osteo necrosis and how to claim for it

allycute1

hi guys im recovering from mouth cancer and half my tongue removed (they built me a new tongue from my arm) and i had lots of radiotherapy, i now have a condition called osteo necrosis which means the bone is dying in my jaw as a result of the rt, so i have to keep having opertions for the jaw to be cut out a bit at a time im back in hospital on fri 7th may but my question is i live on income support and want to claim disability but i am mobile and my illness does not let me work due to the extreme pain amd medication i am on 11 types including morphine and also my speach has been altered can anyone please give me any help or advice on how i can go about claiming for a disability even though i can still get about, as there is no section on the form to cover my disability


thankyou all for you time
ally x

di3004

allycute1 wrote: »

hi guys im recovering from mouth cancer and half my tongue removed (they built me a new tongue from my arm) and i had lots of radiotherapy, i now have a condition called osteo necrosis which means the bone is dying in my jaw as a result of the rt, so i have to keep having opertions for the jaw to be cut out a bit at a time im back in hospital on fri 7th may but my question is i live on income support and want to claim disability but i am mobile and my illness does not let me work due to the extreme pain amd medication i am on 11 types including morphine and also my speach has been altered can anyone please give me any help or advice on how i can go about claiming for a disability even though i can still get about, as there is no section on the form to cover my disability


thankyou all for you time
ally x

Hi ally

So sorry to hear of your ordeal and hope things will get better for you.

I take it you mean Disability living allowance?

You can do this by requesting for a form here:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/DG_10011925

I will state though DLA do not go by an illness or a diagnosis, this is mainly based on personal care etc, so try to get as much advice as you can and also help from maybe the CAB to help you claim for this.

Good luck and I wish you the very best through everything.;)X

allycute1

thankyou for your kind words Di3004 ill get on to the cab a.s.a.p and fingers crossed they will be able to help its such a nightmare trying to get someone to uderstand when youve got to write it on a form
ally x

cattie

Really sorry to hear all you've been through & wish you well for the future.

Ask at the hospital to see if they have a welfare rights advisor who could help you fill out the forms for DLA. Or as Di mentions, try CAB for help in filling out the forms or you can phone your local council to ask of details of welfare rights organisations in your area.

The forms for DLA are quite complex & how you answer the questions is important, hence the need for experienced help in getting them filled out. The care & mobility needs arising from your disabilty are the criteria on which DLA is assessed & not the condition itself.

Medical backup is important so notify your gp & other health professionals involved in your care that you're applying for dla & ask for their support.

As you have difficulties with speech, if you need somebody with you when you're out to help others understand you, then you may also qualify for the lower rate of mobility allowance as well as care allowance of dla. However, the welfare rights specialist is best to advise you here.

Good luck.

allycute1

thanks cattie its such a nitemare trying to get sorted ive had more help on here than anywhere ive been to and im gratefull to you all xx

mad_spaniel

sounds you should aim for low mobility - the need for "guidance or supervision most of the time in unfamiliar surroundings." usually aimed at people with mental health/ agoraphobia type conditions but can be appropriate for people with communication difficulties eg hearing or speech or visual problems (blind/ partially sighted) Imagine yourself transported to a strange town or city. You are on your own, you don't know the layout of the place, you have to find your way somehwere. How do you cope? Do you panic? can you ask directions.Can you see/ hear what is written/ said? can you be understood? Do you have the confidence to talk to total strangers who might stare at you? Would having someone with you to "interpret/ paraphrase/ sort you out make things sugnificantly easier? if the answer is yes, then claim along the lines outlined. It may be possible to claim care component if you have to have somebody act as an interpreter/ translater for you because your speech is hard to understand. You'd need to show that help was needed for a "significant" part of the day for low care, or "throughout the day" for middle care. Help of family/ friends/ work colleagues cou8nts. Often people "help" without even realising they're doign it. Imagine yourself, without knowing anybody, trying to get thro your day alone. how hard would it be if people didn't "speak up for you?"
Get something from your speech therapist to support your problems. Also something that shows you've had your problems for 3 months and problems are likely to last at least 6 months. Hope this helps.

mad_spaniel

I'm presuming you have some eating problems...chewing/ swallowing...possibly liquidised foods/ problems choking/ need for encouragement to eat the right sort of foods, help in preparing the right sort of foods? DLA care can be given if you physically need help to cook or prepare food (a cooked main meal for one person) or encouragement to eat appropriately.. Forgot to say this last night as I was getting tired.

allycute1

hi guys
well heres an update, im now going to be having an operation which will take the bone out of my leg and make a new jaw bone due to the damage done by radiothereapy, i will be disabled for about a year and housebound my macmillan nurse informs me i shoulkd definatly get dla so fingers crossed i will keep you posted, do you think i should get statements from my speech therapist, dietician, physiotherapist, surgeons etc to help with the claim? i am also going to need a carer who will prob be my mum to help me bath etc.. dress and eat can you tell me how i would go about doing that too
thanks in advance guys

Invasion

You won't be entitled to DLA until you've been needing the level of care for 3 months, you can apply before then, but you won't be entitled until 3 months have passed. Get statements from anyone that you can, not just confirming your diagnosis, but your needs because of it, and that they're likely to continue for at least 6 months, on top of the 3 months you need to apply. I'm not sure about getting a carer... I live with my parents, so mum helps with washing and dressing etc, however mum's not entitled to carers allowance because I only get low rate care (which is not being able to cook a meal for one for myself, needing help washing and dressing, help getting in and out of bed). You may be entitled to direct payments for help with paying for a carer to come in... But I'm not sure how that would work with a relative caring for you, could your macmillan nurse not tell you what your options are?

sharon59

Take care and good luck with your operation.Depending on your mums income dont forget she could be eligible for carers allowance so look into that!

allycute1

hi i will be needing care for at least 18months after my surgery as i will be housebound and yes my macmillan nirse says i will get the high rate due to the severity of my inuries after surgery thaks for your reply xx