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bi-polar and DLA

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Hi, my son was diagnosed as being bi-polar at the end of last year, he is currently recieving income support and sends off sicknotes every two weeks, i recently applied for DLA ( he is also dyslexic so i see to his paperwork for him) The decision came back 2 days ago saying he isnt entitled as he is not at risk of self harm ( he has attepted suicide twice since september and has threatened many many times)he is not at risk of aggressive behaviour( he is a very frightening person to be around and his mood can be very changeable one miniute he is fine the next he can be threatening to stab you) at times i am very afraid. these reasons for not awarding DLA contradict his bi-polar symtoms since he recieved this letter he has been out sleeping in a tent with his friends binge drinking and he seems to be hitting the self destruct button i am at the end of my rope now i cant sleep for worrying about him and am powerless to help him, he is 20 years old so i cant make him stay home , im worried he is going to drink himself to death or attempt suicide again. can anyone advise me please
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Comments

  • The only thing you can do re the dla is lodge and appeal,get help with this from welfare rights or cab,at the same time get supporting letters from his GP and CPN (if he has one),you have 4 weeks in which to appeal(6 if you request a statement of reasons).It might be suggested by others that you just ask for a re-assessment of the claim by the dla,ignore this as it will be done as part of the appeal process.
    Good luck.
  • martinsmum
    martinsmum Posts: 58 Forumite
    Thank you for your help and support, my son does have a cpn and he will be seeing her on thursday. will be lodging a appeal, i filled out the forms and put in all the information saying he is at risk and for them to put in writing that he is not at risk its like they are calling me a liar ( which is hard to take) and it makes him so depressed. thanx again

    helen x
  • dmg24
    dmg24 Posts: 33,920 Forumite
    10,000 Posts
    Hi Helen,

    I am bipolar, and receive DLA MRC and LRM. In theory bipolar should be one of the easier conditions to claim for, but the answers (and supporting evidence) need to be quite precise.

    Is your son on medication for his condition? With the right meds hopefully his symptoms will become under control in time.

    If you want to PM me I'll do what I can to help x
    Gone ... or have I?
  • CouponWoman
    CouponWoman Posts: 6,065 Forumite
    Hi Helen

    I have assisted people filling in dla forms for years and in all the cases I helped the single reason most claims get rejected was lack of clear information regarding problems.

    An example would be the questions "does the person require help to wash or dress or take medication or eat meals". People assume this means to physically feed, dress, or wash or put medication in the mouth of the disabled person. This is not the case, as help can be verbal, ie reminders, do you have to remind your son to take medication, to wash or change his clothes or to eat a decent meal. Do you take charge of your sons medication, do you prepare his meals all these things count as care.

    If I were you I would ask your sons CPN to provide you with a letter to be included in the review. If the review is unsuccessful always appeal. I know these take a long time but should the claim be successful benefit is backdated.

    If you cannot manage alone with the review/appeal you could contact the social services benefit adviser for your area, or the CAB who also have benefit advisers. Having the right support should lead to a successful claim.

    Good luck to your son.
  • richard9991
    richard9991 Posts: 1,618 Forumite
    edited 4 May 2009 at 10:18PM
    Hi Helen

    I have assisted people filling in dla forms for years and in all the cases I helped the single reason most claims get rejected was lack of clear information regarding problems.

    An example would be the questions "does the person require help to wash or dress or take medication or eat meals". People assume this means to physically feed, dress, or wash or put medication in the mouth of the disabled person. This is not the case, as help can be verbal, ie reminders, do you have to remind your son to take medication, to wash or change his clothes or to eat a decent meal. Do you take charge of your sons medication, do you prepare his meals all these things count as care.

    If I were you I would ask your sons CPN to provide you with a letter to be included in the review. If the review is unsuccessful always appeal. I know these take a long time but should the claim be successful benefit is backdated.

    If you cannot manage alone with the review/appeal you could contact the social services benefit adviser for your area, or the CAB who also have benefit advisers. Having the right support should lead to a successful claim.

    Good luck to your son.
    do not ask for a reconsideration go straight for appeal because the dwp always reconsider before they send the case to tribunal this will save a lot of time as if you ask for review it will take about 11 weeks and you may not get it then you appeal another 11 weeks where as if yougo straight to appeal it will only be one lot of 11 weeks then case goes to appeal tribunal if not succecful. there are some good guides on dla appealing etc in the followig link http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/
  • Hello Helen.

    Firstly, can I say, that I understand what you are going through at the moment.
    Although my son is not Bipolar, he is autistic, and I have gone through with him the self destruction of binge drinking, drugs, self harm and attempted suicide. At one point, I have all medicines and all cutlery locked in my car boot!

    The decision given is not calling you a liar, but the opinion of 1 Decision Maker looking at the information presented in front of them. Another person, could look and have a different perspective of what you have tried to put across in your claim form.

    Getting advice is great, and there are a number of places that can help.
    Welfare Rights are part of your county council, so try ringing for an appointment.
    There is also DIAL. These are a disability advice organisation, often staffed by disabled staff members.
    http://www.dialuk.info

    You also need to understand for yourself how the DLA system works, the more you understand the system, the more effective your claim will be.

    This is the information link the DWP use for Bi Polar. Look at each different link on the left hand side.
    http://www.dwp.gov.uk/medical/med_conditions/major/bipolar/

    Next, the terms the DWP use
    http://www.benefitsnow.co.uk/dmakers/default.asp

    Finally, I would suggest writing to your son's health professionals, stating all the problems he is currently having, and the effect this has. It's hard to do, especially as he is your son, and as a parent, we always want to portray our children in a positive light. But, needs must. Often, on a short 10 minute appointment, you can't tell a doctor everything. Advise them, that you are appealing the decision not to award DLA. In doing this, the Doctors know exactly what the current situation is, and if contacted by the DWP, they will have the information to hand.

    On a personal level, I would suggest that you seek some form of support for yourself.
    I had an outreach worker from the Women's Aid Service. It just gave me a person I could turn to, when I felt vulnerable.

    Good Luck, Feel free to pm me, if you want any further help,

    Regards
    Munchie
  • martinsmum
    martinsmum Posts: 58 Forumite
    thank you all for your advise, martin came home last night after days of binge drinking he was dirty and smelling i had to encourage him to take a bath, it was clear he hadnt eaten much so i made him a hot meal, he had had a nickname etched into his back which looks sore and angry, i explained to him the danger of blood poisoning and his reply was" you only live once" (i despair) we are going to see his cpn on thursday so i will be updating her on recent events and asking her advise about dla too, i will also give welfare rights a call as i know now this is too much for me to take on alone. i will keep fighting for him because im his mum and thats what mums do. thank you all.

    helen xx
  • sandraroffey
    sandraroffey Posts: 1,358 Forumite
    you need to apply again BUT do not fill the form in by yourself. go the citizens advice and they will have someone who specialises in these forms.

    with DLA, the majority of cases are decided on the basis of what is says on the form.

    a friend of mine is bi-polar and has been getting DLA for it for the last 15 years.
    i was turned down for DLA (not for bi-polar though) on my first application, i appealed with the help of the CAB and got it.

    if you go to the CAB immediately, with all the paperwork from your first application, you may be lucky and get it backdated to then. you can only hope. the CAB are worth their weight in gold.

    as i said before, you have to know what to put and more importantly, HOW TO PUT IT on these forms. and if you get turned down, keep appealing. CAB will do that for you also and will come with you to the tribunal meetings as well.

    good luck. he is certainly entitled to it.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • sandraroffey
    sandraroffey Posts: 1,358 Forumite
    edited 5 May 2009 at 9:31PM
    as a quick PS. my daughter has just been given DLA for her three year old, who has suspected adhd. i say suspected because they wont diagnose until he is 5 or 6.

    however, the point is, if someone in the family has a problem that is interfering with normal family life, you are entitled to it. even if they are not diagnosed. thats what DLA told her.
  • martinsmum
    martinsmum Posts: 58 Forumite
    thank you sandraroffey, i sent all the paperwork to dla they haven't yet sent it back. xx
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