Dispare about DLA

KirstyonCloud9

Hi Magic Strawberry,
I just wanted to offer some encouragement. Try and not let it get you down, I'm sure it will get sorted.
I had to appeal to the DLA a few years ago because my first claim was rejected. I really can't remember how long it took but the appeal was successful and it was backdated.
I had the help of my local Citizens Advice Centre - I had the support of one of their workers the whole way through from filling in the forms to facing the panel so don't worry you should get all the help you need.
Good luck x

magicstrawberry

Thank you for the link munchings-n-crunchings, I have just read the section on psoriatic arthritis.

The fact that it states that my condition supposedly "leads to less overall joint disablement" than rheumatoid arthritis is clearly a generalisation, as I have in the past few years had a number of x-rays and medical exams which would put me in the second, rarer classification which states that I have "severe joint destruction and resulting gross disablement." And plus most people get affected from the age of 40 and over and not 23 like me.

Also, a major point that made me decide to start pursuing DLA recently, was my rheumatologist informing me that I should consider going on a course of methotrexate medication, an antimetabolite and antifolate drug which, among other things, is used as part of cancer therapy to suppress the immune system (which my rheumatologist failed to mention when she proposed the idea). As you can probably imagine, I was very disturbed to hear that at the age of 23 that I was being recommended such a radical treatment.

Oh and thank you for your support kirsty its much needed at the mo

magicstrawberry

Ok ive rung up the CAB they have given me an appiontment for next friday and in the mean time i'm going to try and get a letter from my social worker, rheumatologist, gp and dyselxia unit in my university.

Is there anything else people think i should take?

magicstrawberry

Any help please? im really worried:(:(:(:(

Mistress

Hey there

I have Arthritis too, but mine is Osteo Arthritis (im 34) i was diagnosed in my early 20's too, mine is basically down to "bad genes" and my love of sport, sports injuries and several unfortunate falls, some due in part to the consumption of alcoholic beverages!! Im on a nice little cocktail of pills for that, the stomach ulcers caused by the arthritis meds, and also Fluoxetine (Prozac) for recent depression/panic attacks (down mainly to work issues and their lack of understanding of disability issues)

First and foremost, get that appeal in! CAB can be great, but no one knows you as well as you do. you need to be brutally honest about your condition, and like I said in Lady K's post, DO NOT unerplay your condition, write out your appeal grounds when you are feeling bad, youre likely to be more honest if youre feeling like poo, tired, worn out and hacked off because you couldnt do something "normal" like other people.

Do not give up, the people making the decisions are just like you and me, they go off a "book" of what is and isnt classed as a disability, with the not sures being referred to a decision maker, some wont make it to them, youre might just have been one of those. in your appeal you have the chance to write down and with more accuracy what your condition is, HOW it affects your day to day normal activities and why you believe you have grounds for appeal

You will get there. How does your PTSD affect you? my ex hubby had that after serving int he Gulf, and he went into depression - and depression, if acute and affecting day to day activites can also be a disability in itself...

EDIT - Just noticed that you also mention Dyslexia... another possible Disability (also do you claim DSA - disabled student allowance)

bored_at_home

DONT go straight for appeal.
if you do and you lose you have to start all over again.

first ask for your claim to go for RECONSIDERATION.
for this you need to write back to them within 30 days asking them to, you can also submit any extra information you wish to be considered in the decision.

if you get the same decision on reconsideration, then go for appeal.

i went for reconsideration after a total refusal and got middle rate care , just by a differant person assessing the claim.

cattie

bored_at_home wrote: »

DONT go straight for appeal.
if you do and you lose you have to start all over again.

first ask for your claim to go for RECONSIDERATION.
.

All claims that apply for appeal are given reconsideration anyway before appeal, so it's best just to put the appeal in & then if they change their mind when they look at your claim again they will cancel the appeal.

My own claim was reconsidered before appeal a couple of years ago & was successful.

Lady_K

But wouldnt asking for reconsideration extend the time to prepare for an appeal if its needed? Would the recondsideration be within 30 days then you get a decision then you have another 30 days for an appeal?

magicstrawberry

Hi Mistress

Thank you for the reply. Ditto with the genes and sports too (I was a good shot-putter back in secondary school). I’m on arthritis meds atm, and tablets for my depression and panic attacks.

I’ve got a week off university so I’m going to be writing up my appeal as well as getting supporting letters from my GP, ex-social worker, my neighbour and a close friend who has helped me a number of times when I have been hurting.

I don’t intend to give up without a fight, and I have already been looking at the DLA handbook to get an idea of what they think of my condition. Hopefully all of the letters and my own letter will help to convince the decision maker differently to the DWP’s original decision.

My PTSD does cause me to panic often, especially to very loud, sharp noises and also when I’m in cold temperatures (which is a constant problem in my house which has bad heating).

Sorry about the late reply, my rabbit had to go in for surgery today so I’ve been worried about him all week and spoiling him rotten lol, and I’ve been having some pain with my knee too.

P.S. Thanks for the replies “bored at home”, cattie and Lady_K. I am applying for reconsideration at the moment, which is what my meeting at my local CAB tomorrow is about, so I can get all the info together and a bit more organised. Fingers crossed I won’t have to go to appeal at all

MadMonkey

magicstrawberry wrote: »

Also, a major point that made me decide to start pursuing DLA recently, was my rheumatologist informing me that I should consider going on a course of methotrexate medication, an antimetabolite and antifolate drug which, among other things, is used as part of cancer therapy to suppress the immune system (which my rheumatologist failed to mention when she proposed the idea). As you can probably imagine, I was very disturbed to hear that at the age of 23 that I was being recommended such a radical treatment.
he

Hi - I am 34 and take Methotrexate alonside various other serious drug therapies and you cannot get DLA due to the drugs you take.

Meth is apparatnly one of the best drugs for arthritis and has amazing results (apparantly - not for me!!).

I was very reluctant to go on it due to the other drugs i am on but eventually agreed - it;s not as bad as it sounds !