DLA / AA Decision Maker - CLOSED - REFERENCE ONLY

Thanatos

CatherineS wrote: »

Hello again Thanatos!
Thanks again for all your help and advice, I have now completed my DLA application form (I was the one early on this thread who has Multiple Sclerosis) - OMG that was a gruelling and depressing task and I only just managed to send it off in time before the deadline (sent it recorded delivery though to be sure it got there in time).

I have just one further question:
Are you given some sort of "quota" as to the number of claims you can award within a period? I ask this because a couple of years ago my father had to go into care and we had huge problems getting his care home fees funded because social services were "running out of budget", so each week his case was put to the review panel until eventually he was accepted. Does anything like this apply with DLA?

Thanking you in advance (I won't thank you again after your reply, this thread is already long enough - but I do really appreciate all the time you are spending replying to our questions :T )

Absolutly no way ever are we given a quota for the number of claims we are allowed to accept. If you qualify, you qualify no matter how many have qualified before you.

Local councils are limited by the fact they adminstrate their own budgets (income from council tax etc Vs outgoings) Central government has no such limitations - by the same token, there is no quota on the number of people allowed to claim Job Seekers.

Thanatos

tightperson wrote: »

Hi there, I am interested to know what Thanatos says to this one as my wife has just had her award through and we were expecting/hoping for LRM & LRC but all she got was LRC.

My my wifes walking was judged to be 100m in 2 minutes, in dicomfort from the start, severe discomfort after 100m then needs to sit, walking crookedly to one side due to severe scoliosis. If that's anything to go by you might not even get LRM.

Yeah, pretty much the same answer for you - the walking crookedly to one side sounds like a significant gait issue though...

Thanatos

maytaurus wrote: »

A very big thank you for your time in this thread Thanatos :A

I wondered if you have any knowledge of people appealing an appeal tribunal decision for refused DLA ? :beer:
I am seeing someone this week with a view to doing this.
Someone on the benefits enquiry line told me that
''it was most unusual for an appeal to be made against an Appeal Tribunal decision and very rare for anyone to meet the criteria in order to do so.''
Obviously this has been an ongoing process & I have had nearly 300 pages sent to me by the Appeal people & there's know way I can go through it all, I'm just not well enough.
Briefly ......
I had a letter of support from my GP and a letter of support from
The Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery and another from
The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital, which also included information about my diagnosis, health and the way affects me and they even enclosed a copy of the
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
guideline on diagnosis and management of the conditions I have, asking for the decision makers to read them.
The DWP told me to claim DLA in 2002, but I didn't as I thought I'd get better.
Then after 7yrs of tests/diagnosis etc ,I put in a claim in October 2007
I have obviously been refused at every level to get where I am now and it's a daunting/frustrating situation to be in, but my principals say I should try one last time, rather than just put a new claim in, as I am very genuine and honest.
I don't know if I could cope with it though, if it's really so difficult, as the last 12 months have been really hard & made my health even worse.

This is the link for people who would like to view their own specific health topic

http://www.nice.org.uk/Guidance/Topic

22 Oct 2008
NICE issues guidance on treating chronic pain

To all of you struggling with health problems and red tape ..........

JUST KEEP SWIMMING !!

I dont really deal much with appeals, so can't really comment as wouldnt want to give you the wrong advice.

I do know a number of comminsioner decisions essentailly give descriptions of what a word means - you can find many of those descriptions in the openng post in this thread. Wether thats because it was an error in law by a tribunal or not though I have no idea - sorry!

SandraScarlett

Thanatos wrote: »

Another impossible to answer - as we dont control the appeal tribunal schedules (they are independent from us).

Once you have recieved the paperwork, our part (is pretty much) finished and we have submitted to both you and the tribunal.

It's all gone through thanks. You're doing a brilliant job on here, and must be helping so many people who don't actually ask for advice, but read a question, and your answer, and think "That applies to me too".

Bless you for your concern and hard work.

altocumulus

Hi Thanatos

Just as a change for you, could you go to your IT people and ask them to kindly sort out their on-line application form for DLA.
(I've never had any problem with the Income Tax on-line self-assessment forms:A)

When I have 3 goes at it and it falls over on me; mainly last couple of pages - despite an account reset, then it does not inspire confidence.

When my daughter then goes through the process for herself and the same thing happens -

It's too coincidental to blame me, my PC or the lack of chocolate in our fridge !... :eek:

CatherineS

Dear Altocumulus,

I filled in the online form with no problems. However, I did not do it purely online - what I did was to download the pdf document onto my PC, then I filled it in on my PC, in my own time (about a week or so) and kept saving it (onto my PC) at the end of each page. Then, when I'd finished it, I printed it off, signed it, and then posted it in. I also printed off a second copy for myself so that I now have a record (both printed and on my PC) of my replies.

Hope this helps.

Thanatos

altocumulus wrote: »

Hi Thanatos

Just as a change for you, could you go to your IT people and ask them to kindly sort out their on-line application form for DLA.
(I've never had any problem with the Income Tax on-line self-assessment forms:A)

When I have 3 goes at it and it falls over on me; mainly last couple of pages - despite an account reset, then it does not inspire confidence.

When my daughter then goes through the process for herself and the same thing happens -

It's too coincidental to blame me, my PC or the lack of chocolate in our fridge !... :eek:

Hi, to be perfectly honest, I wouldnt have a clue who to contact - I dont even know if it is managed internally or via an external company...

I will ask around and if I work it out then will pass it on

amibovered?

Hi Thanatos.
Thanks so much for providing a direct line into what at times seems to be a difficult dept to deal with.
Wnated your advice please on the following,
my mum is 59 and has osteoarthritis,osteoporosis and coeliac disease. She had a short term award of LRM which ended and when we renewed she was turned down. Mum has had to move out of her home because she cannot manage the stairs. What does the computer say in relation to coeliac disease? Any help/adice appreciated. Thanks

vivatifosi

Hi Thanatos,

Apologies if I'm asking really dumb questions. I'm trying to help my cousin with her form. She is an adult and has temporal lobe epilepsy, fibromyalgia and CFS, all triggered by contracting meningococcal scepticemia (apologies for the spelling). She has been told by the consultants to apply for DLA as she is not allowed to bathe alone or do other simple tasks. Her mobility is ok but not great, however she's been advised to have someone with her. Is that a carer element rather than a mobility one? Also, how do we capture how three such varied conditions interract? Some times a middling day will be one that includes a fit, another day she'll feel like she's been kicked and others she can't get out of bed because she's too tired. Bad days sadly can include all three...

Thanks so much for helping, you're an angel...

SianEvans123

Hi just a quick question - and by the way thanks for the help you've provided!

My boyfriend has just completed his 6th DLA form after being knocked back every other time. He received a letter the other day saying the decision would take a little bit longer as they have had to contact the specialist nurse he deals with at the hospital. I was just wondering whether this is actually a good sign or whether this is just routine?

Thank you