DLA Disability Handbook Ditched

covlass

i have only just found out that in April 2007 the Disabilty handbook was scrapped :rolleyes: just thought I would mention this as it is still on may web sites which people look at when claiming and I know it has been mentioned a few times on here. I know I have looked at it a few times in the last year.

".......Benefits and Work has obtained documents which show that a new points style system is being piloted for disability living allowance. The new computerised system will prevent people with a range of physical and mental health conditions from receiving awards of the care component, the mobility component or both. Astonishingly, the software even stops decision makers giving DLA care payments to war veterans, terror victims, emergency crews, victims of abuse and others whose experiences have traumatised them. Decision makers are also warned not to trust any information given by such people in their claim forms.
As well as post traumatic stress disorder, other mental health conditions for which no award of DLA care will be made include: panic attacks; obsessive compulsive disorder; social phobia; agoraphobia and generalised anxiety disorder.
Physical health conditions which are unlikely to get any award of DLA at all include: irritable bowel syndrome; hypertension and migraine....."

Sorry if this has already been mentioned but I thought I would just post for those like me that was unaware

Trasthmatic

Total rubbish. Yes the handbook is being replaced by new guidance called CCM but as this is not yet complete the handbook is still used for some conditions.
DLA is still a self reporting benefit where claims are assessed by a decision maker.
The rubbish about a system not allowing a DM to make awards on mental health conditions is scaremongering of the highest level

covlass

I was looking through it and was horrified at was I was reading, but wondered about those claims that were being denied whilst this was being piloted.

justmel

I had my DLA claim reviewed in December 2008,i was at the end of the claim and had to re-apply.

I suffer from all of the mental health conditions listed in the OP plus some others and i continue to recieve the same rates of DLA as i did before-high rate care/low rate mobility.

If my condition remains the same i dont need to re-apply until 2014 so i can assure you that whatever system is in place for decision making it does not prevent people with those examples of illness that i have from being given Dla care or mobility.

Trasthmatic

covlass wrote: »

I was looking through it and was horrified at was I was reading, but wondered about those claims that were being denied whilst this was being piloted.

What pilot? What denied claims?
CCM has been in development/use for over 2 years. It was first tested at Bootle DBC (iirc) and has now been made avaiable to all DBC's and the DCPU.
CCM is simply more detailed guidance than the DHB and gives more information on care and mobility considerations and prognosis. For the conditions that have not yet got CCM guidance DM's are referred to either the DHB or external information such as the NHS Choices web site.

DLA is a VERY complex benefit and I would be surprised if it ever used a point scoring computer based decision system.

Just to clarify a few points from the original post:
War pensioners sometimes do not get paid their DLA as they are already receiving a War Pension supplement that overrides their DLA. War Pension Mobility Supplement (WPMS) for example.
DLA is not paid for having a disability. DLA is paid for the needs arising from the disabiity. To use one of your examples, a otherwise fit and healthy person who has migraines. For periods that person may prefer to go to a dark room and rest till symptoms subside (I know I do). However that person is not unable to walk and will not need help with personal care most of the time. They will not usually qualify for DLA. A person who just has IBS will not usually qualify for DLA as there is no reason why they would be unable to manage their symptons unaided.

munchings-n-crunchings

Hello Covlass,

I would not worry about what method is being used to assess claims.
Any decision make needs to be correct from a point of law.
So whilst at the moment you do not agree with the decision to refuse your child's DLA claim, it will not be due to computer software making the refusal.

The Disability Handbook and Decision Maker's Guide are still useful tools, to look at how things are viewed from a different perspective.
The more information you have, the better case you can put as to why you believe the decision is wrong.

The solicitor present at the appeal will make sure the decision is lawful, and that is for you as much as the DWP.

Munchie

MandyQue

I wonder how much of this is to try to put people off claiming DLA who are rightfully entitled :think:

TaBunny

I didn't even know there was a handbook eek I'm so out of the loop

covlass

Thankyou Munchie

Im not to worried about my daughters claim after speaking to the law centre today.

I was jus wondering that IF they did scrap the handbook and rely on a new sytem how this may in its self would effect claims . Looking at how the CCM system is used ie putting in how many time you have been admitted to hospital in a year, along with the other information put in the computer then ranks conditions as mild, moderate or severe . Not all condition result to being admitted in hospital, so therefor would a condition be classed as moderate rather than severe just becasue you have not been admitted to hospital.

I am very aware that DLA is a VERY complex and I was just stating what I had read I was not implying any thing just intrested on how changes in how DLA operate may be could effect peoples claims.

[Deleted User]

covlass wrote: »

Thankyou Munchie

Im not to worried about my daughters claim after speaking to the law centre today.

I was jus wondering that IF they did scrap the handbook and rely on a new sytem how this may in its self would effect claims . Looking at how the CCM system is used ie putting in how many time you have been admitted to hospital in a year, along with the other information put in the computer then ranks conditions as mild, moderate or severe . Not all condition result to being admitted in hospital, so therefor would a condition be classed as moderate rather than severe just becasue you have not been admitted to hospital.

I am very aware that DLA is a VERY complex and I was just stating what I had read I was not implying any thing just intrested on how changes in how DLA operate may be could effect peoples claims.

Surely as far as being admitted to hospital goes thats more to do with illness rather than care/mobility needs which is what DLA is there for?
I have severe epilepsy and have had for almost 11 years,during that time i have only been in hospital twice for this but ive received dla for almost 10 years now

Trasthmatic

covlass wrote: »

Thankyou Munchie

Im not to worried about my daughters claim after speaking to the law centre today.

I was jus wondering that IF they did scrap the handbook and rely on a new sytem how this may in its self would effect claims . Looking at how the CCM system is used ie putting in how many time you have been admitted to hospital in a year, along with the other information put in the computer then ranks conditions as mild, moderate or severe . Not all condition result to being admitted in hospital, so therefor would a condition be classed as moderate rather than severe just becasue you have not been admitted to hospital.

I am very aware that DLA is a VERY complex and I was just stating what I had read I was not implying any thing just intrested on how changes in how DLA operate may be could effect peoples claims.

Where are you getting this information from?
Because its all wrong!!!
A DM does not enter the information presented in to a computer that then gives a decision on the severity of a persons condition. A DM reads the claim pack, gathers any appropriate evidence, uses the available guidance (DHB, CCM, Medical services) to make an informed decision. CCM is simply includes written guidance that is read by the DM to help them come to an informed decision. Its a better DHB.

A few years ago a points system similar to IB was considered for DLA but proved so complicated it never made it out of the planning stage.

Going to hospital is considered by the DM's but not in the way you are implying. DLA has always accepted that someone can have a severe condition without regular hospital stays. The only time hospital dates are entered into a computer is when someone has spent more than 28 days in hospital so DLA would not be payable.

What you are posting in this forum is tosh. Tosh that could well distress people either making or considering making a claim. You did not write that you had heard that DLA might be or could be changing. You posted that decisions were made by a computer and that people with mental health conditions would no longer qualify !!!