DLA / AA Decision Maker - CLOSED - REFERENCE ONLY

Thanatos

Chrysalis wrote: »

Yeah this applied to me, I can walk significantly easier without footwear on than with footwear on. I was told however this doesnt counf and the way I walk without footwear has to be utilised for the assessment. It ignores the fact of life people shouldnt be walking about outside in their socks but it seems that is how the DLA rules work, perhaps they need an update.

I would get them to look at that again, I personally wouldnt expect someone to walk around outdoors with no shoes...

Thanatos

altocumulus wrote: »

Starting only with a blank piece of paper will allow for every eventuality ...

but that would make the assessors' job an awful lot harder ...

Actually, a long time ago we did have forms that were like that, but the customers simply didnt understand what information we were looking for and resulted in us having to go back to them over and over, delaying the whole thing. the current set of forms try to steer you in the right direction, without telling you exactly what to write - kind of like what I am doing here

I think there is room for improvement, but also think they are the best we have had so far...

Welfare rights, CAB and age concern help us by reviewing them too

Thanatos

vivachavez1978 wrote: »

hello all hope all is well,

bascially i have applied for DLA mobility as I cannot walk anywhere as I have severe chronic asthma .

I have a "barrel chest " and am on the strongest forms of steroids/antibiotics and inhalers,
these are so strong that i now have to go for a bone scan to see whether or not this has set off osteoporosis and I have been referred by my GP to the Professor at Sheffield to see what more can be done to help.
basically whenever I set off to go for example as far as from my car to the asda entrance I start wheezing/coughing and an attack is triggered and lo and behold i am back in A & E on the nebulizer.
i do not smoke/drink and take very precaution to stop this happening .

I mentioned all this in my original claim for DLA and in my appeal letter yet i have to go to appeal ?

in the submission they have provided the rules state that if my mobilty is severely restricted i am entitled ?

I have been assessed by my local council who have agreed and have issued me with a blue badge after seeing my meds and my gp's report.

why are they playing hardball with me when my claim is genuine ?
At the moment I have pneumonia yet again and it has knocked me down another notch .
I cannot do half the things I used to eg I cannot use the dryer or have a shower due to the steam.
I am relying on family and friends to help me get thru daily life .

Hi, difficult to say without seeing the entire form and medical evidence, it certainly sounds like you should have got it based on what you have said above - the only thing i can think of is that the medical evidence was not supportive... if thats not the case, then the appeal should sort things out.

Out of curiosity, you dont mention any needs for care in your post - do you have any in addition to the mobility problem?

~Chameleon~

Thanatos wrote: »

Yeah, think i Posted a deal at my local tesco about a year ago and then loads and loads here over the last couple of weeks.

Only figured i would get one or two questions and my PM inbox has filled up I got an email today asking me to empty it! :rotfl:

If you'd been reading the benefits board you'd have noticed that questions about claiming DLA come up quite frequently, so you offering to post advice is like manna from heaven for many, many posters here :A

I did mention in my first post in this thread that I thought you might become overwhelmed by the response but I think you're doing an absolutely amazing job in keeping up and answering everyone :T :T :T



PS I've nominated you for post/thread of the month

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1256411

Thanatos

idbelucky wrote: »

Hi Thanatos, first let me say thank you for being here to answer all our questions. I am 52 and have suffered with rheumatoid arthritis for the last 6 years also I had a heart attack 7 years ago which has left me with angina on exertion. I have recently been awarded low rate care, which I think is a suitable award for my needs at this time. This has been awarded for a indefinite period but the letter also stated that they might contact me from time to time to check whether my award is still correct. My question is how long is it likely to be before they contact me and would I need to fill out a new claim form?
Many thanks in advance.

Finally! an easy question! :rotfl:

You will recieve an annual uprating letter every year explaining the rate you are on have gone up (due to inflation normally) and saying if anything has changed.

The only other time we look at it is if you get randomly selected for the "right payment program" where a tiny % of cases are looked at to check our decision was correct. Tiny tiny chance of getting looked at under this...

Thanatos

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

If you'd been reading the benefits board you'd have noticed that questions about claiming DLA come up quite frequently, so you offering to post advice is like manna from heaven for many, many posters here :A

I did mention in my first post in this thread that I thought you might become overwhelmed by the response but I think you're doing an absolutely amazing job in keeping up and answering everyone :T :T :T

Yeah, 10 days this threads been up (and I was away for half that time) and its become by far the most read thread in the Disability & Dosh forum.

I had no idea there were so many people who had questions.... Nice that I can help - I have pretty much been all take and no give on the forum for the last year and a half, saving loads of cash, and taking advantage of many money making tips - I figured it was about time to give a little back

Gemmzie

Hi Thanatos,
I get low rate care because I have carpal tunnel / RSI / useless left hand so meet the cooking a meal criteria easily.
My award is up in August 09 so I have to do a new form in February 09, right? I'm due to have an operation on my hand which will hopefully fix it sometime next year.
Meanwhile, I've been "diagnosed" with IBS (the I don't know stomach problems diagnosis) and have a question mark over depression/SAD/ME/CFS/thyroid type problems, which mean that I now regularly need help with personal care too.

Do I reapply now with the other symptoms or wait for the renewal? If I leave it, I'm worried it'll look like, oh my wrist should be fixed soon so I'll add some new issues to replace it.

Hope that makes sense

Sueinbirmingham

I am getting very worried about my renewal. They sent it to me months ago. I've been working slowly through it and I've put my answers that go in the big boxes into a word document and it's already over a dozen pages long. I'm worried a DM will get annoyed having to read so much. I've also got about six or seven letters from people that know me, but I can't get hold of my consultant until December. My previous award expires in early February.

I'm going bananas with all this. I just don't seem to feel able to say "that's it, I've done as much as I can".

They've stopped sending me reminders from the DWP and I'm worried there'll be a break in my DLA if I don't get it in soon, but on the other hand, I'm worried that if I send it in too soon and they reduce it, I'll lose money straight away.

Is there anything at all you can say to reassure me?

mcspanna

Thanatos wrote: »

Only figured i would get one or two questions and my PM inbox has filled up I got an email today asking me to empty it! :rotfl:

Hi Thanatos,

Apologies for an OT post on this thread but with regard to your full up PM inbox I just saw this thread and thought of you, I would've PM'ed this if ur inbox wasn't already full! :rotfl:

HTH

mcspanna

vivachavez1978

hi there thanks for the reply,

I have double checked the submission papers from the DWP and on the original form I said I did not have any additional care needs yet this was back in July.

Since then my needs have changed and I do need help in and around my home - should I mention this in my additional evidence that I am going to send in for my Tribunal ?
It has been a long time and a bit of a struggle to come to this ie coming terms with my limits and realising what I cant do anymore, ie I used to love running I really did I know i never will be able to and its no good putting that down on the form - its hard
to put all this downand open up and realise how far down I have fallen you know ?

Another problem may be that when I originally filled my form out my GP was different to the one i now have, my new GP has taken the bull by the horns and does take me seriously !

Basically this condition has affected me for the past four years but has been mismanaged by my GP's, originally was told I was having panic attacks !
I only had a spirometer test last year, this partly is as I have had lung cancer so the gps thought the damage was due to the chemo but now has been recognised as chronic asthma.

Anyway since i have filled the form out I have got a good doctor who i see regularly every week, he has changed my medication and updated/referred me for bone scans for the osteoprosis as we are concerned the amoutn of predesalone I have had over the past few years is too and blood tests/chest x-rays just before I start pyhsio to help reduce the pain.

basically at the moment am on ...

These are Fluxotide 250 mg @ 8 puffs a day/Seravent @ 8 puffs a day /Montilukast @ 1 x10 mg a day/
Lansoprazole 30 mg a day and Ventalin 10 puffs every morning before I get out of bed/through the night and am going through 1 200 doses inhaler every week and I take extra power pain reliever tablets 8 a day for the discomfort in my ribs and under my bust, this helps take the edge of the pain but it is still a terrible discomfort.
Plus doxycline 10 mg for the pneumonia !