DLA decision unsuccesful not sure what to do now

Lady_K

I just spoke to a really nice man on the dla line he said it isnt too late to write to them and explain my thoughts on the decision so far. He said to post it in but I have trouble getting things posted, my grand daughter usually does it but shes away just now so I asked if there is any way I can send it by email, first he said its better posted but I said I knew I'd have problems so he checked and said yes there is one and hes going to ring me back with it.

Then I'll list everything that they have either ignored or dismissed or overlookeed in this refusal letter by bullet point (once I find out how to do it ) and I will write a letter aswell

He couldnt get any of my stuff up on screen because he said its all been sent off to get me copies of the documents, he said they would be doing that shortly

Been trying to phone cab this morning as I said they only open 2 days a week between 10-1 at the closest one to me 7 miles away and its either constantly engaged or if theres a dial tone it doesnt get answered so chances of getting through to them are very low

Lady_K

I recieved my GP's report today, I was expecting it to say something about my walking on it because the DM said on the decision letter that I can walk over 50 metres in an adaquate manner. I was really upset about that because I just assumed that my GP had said it when it isn't true. It mentions nothing at all about my walking so how should the DM be able to state that when I put on my form where it says how far can you walk before experiencing pain or severe discomfort I put 3 metres or less sometimes immediate. And in the how long can you walk in a minute I put 20 metres sometimes less and it is definitely less at the moment. The DM made that decision herself as well as deciding if I need DLA

The GP just didnt put very much really but to be fair I don't go hardly and can't talk to her so she does not know a lot of things but then she isn't interested either. On the list of things wrong with me on the first page of report they have totally missed one off and nothing was mentioned about it on the form so it is possibly because they didnt ask or put it down as anything I was claiming for so she didnt say anything about it.

She has put 'does attend surgery' though but that could mean every week she hasnt stated how often which is about once every 2 years. She has not aknowledged depression at the moment even though I was in floods of tears the time before last. She just put chronic depression 1987. For care needs and the rest she put 'not known', she does know some of my care needs though but not all because that was the time I was in tears when telling her about things but she has either forgot or never bothered to put anything in my notes. I never believed she put it in my notes anyway, I could just tell with her 'yes next please' attitude. I came away that day feeling just awful having let my guard down and then to be rebuffed like that. Oh yes and she hasnt mentioned anything about me falling and I have spoke to her about that and she knows it happens regular, again wouldnt be surprised if its not even in my notes.

Anyway I'm totally confused at the moment and realised I really could do with a representative because I just don't know what is right or wrong. I have been phoning loads of cabs and welfare rights and they either don't answer are engaged constantly or they don't cover my area. Thing is I was told that when I rang to ask for the gp report I should not have let reconsideration go straight through and that I should have asked for a written statement of reasons to extend my appeal time by 14 days as they always have one reconsideration before an appeal anyway but I did not know this, its all very confusing. Also they will not send me a gl24 out and I have asked so many times now but they say I don't need one only if the reconsideration fails. I was told to ring up and cancel the reconsideration and tell them I want to appeal and that I will be sending a gl24 form off in the next few days and because they had missinformed me about the statement of reasons letter to request one of those now even though its late. I did ring to request one of those and they told me they do not do written statement of reasons anymore and all they have done is send me a copy of the decision letter. I don't believe her because it is on the decision letter they sent me at the back but I missed this and they never told me. I also asked for a copy of the leaflet that was supposed to be in with the letter and they said it was sent with the report but it hasnt been.

I have spoken to another cab today who even though they dont cover my area did tell me not to cancel the recnsideration now as they could cancel everything and she said the written statement of reasons does not extend the appeal by 14 days so I am more and more confused every day

daska

If you can't get through by phone can you e-mail your local CAB? Explain that you need help with your DLA refusal, the timeframe you have to respond and ask for an urgent appointment. Point out the problems that you have getting out of the house. It may be that, even if they can't help, they can suggest someone local who can. (My local CAB is only open for 2 hours every Friday so I know the problems in getting appointments!). Have you tried DIAL or Social Services (ask specifically to have help from someone who has done this before, my social worker is supposed to be helping someone fill in a DLA form and she's never even seen one before !?!?!?)

Lady_K

I tried everything to find a cab or similar to represent me but none of them do home visits. I can understand why though because so many people need cab at the moment with the credit crunch and everything that goes with it I suppose they have to put their funds where they are needed first hand rather than put a lot into home visits.

I so understand why people need representation though as it is much harder than I thought to understand what is happening, what should be happening and the stress from it all is just so much. I understand why they need to be careful because of people trying to get dla that shouldnt but unfortunately it makes it really hard for those that do and they are weaker and I can well imagine many just give up because they cant cope with it, I feel that way myself.

I had 2 consultant appointments last week at the hospital and the build up to going there was so much with the dla stuff on top I just could not deal with the dla stuff and ended up having to focus on just getting to the hospital as I knew after missing appointment after appointment I had to go. Both consultants said they could not sign any forms for dla as it was hospital policy and they could only deal directly with dla or my gp if they contact them.

I had a letter last week from dla saying I could send any extra information off to them before 5th May even though I was told on the phone it was 30th April and now today I have got another letter saying 'About your request to look again at your claim on 1st 4th, we are looking at your claim again at all the information we have this can take up to 11 weeks'. But I havent sent any extra information yet so I'm worried about that if its going ahead without it. I am going to try and get together a gl24 form printed from online fill that in and send it and also write a letter but it wont go till next week recorded as I have noone to post it for me this week.

Have not heard back from the ib50 form does anyone know how long roughly it takes for them to make a decision on those at the moment?

daska

Can you ring Social services and explain that you have a deadline and ask for someone to come and help? I'd also write to the DLA and explain the difficulties you are having getting help because of your condition (tell them exactly who you've contacted and their response) and that more information will follow when you have managed to find someone who can help.

Lady_K

I will do its all I can do really. The email address they gave me didnt work it may be because its an internal email or something as I asked on the tech forum. I think I'm going to try ringing them again to check again on the date I have to get anything in and why I have been given different dates. To be honest I'm feeling beat by it already and I feel I cant do anymore than what I already am on my own and whatever I do isn't likely to have any effect anyway I feel quite helpless in their hands actually. I'm not one for giving in on things but I can see the effect this is having on my health and to be honest I really don't know if its worth it. The thing I would be more concerned about is the incapacity benefit because I know I cannot work and if they don't pass me for that well I can't tell you what that will do to me but I ould not be able to cope with that so I'm hoping to god they will renew that for me, I have asked for home medical if possible.

black_paw

Ib50 mine took 10 weeks , they told me they are well behind and up to 6 months !

black_paw

DLA ,you can fax stuff in aswell its quicker, local disability group helped me and did all form filing and faxing of stuff and arranged delays for us to get more info. did you know you can get your doctor to write you a letter ( you have to pay but worth it for more evidence ) to send to them. fingers crossed for you

lowri99

dont give up it took me 2yrs to get dla for my son he was 4 at the time of the triburnal and thats where i won ive read if you attend the hearing you have a higher chance of getting it. i can honestly say dealing with the dla was one of the worst times of my life its a long story they made me cry quite a few times saying things like my son file was in a box somewhere and i would just have to wait for them to find it. in the end i wouldnt phone them as they didnt care i found it better to write but everyone is diffrent .good luck please dont give up u will win in the end i know ive been there

Blakespops

Lady_K wrote: »

I feel so stupid I phoned the dla again and spoke to a lady, she took my ni number and said she could see its gone in for reconsideration but I explained about my doctor and that I dont go to see her and some of the reasons why and why she does not know about some of my problems plus she is not aware of some my care needs. She asked what my conditions were and I was telling her and I just felt myself getting upset and I tried to hold it back as she was talking herself but I couldnt, then I started to cry trying to explain things to her about everything. I felt awful because I didnt want to do that because it could look like I'm laying it on and it was the last thing I expected to do. She said she will take note of what I've told her and see what they can do, she said it does ultimately lie with the decision maker but she will do what she can to get me some help. She suggested perhaps it would be better for me to see one of their own gps as they might get a better idea. I told her I didnt mind that at all, she also said as I have 2 hospital appointments next week they could probably get more up to date info seeing as I havent been for over a year because of my problems going out and everything. She is apparently the team leader but I dont know if she is a decision maker herself but she gave me her full name and team number if I want to ask her anything. I feel so stupid she was probably genuinely caring and meant well bless her but it doesnt mean she will be able to do anything as she said its up to the decision maker but if I get a medical exam from them at least it will be something to prove what my doctor cant. I'm not holding out much hope though I just feel so dreadfull for making such a fool of myself its completely against my nature to do that. She did not say for definite that I would get a doctors vist but that she thought it would help in my situation and she would try for this.

Keep your chin up, seems they test your tinasity my medical evidance says the opposite of what dla say so am hopefull of winning at appeal tribunal. just do not know how they sleep at night when they act in this way