DlA reduced to Lower Rate.

parisjordana

Fester wrote: »

Aways appeal. Two thirds of appeals are successful. Get as much evidence as you can about mobility needs. eg from GP. consultant, O.T. If walking is painful then any distance covered is discounted (I think I am right in saying this) The Disibility Rights Handbook is very helpful about all benefits and is updated every year. Get it. Good luck.

I second this!!!!

PolishBigSpender

dmg24 wrote: »

I would not discourage you from appealing, but I would be aware that the decision is unlikely to change.

Please also be warned that you can lose everything on appeal. Many people assume that an appeal can only result in a higher award - which isn't true. If your child's condition is borderline for lower rate DLA, then you should be very careful before proceeding with an appeal claim.

I appreciate that this isn't what you want to hear, however, it is wise to be aware of the risks before proceeding.

Reference : http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/publicwebsite/public_challenge_decision.hcsp

MUMOF4_2

I claim dla for my son 14, and daughter 10. Both of them get high rate mobility. My son can walk, but he has high functioning autism and anxiety, which means at times he loses his functioning, by either walking oddly,which gets very painful for him. he doesnt need a wheelchair. My daughter has a spinal problem, which makes walking very painful for her, at times, she cant walk at all, but at other times she can walk for upto 30 minutes, in pain.
I think that you should appeal against that decision, see if you can get more support from you daughters consultants

[Deleted User]

I would give the following advice,firstly ask the dla people for a "statement of reasons"this then gives you 6 weeks and not 4 in which to appeal,secondly get help from either cab or welfare rights,if you decide to go ahead with the appeal make sure you opt for an oral one(better chance of success).although I agree with dmg that it looks unlikely that an appeal would succeed,and there is always the possibilty of loosing what has been awarded

NoahsPennilessMummy

My son is autistic and gets high rate care but only low rate mobility. If youlook at the Cerebra website there is a 60 page document on there which helps you to fill the forms in etc.
My son has always had high rate care but only got awarded mobility when he was 5....I didnt appeal as he doesnt meet the criteria for high rate mobility as he can physically walk its just that he gets disorientated and doesnt always respond to verbal commands, has no danger awareness re roads and traffic etc.

covlass

I am appealing against my daughters mobility. She has been awarded higher rate of care & lower rate mobility. Dispite the fact that acourding to The criteria for HRM she is entiltled to it they lowered it anyway. This claim has so far been going on for 10 months. I have recieved copiies of submission apers which does not include the 2 lots of medical information I sent them. Having phoned them I have been told that even though I have sent the information they are so far behind that I have to wait until middle of Jan to see if they have recieved it! I sent it special delivery 2 weeks ago.

parisjordana

covlass wrote: »

I am appealing against my daughters mobility. She has been awarded higher rate of care & lower rate mobility. Dispite the fact that acourding to The criteria for HRM she is entiltled to it they lowered it anyway. This claim has so far been going on for 10 months. I have recieved copiies of submission apers which does not include the 2 lots of medical information I sent them. Having phoned them I have been told that even though I have sent the information they are so far behind that I have to wait until middle of Jan to see if they have recieved it! I sent it special delivery 2 weeks ago.

They are a joke arnt they,Im in a similar position as you actually the original award was zero because he was turning 18 after always being on MRC and LRM I asked them to look at it again and got LRC and LRM,Im happy for the mobility part to be low rate but appealing the care part....for us nothing has changed he still requires the same amount of care so I would expect him to recieve the MRC which he had always recieved....Iv always said it and will say it again I would love the people who make this decision to come and stay at my house for a week and see what we do provide for his care.......trouble is he turned 18 so they think he now is a man and can do everything himself overnight:mad: ....not the case hes about age 12/13 mentally but requires care as if he was younger than 7 if that makes sense.....in his world things are so different to ours.....hes good though and we are proud (most of the time).

Trasthmatic

Fester wrote: »

Aways appeal. Two thirds of appeals are successful. Get as much evidence as you can about mobility needs. eg from GP. consultant, O.T. If walking is painful then any distance covered is discounted (I think I am right in saying this) The Disibility Rights Handbook is very helpful about all benefits and is updated every year. Get it. Good luck.

Just to clarify a point HRMC is not awarded for painful walking. HRMC is awarded if your are virtually unable to walk due to severe discomfort. Severe discomfort and pain were originally distingiushed by a Commissioners decision in 1998 (iirc) but has been revised a couple of times since then. Also the manner of walking, gait and speed are considered not just pain and distance. There are also certain deeming provisions that can entitle someone to HRMC, these include being unable to walk (parplegic, tetraplegic etc), double amputation above the ankle and being Severely Mentally Impaired (SMI).
On a side note since this concerns child cases, you can only qualify for HRMC from age 3 and LRMC from age 5.

shazrobo

Trasthmatic wrote: »

Just to clarify a point HRMC is not awarded for painful walking. HRMC is awarded if your are virtually unable to walk due to severe discomfort. Severe discomfort and pain were originally distingiushed by a Commissioners decision in 1998 (iirc) but has been revised a couple of times since then. Also the manner of walking, gait and speed are considered not just pain and distance. There are also certain deeming provisions that can entitle someone to HRMC, these include being unable to walk (parplegic, tetraplegic etc), double amputation above the ankle and being Severely Mentally Impaired (SMI).
On a side note since this concerns child cases, you can only qualify for HRMC from age 3 and LRMC from age 5.

i have a friend who can walk, but suffers black outs, and claims hrmc, her son also gets it, and although, he has to wear special splints on his feet he too can walk for at least half an hour, before experiancing discomfort. am now wandering if my friend has made there conditions sound worse than they are wen filling in the forms?

Trasthmatic

shazrobo wrote: »

i have a friend who can walk, but suffers black outs, and claims hrmc, her son also gets it, and although, he has to wear special splints on his feet he too can walk for at least half an hour, before experiancing discomfort. am now wandering if my friend has made there conditions sound worse than they are wen filling in the forms?

If someone was experiencing blackouts/seizures without a warning or aura (with no other physically disabling condition) an award of LRMC would be applicable as they require supervision when outdoors and would not usually be virtually unable to walk. Of course your friend may well have other conditions that limit her walking and be on the correct award. Each case on it own merits etc.
The son wearing splints is a more complex issue as his gait and speed of walking would also have been considered not just how long he is able to walk for.
Normal walking speed is usually considered to be 100m in 2-3 minutes. If someone could manage that most of the time I wouldnt expect HRMC to be an appropriate award.