Carers Allowance scrapped

eve13_2

My sons DLA has been lowered to lower from middle rate. Although a shock of losing half the amount due to him, it was more or less managable. Then I got a letter yesterday announcing that CA is linked to DLA and that I would no longer qualify for CA with him on lower rate. This is inspite of the fact that I still care for him the exact same hours!! What the hell is wrong with decision makers in this country- no longer satisfied with Carers " earning" a meagre £50.55 for 168 hours, they now think its reasonable for us to " earn" £0.
I asked them if they were willing to sign a disclaimer saying that they believed it was perfectly safe for my son to be left on my own while I tried to find a job and they told me I was being unreasonable.
Can they really have it both ways? He either needs me to care for him, or he does'nt.

upferret

I know it doesnt make sense does it? Im a carer for my other half who has a mental disabillity, I had to leave my job to help him. It was a struggle getting lower rate DLA as it is a hidden disability, we managed to get him lower rate by appealing, but CA isnt paid on lower rate even though I spend most of the day caring for him, which I put on the claim forms. maybe you should appeal against the decision? We did twice and eventually won.

wornoutmumoftwo

I would suggest appealing the decision if there is no change in circumstance.

covlass

I would appeal it seems that more and more people who have a genuine claim are being knocked back & having the rates lowered. I know including my self 4 people who have a genuin claim having ther DLA alloance lowered and 2 people who have been awarded higher rate who donot have a genuine claim. That is not including the people that I have read about on here.
I think that when filling in the claim forms you should have no choice but to included written evidence from your GP or specialist. After all you put down their names but DLA do not always contact them. They want to clamp down on fraud which is quite right but with the sytem the way it is now are they saving money? I think not. If they had contacted my daughters Dr as I requested my claim would have been delt with by now. Instead I am going to tribunal dispite the fact that I repeadtly asked them to contact 2 specialists they did not. I got the evidence my self and with the DLA being as quick as they are !!! my eveidence has been with them for 5 weeks yet they failed to add this evidence to my file in which in the mean time has now gone to tribunal.
Sorry for the rant

Oldernotwiser

eve13 wrote: »

My sons DLA has been lowered to lower from middle rate. Although a shock of losing half the amount due to him, it was more or less managable. Then I got a letter yesterday announcing that CA is linked to DLA and that I would no longer qualify for CA with him on lower rate. This is inspite of the fact that I still care for him the exact same hours!! What the hell is wrong with decision makers in this country- no longer satisfied with Carers " earning" a meagre £50.55 for 168 hours, they now think its reasonable for us to " earn" £0.
I asked them if they were willing to sign a disclaimer saying that they believed it was perfectly safe for my son to be left on my own while I tried to find a job and they told me I was being unreasonable.
Can they really have it both ways? He either needs me to care for him, or he does'nt.

If you're going to appeal there's no point appealing the CA as it's dependent on the level of DLA, you'd have to appeal the DLA. This is often lowered as a child gets older.

munchings-n-crunchings

Look to appealing,
DLA should supply you with the reasons for their decision.
If you look further down this discussion board, there is a locked board by Thanatos, a DLA decision maker. Although he is no longer able to post or reply, there is lots of useful information to help understanding your position. Its currently on page 5.

I always suggest people look at the Benefits Now website.
On there, is the disability handbook, and also the decision makers guide. The more you read up on, the more informed you will make your appeal.
http://www.benefitsnow.co.uk

oldernotwiser is correct. You need to appeal the DLA decision, as that is what CA is linked to.

Good luck,

Munchie

sleepless_saver

If you do go for an appeal on the DLA, do it quickly as you only have a month from the date of the decision letter. Your local CAB or other advice agency can help if you want. Best of luck, and remember a lot of decisions are changed on appeal.

[Deleted User]

covlass wrote: »

I would appeal it seems that more and more people who have a genuine claim are being knocked back & having the rates lowered. I know including my self 4 people who have a genuin claim having ther DLA alloance lowered and 2 people who have been awarded higher rate who donot have a genuine claim. That is not including the people that I have read about on here.
I think that when filling in the claim forms you should have no choice but to included written evidence from your GP or specialist. After all you put down their names but DLA do not always contact them. They want to clamp down on fraud which is quite right but with the sytem the way it is now are they saving money? I think not. If they had contacted my daughters Dr as I requested my claim would have been delt with by now. Instead I am going to tribunal dispite the fact that I repeadtly asked them to contact 2 specialists they did not. I got the evidence my self and with the DLA being as quick as they are !!! my eveidence has been with them for 5 weeks yet they failed to add this evidence to my file in which in the mean time has now gone to tribunal.
Sorry for the rant

Remember that forums like this(and others)usually contain very few success stories regarding DLA,people tend to post only bad news so it gives a totally false impression,many claimants have NO problems at all.I also think its wrong to suggest that you know people who do not have a genuine claim,after all do you know ALL the circumstances surrounding their claim?

[Deleted User]

sleepless_saver wrote: »

If you do go for an appeal on the DLA, do it quickly as you only have a month from the date of the decision letter. Your local CAB or other advice agency can help if you want. Best of luck, and remember a lot of decisions are changed on appeal.

This can be extended to 6 weeks by requesting a statement of reasons

GlasweJen

I recently had my decision to lower me from MC LM to nothing reversed simply by writing a letter outlining why i thought the decision was unfair, this was not a written appeal just simply a request for review prior to appeal.

Only issue is that kids DLA compares your childs needs to that of a "normal" child of the same age so if his/her needs are closer to the needs of the average child of their own age than they were before then your award may be lowered to reflect this. Always remember that an appeal can bump your award up or lower it down.

somebody_else

woodbine wrote: »

Remember that forums like this(and others)usually contain very few success stories regarding DLA,people tend to post only bad news so it gives a totally false impression,many claimants have NO problems at all.I also think its wrong to suggest that you know people who do not have a genuine claim,after all do you know ALL the circumstances surrounding their claim?

In that case, I'd like to redress the balance a bit - I got my renewal letter through today (sent renewal form back 1st week in December) to say that I would continue to get HRM and LRC for an indefinite period. I fully expected to lose the care component this time, and the 'only' evidence I sent in was a full list of symptoms/triggers/effects and about a month's worth of diary entries. I didn't even get 'someone who knows me well' to fill out that section on the form.

For the poster who thinks that they know people who have got DLA when they weren't eligible for it - one of my neighbours once said to me "you're not effing disabled, I've seen you walking". Why? Because I'd had the temerity to ask her if she could do something about her dogs breaking through the fence and not only carping all over my garden but trying to get at me through my back door. It's amazing how she was able to come to that conclusion, out of the blue, when she actually saw me once in a blue moon. I quite agree, that on the surface, I look quite well - pity I can't have a shower and leave the house on the same day because showering leaves me exhausted and in huge amounts of pain.