bipolar/DLA?

moosetastic

Hi Rockie4, my husband suffers from bipolar and has done for the past 6 years. We finally managed to find out about DLA and he's had it for the past 3 years now. He gets middle rate care and lower rate mobility. 1st time around he got it straight away. when he came to renew it last year, it got downgraded to lower rate and lower rate, even though his condition had got worse. we had to appeal and they finally put it back to how it was before, and granted it to him till 2012. we are having another mare with them at the moment, but thats another story!!

What I wanted to say is as a carer for someone with this condition, it is very easy to make yourself ill while not really knowing much about it. ive suffered with related depression for the last 2 years, its not an easy thing to do and admit to yourself. Make sure you take care of yourself, make time for yourself, try not to get caught up in every trauma etc. There is a good book for carers of people with depression, its called Living with the Black Dog. Its written by someone who's husband had severe depression, and it talks about her fears and moods. Its very good and I can recommend it. Its currently £6.79 on amazon but im sure if you searched google it would bring it up cheaper somewhere else.

good luck if you do decide to claim dla, we went to our welfare rights officer and she helped us fill all the forms in. its a daunting form, so make sure you get all the help you can. And keep smiling xx Feel free to pm me anytime you want if you need to xx

SuziQ

Also,request the forms NOW whilst finding out-they date them and you get 6 weeks to complete them,as long as you return them within the date given you get any award back dated. If you wait a few weeks before getting the forms you could therefore miss out should your claim be sucessful. Good luck!

rockie4

Thanks for the ongoing advice.
We saw the psych on Monday who now seems to think it might not be bipolar:doh: He changed OH's medication AGAIN
Anyway, the DLA form has to be returned by the 20th so I'm pushing OH to get to Welfare Rights and get it done, I daren't take any more time off work so he needs to go himself.

Moosetastic - I'm trying to look after myself, not easy at times as we have no 'support network' as yet i.e. no CPN, social worker etc. We have pointed this out to the psych and he said he would see.......:rolleyes:
I get deja vu at times having loooked after my Mum for 3 years until her death and spending 2 years on AD's due to related depression so I am very aware of what caring can do to the carer!

Another book for the list to be purchased on payday! Thanks

moosetastic

rockie, 1 know exactly what you mean about trying. its easier said than done right? at least you have some experience to draw on which is always good.

really good luck with your claim x

[Deleted User]

dmg24 wrote: »

So you suggest that everyone posts two threads? :rolleyes:

Could I make a really novel suggestion? How about those that frequent the Disability board pop over to the Benefits board? That would eliminate duplication of threads, and might actually get benefits threads back in their correct place.

I`m still wondering if a new forum entitled disability and dosh was such a good idea,people are missing out on the best benefits advice by posting on there from what i can see,yeah sure have a disability board excellent idea,but dont confuse the 2 issues

lolababy

Disability and dosh what confusion. How are people missing out on the best benefit advise by going there. The advice on both dd and this one does not mean its going to be correct.

healy

lolababy wrote: »

Disability and dosh what confusion. How are people missing out on the best benefit advise by going there. The advice on both dd and this one does not mean its going to be correct.

It is more likely to be correct here as more people with benefits knowledge post here than on the other board.

kiwichick

Good Morning All,

I'm SO glad to have found this thread. My best friend has recently been diagnosed as bipolar and was unable to find out about DLA so I said I know a great site that would be bound to have the advice she was seeking.

Is anyone able to tell me where we can get the forms for her to apply for DLA and/or Mobility allowance? She has a CPN assigned to her and is currently in day care for the next 8 weeks whilst her medication needs are being sorted.

Any advice very gratefully received.

Allison x

feelinggood_2

kiwichick wrote: »

Good Morning All,

I'm SO glad to have found this thread. My best friend has recently been diagnosed as bipolar and was unable to find out about DLA so I said I know a great site that would be bound to have the advice she was seeking.

Is anyone able to tell me where we can get the forms for her to apply for DLA and/or Mobility allowance? She has a CPN assigned to her and is currently in day care for the next 8 weeks whilst her medication needs are being sorted.

Any advice very gratefully received.

Allison x

"You can claim online or get a claim pack by:

• phoning the Benefit Enquiry Line
• contacting your local Jobcentre or social security office
• downloading the claim form from this page"

Telephone: 0800 88 22 00
Online: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/eservice/

See for more info on DLA:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/DisabilityLivingAllowance/DG_10011925

wheretheresawill

mitchaa wrote: »

Is Bi-polar a lifetime disability or do those that claim DLA inform the authorities when it subsides?

I suspect if you get used to the money you can just carry on claiming to be depressed? Is this the way the system works

How do you diagnose bi polar from say a bad mood?

Curious, always good to learn something new

A bad mood is simply that - you are being grumpy, its not an illness, Bipolar is a chronic mental illness- known as severe and enduring. There are thought to be many more forms other than just bipolar I and II - known as the bipolar spectrum. Severe depression is now thought to be part of this spectrum. The problem is that the illness can be likened to being on a rollercoaster where moods dip and elevate making life very difficult and also employment hard. The medication also makes people feel very tired, can cause slurring of speech and rapid weight gain. People with bipolar are often very intelligent but have very chequered work historys due to periods of acute illness and dismissal from employment. This makes it even harder to gain employment.
People experience periods of being relatively stable but are very susceptible to stress which can trigger an episode. A lot of people with bipolar would love to be in employment but know that going into work, giving up benefits only to relapse and then start the long wait for new benefits is not only bad for their health but also their finances. As I say they tend to be amongst the most intelligent in the population and this illness is severe enough to cause major disruption to families, partners, employment, education etc. For me personally the medication is the hardest part of the illness and the fact that a lot of my friends want nothing to do with me.