Devastated after DLA refusal

Prinzessilein

I have dyspraxia and Aspergers Syndrome. Dyspraxia was diagnosed when I was 11 (A long time ago as I am now late 40s). Aspergers is more of a problem, as I was diagnosed last year, but then moved house. My new GP says that all paperwork regarding Aspergers has gone missing. The specialist I saw has gone to India and there are no copies of his reports....so my new GP is starting the process again by refering me to a psychiatrist.
I am currently unable to work. My GP signs sick notes to say I am unable to even look for work. I have also applied for DLA. I have just had a letter telling me that my application has been refused. I was so careful with the form, even getting help from 'experts' at the DIAL charity. I gave full details of my disability, and yet the letter says that they believe I can walk adequately, I do not suffer anxiety attacks, I am fully capable of going out unaccompanied in unfamiliar places, and I have no problems communicating. But I explained that I do have all those problems! Why don't they believe me? Do they think I lied on my form?
I am in such a mess at the moment. I am petrified that they will now stop my Incapacity Benefit and Housing Benefit unless I look for work. Honestly, I can't do that at the moment.
The DLA would have been so useful. I live on benefits and the extra money could have made such a difference. (I really need a can-opener that opens tins on its own, as I can't open cans normally, my coordination is too clumsy....and I could really use a laundry basket on wheels....little things I know, but the DLA would've helped me get them!)
I am so isolated. Some days I can't leave my bedsit. I rely so much on my mum who is in her 80s. (It's awful I know, but I already have my suicide planned for when she dies....I can't cope without her....but that's a bit morbid, and I hope she'll be around for a few more years!)
I know I could appeal against the decision. But is there any point? I had help with the forms and wasn't believed. (and that hurts so much....I don't tell lies!) What hope is there of being believed this time? I don't cope well with stress. Do the appeals work?

magpiedawn

Just wanted to say HELLO.
I don't tell lies,i know you dont.
i have 2 people in my family with aspergers and one of them has dyspraxia too,and i know because of their condition they can't tell a lie either,and yes it is worth appealing,go back to dial and they will help you.DLA is a different benifit to IB and your housing allowance won't stop.
I found your thread while i was looking for another,and because it struck such a chord i didn't want to leave you without a reply,but i am sure someone will be along and be able to help you more.
Magpiedawn x

di3004

Prinzessilein wrote: »

I have dyspraxia and Aspergers Syndrome. Dyspraxia was diagnosed when I was 11 (A long time ago as I am now late 40s). Aspergers is more of a problem, as I was diagnosed last year, but then moved house. My new GP says that all paperwork regarding Aspergers has gone missing. The specialist I saw has gone to India and there are no copies of his reports....so my new GP is starting the process again by refering me to a psychiatrist.
I am currently unable to work. My GP signs sick notes to say I am unable to even look for work. I have also applied for DLA. I have just had a letter telling me that my application has been refused. I was so careful with the form, even getting help from 'experts' at the DIAL charity. I gave full details of my disability, and yet the letter says that they believe I can walk adequately, I do not suffer anxiety attacks, I am fully capable of going out unaccompanied in unfamiliar places, and I have no problems communicating. But I explained that I do have all those problems! Why don't they believe me? Do they think I lied on my form?
I am in such a mess at the moment. I am petrified that they will now stop my Incapacity Benefit and Housing Benefit unless I look for work. Honestly, I can't do that at the moment.
The DLA would have been so useful. I live on benefits and the extra money could have made such a difference. (I really need a can-opener that opens tins on its own, as I can't open cans normally, my coordination is too clumsy....and I could really use a laundry basket on wheels....little things I know, but the DLA would've helped me get them!)
I am so isolated. Some days I can't leave my bedsit. I rely so much on my mum who is in her 80s. (It's awful I know, but I already have my suicide planned for when she dies....I can't cope without her....but that's a bit morbid, and I hope she'll be around for a few more years!)
I know I could appeal against the decision. But is there any point? I had help with the forms and wasn't believed. (and that hurts so much....I don't tell lies!) What hope is there of being believed this time? I don't cope well with stress. Do the appeals work?

Hello there

So sorry to hear of this and I know how you feel.

We asked them to reconsider for my son he is 14 now but was finally awarded DLA after an appeal/tribunal.

You can ask for a reconsideration withing the first month of the letter if I remember rightly, then if they do not change the decision you can appeal and take it from there.

My son has Aspergers Syndrome, anxiety disorders and complex needs, we had to take him out of school because of this and now I home educate him myself.
When he was first turned down a few years ago we were also devastated as the forms are so long and so frustrating.

So if you want to contact them to ask if they can take another look, ask for a reconsideration, also for another adjudicator to look at this, and if you can send in further information as well.

Maybe support letters from anyone who knows you can help to back your application.;)

Good luck with this, you will get there in the end.

ladybelle

Prinzessilein wrote: »

I have dyspraxia and Aspergers Syndrome. Dyspraxia was diagnosed when I was 11 (A long time ago as I am now late 40s). Aspergers is more of a problem, as I was diagnosed last year, but then moved house. My new GP says that all paperwork regarding Aspergers has gone missing. The specialist I saw has gone to India and there are no copies of his reports....so my new GP is starting the process again by refering me to a psychiatrist.
I am currently unable to work. My GP signs sick notes to say I am unable to even look for work. I have also applied for DLA. I have just had a letter telling me that my application has been refused. I was so careful with the form, even getting help from 'experts' at the DIAL charity. I gave full details of my disability, and yet the letter says that they believe I can walk adequately, I do not suffer anxiety attacks, I am fully capable of going out unaccompanied in unfamiliar places, and I have no problems communicating. But I explained that I do have all those problems! Why don't they believe me? Do they think I lied on my form?
I am in such a mess at the moment. I am petrified that they will now stop my Incapacity Benefit and Housing Benefit unless I look for work. Honestly, I can't do that at the moment.
The DLA would have been so useful. I live on benefits and the extra money could have made such a difference. (I really need a can-opener that opens tins on its own, as I can't open cans normally, my coordination is too clumsy....and I could really use a laundry basket on wheels....little things I know, but the DLA would've helped me get them!)
I am so isolated. Some days I can't leave my bedsit. I rely so much on my mum who is in her 80s. (It's awful I know, but I already have my suicide planned for when she dies....I can't cope without her....but that's a bit morbid, and I hope she'll be around for a few more years!)
I know I could appeal against the decision. But is there any point? I had help with the forms and wasn't believed. (and that hurts so much....I don't tell lies!) What hope is there of being believed this time? I don't cope well with stress. Do the appeals work?

I am so sorry - I cant help on specific advice about aspergers but there's lots of friendly people here who can, and on the process of the appeal. I'm currently waiting for my renewal and terrified it will be turned down. So many seem to be being turned down now.
I would appeal it though if mine is turned down and I hope you find the strength and help to do so. Good luck !!

di3004

Some information here:

http://www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/moneyandlegal/disabilitybenefits/Pages/DLAandAAchallenges.aspx

And a bit of information from the link posted.;)

One of the ways to challenge a decision is to ask the DWP to look at the decision again. The other is to appeal to an appeal tribunal.

When the person you're looking after asks the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to reconsider a decision, a decision-maker can ask the person you look after to attend a medical examination and use the medical report from this to help them to come to a new decision.

You don't have to explain your case in person. The decision-maker will base their decision on any forms you have completed, reports from any medicals you have attended, and any letters or other documents you have sent. The decision-maker can ask you to attend a medical examination if you ask them to look at their decision again.

When reconsidering a decision, a decision-maker within the DWP will examine all the case papers. The case papers are the forms the person you're looking after has completed, reports from any medicals they have attended, and any letters or other documents they have sent. Having looked at the case papers, the decision-maker will see if they can come to a different decision. They will inform the person you're looking after of the outcome.

If they have been refused a benefit, they will need to send in more evidence to show why they think they're entitled to benefit. It's worth getting someone to help them challenge the decision.

If they have been refused a benefit then they have one month to ask the DWP to look at the decision again. If the DWP agrees that they're entitled to the benefit, they will be paid it from the day that they first asked for it.
If the person you look after is already getting some Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Attendance Allowance, and he or she asks the DWP to look at the decision again, the decision-maker can remove a component of DLA as well as award one. It can also decide to pay a lower rate of a component as well as increasing the amount it pays. You should seek advice if you're worried about this.

The person you're looking after can ask the DWP to look at a decision again at any time if they want to dispute the level of benefit they're already receiving. For instance, if you're getting the lowest rate of the care component of DLA and you believe you might be entitled to the middle rate. However, you will only be paid at a higher rate from the date that you asked them to look at the decision again.

If a decision has been made on your claim and it was based on an official error, then the decision can be looked at again at any time. If the benefit is awarded, it will be paid from the date of the original claim.

Jowo_2

For the emotional problems you have, try the Samaritans

http://www.samaritans.org/

"
Samaritans provides confidential non-judgemental emotional support, 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide.
Whatever you're going through, whether it's big or small, don't bottle it up. We are here for you if you're worried about something, feel upset or confused, or just want to talk to someone.
We offer our service by telephone, email, letter and face to face in most of our branches."

rosie-lee

Hi. I can't help either but didn't want to look and leave, knowing how awful you must be feeling.

All I can say is that you have already been given some great advice and I am sure more people will come along offering support or help.

Please don't feel alone and frightened, the situations which make you feel worse are all too often sorted out.

Your not at the end of the road in a dead end, you can still carry on with the appeal no matter how daunting that may seem right now.


There are some wonderful people on here so the very best of luck to you and very well done for reaching out and posting for help.

McKneff

:hello:I just wanted to say 'hello' too

I'm off to Scotland tomorrow so am busy packing, will keep an eye out for you when i get back.

di3004

McKneff wrote: »

:hello:I just wanted to say 'hello' too

I'm off to Scotland tomorrow so am busy packing, will keep an eye out for you when i get back.

Have a lovely time.:AXX

Prinzessilein

Thank you all! Aspergers means that I don't relate well to other people - which leads to feeling really isolated. It was fantastic to find so much support here.
I've also had a look at some other threads here on the topic of appealing against a DLA decision. I'm going to get mum to take me back to DIAL and see about putting in an appeal.
Although I have periods when I feel low - and who doesn't! - the thoughts /plans for suicide are very much in the future (I hope!) as it is only that I can't conceive of any future for me without mum.
I have another appointment with my GP booked for the beginning of July. Hopefully, he will be able to tell me that he's arranged the referral. These things just seem to take so long. For someone with a condition that means she gets really stressed and anxious, it makes things even more difficult.
If nothing else, this board has let me see I'm not alone in struggling with Aspergerers or the difficulties of dealing with claiming DLA. (I am far from unintelligent - I'm multilingual and have Post Graduate science qualifications....but those forms seem designed to be incomprehensible!)
Thank you all again.

di3004

Prinzessilein wrote: »

Thank you all! Aspergers means that I don't relate well to other people - which leads to feeling really isolated. It was fantastic to find so much support here.
I've also had a look at some other threads here on the topic of appealing against a DLA decision. I'm going to get mum to take me back to DIAL and see about putting in an appeal.
Although I have periods when I feel low - and who doesn't! - the thoughts /plans for suicide are very much in the future (I hope!) as it is only that I can't conceive of any future for me without mum.
I have another appointment with my GP booked for the beginning of July. Hopefully, he will be able to tell me that he's arranged the referral. These things just seem to take so long. For someone with a condition that means she gets really stressed and anxious, it makes things even more difficult.
If nothing else, this board has let me see I'm not alone in struggling with Aspergerers or the difficulties of dealing with claiming DLA. (I am far from unintelligent - I'm multilingual and have Post Graduate science qualifications....but those forms seem designed to be incomprehensible!)
Thank you all again.

Hi hun

We will also try to help as much as we can to get you through this, and I know there are amazing people on here as well to give the advice and information you need.;)
Only to say as well if you want to PM me your very welcome.
Good luck. XX