Scared to apply for DLA

cumbrianpip

bobmccluckie wrote: »

Be advised that it is best if the forms are filled in by someone who knows the 'system'. The criteria used by the doctor who assesses the form is totally formulaic, ie how many times a night questions put 3 it triggers a certain response and how often responses of 20 minutes trigger another response etc. Experience in knowing what is required can make all the difference in getting or not getting DLA/Attendance Allowance.

A doctor does not assess the form, it is not a medical benefit. The decision maker does have rapid access to a medical team if they need to ask about the implications of something in a claim form or medical report or need clarification etc

cumbrianpip

Yes you can staple more evidence or info to the form. Some people send a diary of things they have problems with, some people send stuff they couldn't pigeon hole into an answer box.
Once you have sent your form back, if you think of anything else useful or there are any changes, you should ring them (it's quickest that way) or write in, and update them.
If you get the forms in on time, and if you are awarded, and if you have already met the qualifying period then it may potentially be backdated to the day you asked for the forms, and not just the day they receive them.

If you send in the form late enclose a covering letter saying why/apologise etc... They normally write out to late comers and ask if there was any special reason why late. If there's no valid reason then they may only award from the date they received the forms

MJay

Dear Lady,
Pleased to see you have started the process. There does seem a lot of limitations on your life and I wonder if you would really benefit from some form of external support... I know it is difficult talking about personal or private stuff to strangers but sometimes it can be even harder to talk to frankly one's children/ loved one's as we often try to put on a brave face to them so as not to cause them to worry.

A.Another might support you with accessing doctors / hospital appointment / understanding benefits and support for other things that may help and you are not aware of (including local resources / etc)

Do you have any Welfare Rights +/or Citizens Advice locally? Consider giving your council a ring to know what may be available in your area..... Hmmm, Social Services will certainly be somewhere locally and they might offer advice/ help/ support (with filling in the darned forms at least...) Also, the added benefit is that they would be offering 'non-medical' support statements - just as important as DLA is as much about SOCIAL needs as it is about MEDICAL problems.

Thinking of you and 'sending out the force'.

Lady_K

Thankyou everyone for the advise, form still not sent in and still thinking about which way to do it who to help me etc and yes its true although my daughter helps me with things she doesnt know everything so I'm going off that idea I never really felt comfortable with it, I prefer some things not to be known.

If I fill the form on my own though I cant see it getting anywhere as they refuse most first applicants dont they so if I dont have any back up its not going to be worth much but I just thought perhaps if I try it that way first then if I have to appeal I will then seek further help.

I do have to see a hospital specialist every 6 months although I have missed the last 5 appointments they have sent me because I have problems getting there, they have just sent me another one for next month I'll try and make that.

I have also been given an appointment for another specialist for a different problem do they contact these people for evidence?

Does it count that I have to pay someone to do my garden and anything outside as I just couldnt do it, do they take that into consideration or is it just the personal care I need? I get help with jobs inside too.

mum2one

I was thinking about you today, i have just filled in my renewal form, only took 2 hrs!!
I honestly dont knwo how its going to go, but I've given it my best shot, and if I have to appeal then I have to appeal.

Please please fill in your form, just answer honeslty that is all you can do. xx

Lady_K

Did you fill it in yourself and did you have anyone put a supporting comment in the space provided?

mum2one

I filled it in myself, the supporting bit I got dad to fill in, I got some information from
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/
That link will take you to the home page, and the nlue box on the left, click the link for DLA, and then the next page, theres a link that says sample pages from DLA, I got a couple of bits of info from them. You can pay to have a years membership, but I havent done that.

If its your 1st time at applying for DLA, in the majoirty of cases they will send u a doctor to see you, if u feel more comfortable you can ask for a lady doctor and also have someone with you.
The 1st time I applied, I filled in the form they sent a doc out (2002), that award lasted 2 yrs, applied again in 2004 that they asked my physio for a report, that went through to 2006, applied again in 2006 they refused everything completely, but I appealed via a letter, they spoke to my gp and they gave it me for 3 yrs that time, hense in all honestly I dont know what there going to say this time, but if I have to appeal then I have to go down that route, in all honeslty Im dreading that, but if I had to I will.
If you are stuck with anything pm me and if I can help I will. xx

Lady_K

Thankyou mum2one I've bookmarked that site, still not started it yet but I might do on Sunday or the beginning of next week. Its mostly the business about who will do a supporting statement even though it does say that bit does not have to be filled in I know its best to have it filled in. No matter who filled it in they would probably want to read the form and there are things I would have to put on the form that people don't even know and I prefer them not to know, its better that way. I will type out additional information to staple on too, I dont have to put that on till afterwards though I suppose.

I have thought about not bothering at all again today as I have mentioned it to my daughter a few times and she doesnt sound too keen on helping me in all honesty she just said I could get the welfare officer to come round and do it with me. This is my eldest daughter, my younger one doesnt live near me and she works full time so I dont see her much. It did upset me a bit because she has filled lots of these forms in for her son and she helped her friend fill in the forms for her son too a couple of years ago. I ask for as little help as possible and it hurts that she cant spend a bit of time on that with me as it would help me a lot for quite a long time if it was succesful. Its upsetting because I've always looked after the grandchildren when shes wanted me to which is very regular, most weekends for years and always overnight to make it easier for her. I do find it difficult but still do it as it would cause problems if I didnt. I just thought what is the point and started thinking I probably wont get it anyway especially without any statement

mum2one

In all honestly the statement is not necessarily the be all and end all of the form, as if its the first time that u have applied, they will most proberly go through the route of ur gp and possibly send a doctor out to see you.

I know this is going to sound really daft, looking at from the other side of the fence, as a daughter myself, when mum applied for DLA I helped her with the forms, but it brings the reasons home and maybe its something ur daughter doesnt want to admit to herself that u are ill (excuse the description) and there are elements with u and ur health that maybe she knows about but has put it in a hidden box, and its easier to help other people than ur own mum. (I may be barking up the wrong tree and apologies if I am.)

The difference with DLA, it isn't necessary that you have to have the care (if its that side of the claim), as you may of developed your own routine and methods, but for someone else, doing exactly the same task, ur way of doing it, would be a "thats long winded". xx

Lady_K

Yes I do totally understand what you are saying, this is another reason why I wasnt thinking of my younger daughter because even though she does know some of my problems I can see she does put them as far back into her mind as possible because it is hard for her to see the reality.

My daughters are very different, there is a 9 year age gap the older one to be honest is more ready to face things she actually phoned the doctors without me knowing and made me an appointment because she told them I was not being properly cared for by my doctor and she wanted to go with me, she told the receptionist a lot of things and she might have meant well but it actually detered me from going to the doctors for even longer. I did not say anything to her about it though I just said I would go but on my own but I knew I wouldnt do it at that time.

I'll think about it more over the weekend and try to decide what to do. I don't mind a doctor visiting at least it wont be my doctor and they can see for themselves