Free prescriptions - which benefits?

kevtrader

Hi

I've just been awarded DLA and possibly Income Support and Incapacity Benefit in the near future. Can people with DLA get free prescriptions like Income Support or is IS the only one to have this?

I'm not happy with the DLA award as I don't have the mobility help but I strongly believe I should have got it! What numbers can I call to ask for an explantion for the decision so I can look at it?

Thanks

Kev

XXJULESXX

Hi

If your decision was within the last month, you can still appeal. You need to contact your Welfare Benefits Dept within your local council and ask them to assist you. They can help you with everything assosciated with your appeal and represent you in court. Or team of WBO's have an average of 77% success rate at tribunals, so if you think your award is unfair, you should at least ask to have it looked at again.

I believe the CAB are able to help with these things also, but either way you need to act asap, as you only have one month to appeal.

hth

Fran

Hi

If your decision was within the last month, you can still appeal. You need to contact your Welfare Benefits Dept within your local council and ask them to assist you. They can help you with everything assosciated with your appeal and represent you in court. Or team of WBO's have an average of 77% success rate at tribunals, so if you think your award is unfair, you should at least ask to have it looked at again.

I believe the CAB are able to help with these things also, but either way you need to act asap, as you only have one month to appeal.

hth

You can contact CAB or any other Welfare Benefits adviser in your area. They will help you put in an appeal and you have a month to do so from the date of the decision letter. Don't be put off by the wording "represent you in court". The tribunals usually have up to three people present and are not held in courts.

See Patient.co.uk website for prescription info.

Ted_Hutchinson

Download a copy of the Benefitsandwork guide to DLA appeals.

and
Download the BenefitsandWork guide to getting help with your benefits in case the CAB aren't able to provide representation at the appeal.

Ted_Hutchinson

Or team of WBO's have an average of 77% success rate at tribunals, so if you think your award is unfair, you should at least ask to have it looked at again.

Simply asking them to look at the decision again generally results in less than 9% of the awards being altered in the claimants favour which while better than nothing is a waste of time for the remaining 91%.
Requesting an appeal, but not turning up yourself or sending a representative to speak for you will result in 25% of claims being altered in the claimants favour.
Attending an appeal yourself but without a representative to support you results in a 58% success rate for claimants.
while sending a welfare rights rep to speak on your behalf but without your personal presence wins slightly more at about 60%
When B0TH claimant and a welfare rights representative attend the average success rate is 70% so it really is worth trying to find an experienced person to support you.
While some welfare rights offices may be more successful than average the figures I have quoted from memory come from
Disability Living Allowance Quarterly Statistics: May 2004 which I see has been updated since my last visit so may not be exactly as quoted. The highest success rate for DLA appeals I've heard of is a welsh office which claims 98% decisions based on one Medical Services doctor's reports being overturned. When it gets to this level one wonders why Medical Services have the gall to sent that particular EMP out but presumably there is an incentive for this to happen and it remains cost effective.

kevtrader

Update:

I requested an explanation about the decision and it says that the Decision-Maker decided that I can walk a reasonable distance before I experience discomfort/breathlessness because of my asthma.

I didn't put my asthma on the claim pack but my doctor has it on her report. Also I actually put on the claim form that I need a person with me in places I don't know well!

I'm happy with the rest of the doctor's report so how hard is it to overturn part of a report?

I'm thinking of appealing so who are the best people to go to? CAB?

Kev

Fran

Hi Kev,

Yes, see if CAB can help you, if they can't or you choose to look elsewhere, have a look at Ted's link in one of the above posts to other help you can get.

You have a month in which to appeal so I would contact them as soon as possible (especially with xmas in the middle). They will need your info as soon as possible in order to build up the strongest possible case.

kevtrader

Thanks Ted for that info!

I was surprised that the asthma was mentioned but I did have the worst attack in 10 years in 2002 but it didn't affect my walking. I hoped I would get the mobility part of DLA for my rare language disorder as when I get tense I can hardly speak so if I get into difficulties I may not be able to speak!

I also have trouble understanding what people say so I if I do need some help I might not understand it! I won't go into the disorder as it is complicated and expressing myself is part of the disorder.

I can't do any walking outside yet as I have a pilonidal sinus wound in my lower back and walking will disturb it. I've had this since Nov 2003 as you know from other threads.

Thanks again for the info about the possiblity of the appeal backfiring!

Kev

kevtrader

Is there any other way to contact the DLA benefits office by phone as I have spent all day getting engaged tones?

If I get through today I'm going to ask about other ways of contacting them!

Kev

Ted_Hutchinson

Is there any other way to contact the DLA benefits office by phone as I have spent all day getting engaged tones?
If I get through today I'm going to ask about other ways of contacting them!Kev

Blackpool Disability Benefits Unit

Disability Benefits Unit
Government Buildings
Warbreck House
Warbreck Hill
Blackpool
Lancashire
FY2 OYJ

Tel: 0845 7 12 34 56
Fax: 01253 331 266
Email: DBU-Customer-Service@dwp.gsi.gov.uk

marvin

The only benefit that gets free prescriptions is IS.

There are however other ways to get free prescriptions like being a Daibetic on drug treetment or needing someone to go to the chemist for you.