Renewing DLA query

ladybelle

Hi, I am a member of the Benefits and Work site and use their guide to help me get DLA 2 years ago. I just got the renewal in today and am already panicking and freaking out about it. The Guide for renewing says to fill it in as a new form as they will not be using the old one to compare with, so dont put things like "condition unchanged" etc as they wont know what my original condition was ! But my question is - my condition IS totally unchanged - so my original form that I used in 2007 all the wording would be exactly the same - so can I just copy it out literally - word for word almost ?? or is there a chance that they DO have the original one - and if my new claim is similar they will think I HAVE copied it - but it took me so long to do the first one and get the wording exactly right on that - I cant possibly think of a way of rewording it without it not looking right and I cant risk that.
Can anyone advise ???

tenacioust123

If nothing has changed then filled it out as you did last time. Check that any medications are the same and that doctors and/or consultants are the same.

Read throught it carefull to make sure you are happy then send it off.

Good Luck

TT

ladybelle

Thanks for the quick reply so you mean I literally can almost copy it ? Does that apply to my sisters' back up statement too ?
I do have one change to report but I'm wary of doing it in case it goes against me but in fact it has made my situation worse as I'm agoraphobic and my husband has now walked out on me so I'm even more dependent on friends and family but not sure if that would be seen as a reason ?

tenacioust123

I would get your sister to write a new statement or someone else that knows you well. If you feel that your care needs have increased or your mobility needs have increased then include this on your renewal.

I always make a copy of my DLA forms.

Good luck

TT

cattie

I personally would never copy a form word for word. I'd use the same information but word it differently in some parts. DLA do have copies of previous forms & I can never be sure they don't refer to them sometimes with renewal claims.

When there has been no change in circumstances or needs, I feel it's worth putting a little effort into rewording your claim with the same information that got you an award previously, just in case. Just move sentences about here & there & change some of the descriptive wording.

If you have a thesaurus it will give you alternative descriptive words to chose from. Microsoft word has a built in thesaurus if you have that installed on your computer.

The fact that you now need more support from others because of your husband going means you have other information to add to what was contained on your last form.

If you have any additional information that won't fit on the form, put it on a seperate sheet/s of paper, remembering to put your name & national insurance no. at the top of each page.

ladybelle

No I cant bring myself to either. Been looking through it and trying to start to reword it. But it's so hard. And it's churning me up having to do it, making me feel panicky and very unsettled so it's hard to focus.
Will have a serious go at it tomorrow.

cattie

Ladybelle, can you not go see an experienced welfare rights advisor who could help you fill the forms in?

It would take a lot of the stress of doing the renewal away from you. If you can't do this then get a friend or relative help you do it. It doesn't have to be in your own handwriting, as long as it is signed by you anybody can fill the forms out for you. It's ok to even have 2 or 3 different peoples handwriting on a completed form, so you could do some yourself & get somebody else to fill out other parts for you if you prefer.

I believe it's also possible to fill forms out online now, meaning you can type in the info & save it, so you don't have to do it all in one go, which would be impossible anyway. :eek::eek::eek:

The benefit of being able to type in the info is that you can cut & paste to move the info around if it doesn't sound or hang right in any particular sentence or paragraph. Also, where the information needs duplicating in different sections you can just highlight & copy it in.

ladybelle

Thanks for that suggestion but there isnt anyone like that locally in my small town and I cant get anywhere else and I have to do this myself anyway - I can do them - it's just THE doing of them, if that makes sense and I'm becoming so panicky about the 'what if' scenarios if I dont get it.
I've got a Dr appointment today so she will do her little report for me same as last time - and then I've got a quiet weekend ahead so can do some over that and make a start on it. *sigh*

asperger

when i got mine done i went to the citizens advice and got them to fill it in and i had no problems

tenacioust123

ladybelle wrote: »

Thanks for that suggestion but there isnt anyone like that locally in my small town and I cant get anywhere else and I have to do this myself anyway - I can do them - it's just THE doing of them, if that makes sense and I'm becoming so panicky about the 'what if' scenarios if I dont get it.
I've got a Dr appointment today so she will do her little report for me same as last time - and then I've got a quiet weekend ahead so can do some over that and make a start on it. *sigh*

I tend to do mine in chunks, fill in all the easy bits first. Then start on the rest, I am a member of B&W too there is information on there regarding each question on the renewal form. Just do a bit at a time then walk away from it for a while.

I'm like you quite capable of filling it in myself but it is stressful. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

TT

ladybelle

Filled in the first page with my name and address LOL