Should I apply for DLA??

LilacPixie

I have been thinking long and hard about this. I do need assistance ourdoors in unfamiliar places etc but I can cope reasonably well staying local I.E going from my car to my home and my works carpark to my work abeit I walk a bit slower than other people. It is just elsewhere that I need my husband or a friend with me.

I will call DIAL later on if I get a chance and ask them for some advice.

The part about walking I took directly from my DLA decision notice.

munchings-n-crunchings

When the DM considers your claim for Lower Rate mobility, your ability to cope on familiar routes is disregarded.

Here is a really good page that explains the criteria for Lower Mobility from The Decision Maker's Guide.

http://www.benefitsnow.co.uk/dlanotes/needing guidance.asp

Regards

Munchie

LilacPixie

Thanks Munchie

LilacPixie

I spoke to a nice man at the local welfare rights place today. Unfortunatly i live in the wrong postcode so they cannot help me specifically but i gave the man a description of what I do and how i cope day to day and he says that he does not work for DWP and is not a DM but he would term me to be middle care, lower mobility based on my being unable to cook a meal myself and needing help to bathe and perform basic personal tasks such as buttoning up my own shirt/trousers (i use elasticated waists for ease) Also as i need help and uidance in unfamiliar places. He says knowing familiar routes does not matter and the fact I only go to familiar palces doesn't mater because I would be visiting unfamiliar places if I was able therefore it has a negitive impact on my life.

He says I should write to them and ask them to reconsider the decision which would be a step short of a full appeal and in the letter just write everything that I have told him

I am now a bit more confused. The fact they have awarded me lower care without a fight makes me wonder if they were homing I would settle for that, but then again I really do need help with the above things and I don't want them to take away my whole award.

Since completing the forms my loss of sensation has gotten worse and I am currently awaiting an appointment with a neurology consultant for a fresh diagnosis.

chnelomi

LilacPixie wrote: »

i

This seems to be what they do quite allot i think it may be a result of so many ppl claiming to be worse than the actually are combined with some of the doctors involved being overworked and not properly taking into account all the information they are supplied with.

I accompanied someone to a hearing(appeal or something) they had become a near recluse through the process as they couldn't drive and part of their illness ment public transport was impossible so they depended on the little extra to get out using taxis to see family and shopping each week. when we went into the room their was 3 ppl and one of them after scanning the paper work asked why we were their when the paperwork said we shouldn't. turned out it was something to do with points and some one had missed a page and written the incorrect points on the front and that's why we ended up their.

another lost part of the disability thing(no idea what i didn't ask) as the medical examiner that came out asked if he could walk to his car and he said yes. the medical forms stated he said he walked over 200ft to his car unaided. despite the fact that his car is in a car port and the driver door is less than 10ft from the back door. i took the pictures for him and made him send them in and low and behold they gave it back.

keep at them don't give up they are human and make mistakes. just dont expect an appology :rotfl:
good luck

calleyw

To go from lower rate care to middle rate you need a min of a hours care a day on top of the not being able to prepare a meal.

Yours

Calley

Invasion

I need help washing, dressing, washing my hair, putting socks on, can't cook a meal, need help getting in and out of bed, and I'm on LRC, and that's all I qualify for, you can need quite a bit of care and not get more than low rate unfortunately..

LilacPixie

I think I might give up. It all seems too much hassle, one group say one thing and another group disagree. I don't know if it is worth hte hassle

calleyw

LilacPixie wrote: »

I think I might give up. It all seems too much hassle, one group say one thing and another group disagree. I don't know if it is worth hte hassle

If you wish to appeal then appeal.

But we are just telling you what has happened in our cases. My husband gets Lower rate care and needs help with bathing and washing down his right side. And also drying down his right side. And needs to be watched while dressing incase he becomes tangled. And he get his LRC because he has inmobile hand and can't prepare a meal, as he can't chop and peel veggies and handle hot pans with one hand.

My husband was a lot worse when he came out of hospital. He needed care getting up in the morning and going to bed, as well as not be able to retreieve his covers if they fell off the bed etc. As well as the meal help and bathing and watching while dressing. And he still only got lower rate care.

As I said I have been told you need at least 1 + hour of care per day to get middle rate.

All the best what ever you choose to do.


Yours


Calley