admit it must be a right pain to ask for various reports only to not get these back very quickly.

thanks again thanatos for your reply you have helped me very much.