Diabililty Living Allowance - My Story.

RonH22

bestpud wrote: »

To me, this seems simple.

They are arguing you should find your job difficult, if not impossible, if you suffer in the way you say you do, i.e. needing help with daily life.

What they are thinking, I guess, is you need to recall facts and deal with quite complex issues in your job, so why are you unable to remember daily tasks?

The fact you worked away for a while after claiming is odd, or will look that way to them.

So, I would say you need to provide evidence of the effects of PTSD, because it can cause some areas of your life to break down while others carry on as normal, as I'm sure you know.

Have you only received care from your GP? Not any other medical people, for any of your health problems?

I'm not sure what happened in the interview you had but it sounds as though you didn't help yourself much.

You seem to feel this is personal but I'd argue they are looking at your claim and looking at the tasks required in your job and thinking they don't match, simple as.

Why is it relevant that the panel had three women on it?

Can you go back to the psychologist and ask if they will support you? Were they private, or arranged through the NHS?

You need to state what it is that allows you to do your job, and why, exactly, you are able to work in this area when you suffer from confusion and lack of concentration etc.

That will do you far more good than talking of conspiracies and running down the system on a forum which people access for help with the DLA process.

Please remember people are often afraid when they come here and they don't need to feel the system will falsely criminalise them. This is a rare situation imo.

Just my thoughts...

[FONT=&quot]Let me say that I accept that people are often afraid when they come here. I also accept that these cases are rare but I find myself in a frustrating position.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]It is not only myself who considered this is occurring but my employers took the view that , “they are out to get you”.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Let me explain. I have had various run ins with the DWP and its predecessors. I became involved in cases up to the Court of Appeal. One occasion I received a call from a person at the Department threatening me to lay off them or they would do something about it - I can't go into full details. That led to a major article in the local newspaper about the incident. These are just some examples and it is no wonder given this that I take the view that this is the case. However I accept the fact that m conditions include MH issues that could influence.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]There is no doubt I find the job difficult but from my perspective it is therapeutic. You know when someone has gone through the traumas such as I have in my life such as my son being sexually abused and than an abusive relationship it is very difficult to cope. I do self harm.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Yes I did work away but it failed miserable I just wanted to get away from the trauma at home but I only stuck with it for a short period effectively 3 months but with absences and xmas came down to around 8 weeks. It was intolerable.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Of course the work does take a lot longer than is used to but there’s a difference between intellectual ability and all the other things. [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Your comments of the effects of the PTSD are acknowledged and this is what was done. In act arrangements are in hand for a Psychiatric Report.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]In terms of my GP I changed last year. I now realise that my previous GP was not very good. I have had so much more support with this new GP. I remember asking my old GP to chase up the referral he had made to the Psychology services and he said there was nothing he could do! My new GP was only too happy to do this. Effectively the main care has been from my GP but there has been the input from the Psychologist as well.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]He stated I need a particular form of treatment but with the ongoing case it is not appropriate to do this as the cause of the trauma is an essential part of the case and while I am having to remember these things and give evidence on it the treatment can’t be started as it would either be of no benefit or even counterproductive.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
In terms of the interview I cracked up in simple words. I had an asthma attack started crying and then just repeatedly said , “I can’t take this anymore”. I don’t remember much about the interview but I’ve hear the tapes. Of course I should have had a solicitor and appropriate adult with me. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The psychologist did indicate that his records would be available and he would be supportive. This was via the NHS – Took over 2 years to get to see him.[/FONT]
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Anyhow I hope this gives a better insight into this situation.[/FONT]
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Poppy9

Would it help if you could demonstrate to DWP what you use your DLA money for. If you use it to pay for a carer, then surely it will show need?

Oldernotwiser

RonH22 wrote: »

but with the new rules and legislation it remains to be seen what happens.


R

But there aren't any new rules about claiming DLA, to the best of my knowledge.

RonH22

Poppy9 wrote: »

Would it help if you could demonstrate to DWP what you use your DLA money for. If you use it to pay for a carer, then surely it will show need?

Now I like the sentiments but no. In terms of the care needs it is where there is a need for attention with bodily function (there are various ways of showing this) and in relation to the mobility that it is a physical disability resulting in a virtual inabilty to walk and in considering that severe discomfort has to be discounted.

RonH22

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

But there aren't any new rules about claiming DLA, to the best of my knowledge.

What I refer to is of course is the new Employment Support rules and of course any medical assessment undertaken could be used to review entitlement to dla.

Poppy9

RonH22 wrote: »

Now I like the sentiments but no. In terms of the care needs it is where there is a need for attention with bodily function (there are various ways of showing this) and in relation to the mobility that it is a physical disability resulting in a virtual inabilty to walk and in considering that severe discomfort has to be discounted.

One of my sisters had DLA and she uses her money to pay for better quality equipment/supplies than the NHS provide. She uses the stuff daily and if her DLA was queried could show them bills (it costs her £120 per month) to show them she has a need for the money.

I thought that what DLA was for, helping with the extra costs of managing a disability. Therefore if you have extra costs, you should be able to demonstrate this to DWP via bills/invoices etc. I didn't think that the extra money was just for pain and discomfort.

I've had trouble walking any distance for the last few months due to a slipped disc pressing on my sciatic nerve, are you saying I could claim for pain and discomfort?

Oldernotwiser

RonH22 wrote: »

What I refer to is of course is the new Employment Support rules and of course any medical assessment undertaken could be used to review entitlement to dla.

I'm not sure that a medical assessment for ESA can be also used for DLA (I mean, I genuinely don't know) but I don't see any way that the new rules for ESA impinge on DLA; they're totally separate assessments.

RonH22

Poppy9 wrote: »

One of my sisters had DLA and she uses her money to pay for better quality equipment/supplies than the NHS provide. She uses the stuff daily and if her DLA was queried could show them bills (it costs her £120 per month) to show them she has a need for the money.

I thought that what DLA was for, helping with the extra costs of managing a disability. Therefore if you have extra costs, you should be able to demonstrate this to DWP via bills/invoices etc. I didn't think that the extra money was just for pain and discomfort.

I've had trouble walking any distance for the last few months due to a slipped disc pressing on my sciatic nerve, are you saying I could claim for pain and discomfort?

DLA is designed for the extra costs but there is no requirement to show those extra costs and indeed for it to be considered would probably be an irrelevant consideration.

In terms of walking if a person is virtually unable to walk taking account of the time distance etc they walk then they may be entittled to the Mobility Component. The walking ability is such that if you are in severe discomfort that cannot be taken into account in trms of your walking ability. So in simple terms yes pain is taken into account by it being disregarded for walking ability. Does this make sense? It a sort of dougle negative in a way. I walk with a pronounced lmip and I am in pain when I walk. I suffere from a prolapsed disc.

RonH22

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I'm not sure that a medical assessment for ESA can be also used for DLA (I mean, I genuinely don't know) but I don't see any way that the new rules for ESA impinge on DLA; they're totally separate assessments.

I understand what you say. I recall when I did benefit work that I had a case where the DLA reviewed the decision unfavourable to the claimant on the basis of his failing the Personal Capacity Medical Assessment. It is merely an extension of that. ISorry for the confusion it does happen to me sometimes.

I accept the tests in both benefits are different but with all the changes that are taking place there are great concerns for disabled persons and indeed their carers. You probably may know The partners of sick and disabled claimants will be forced to obey orders issued by private and voluntary sector staff or have their partner’s benefits cut under new regulations to be introduced by the DWP. The shock provision is part of the Welfare Reform Bill published on 14 January and will affect partners of income support claimants and claimants of the new income-related Employment and Support Allowance.

Penny-Pincher!!

RonH22 wrote: »

What I refer to is of course is the new Employment Support rules and of course any medical assessment undertaken could be used to review entitlement to dla.

Can you please show us proof to back this statement. I think you will find that there is NO truth to this at all.

It sounds to me like you are trying to panic people with inaccurate information.