Radio Five

Ted_Hutchinson

Chuffy wrote:

Thanks Ted - unsure of your last quote though - there's no comment associated with it.

Have added one now but basically you are about right.

Chuffy wrote:

Out of curiosity, who was the golfing EMP? Was it a guy called Malin (or something similar)

No idea. But there are a few who seem to make a career out of dashing round the country doing as many DLA claims in as short a time as possible. Most of the ones who are just doing it for pin money are fine as they aren't going for the maximum possible pay from this source of income.

Ted_Hutchinson

Poppycat wrote:

I only rang them up to ask for help with fuel as its really having a huge impact on our budget what with hike in fuel and now we need it on more, even today its on, on and evening. Thankfully we got a better boiler due to a insulation grant so that may help.

Don't forget the helpline at Cafamily It would be worth contacting them for general advice/support as well as for checking your benefit information.

Poppycat

Thanks Ted

Precious_Thing

One other thing that's definitely worth keeping in mind, is that you DO sometimes have ``something to lose'' asking for a decision to be looked at again or going to appeal. If you already get one level of DLA and are asking for an increase, they can actually give you LESS than you had previously. This can be a risk for some people, as awards can be reduced as well as increased or kept the same.

I have my first ever Tribunal this Friday at 10am. I have been off work 4 months, can't get any insurance for my mortgage or any life cover, yet at the same time, have to fight for every penny of DLA. It's so unjust.

Precious Thing.

cher31e

Hi there,
really have no idea if this will help anyone, im reapplying for the 3rd time for my son for dla,cross fingers everyone please.
But i was told about https://www.cerebra.org.uk
im hoping they have helped me, but like i say, im crossing fingers.
They breakdown every question, have lots of help on alsorts of form filling, advice, really useful.
Hope this helps, and sorry of someone mentioned this before
Cher

missile

Ted_Hutchinson wrote:

you need to check if it's OK for you to request this information with your WRA so you don't offend them.

Sounds like another bunch of jobs worths. Do they not get PAID to help?

Ted_Hutchinson

cher31e wrote:

But i was told about www.cerebra.org.uk
im hoping they have helped me, but like i say, im crossing fingers.
They breakdown every question, have lots of help on alsorts of form filling, advice, really useful.
Hope this helps, and sorry of someone mentioned this before
Cher

That is an excellent link you have provided Cher so thanks a million. This Guide to Claiming Disability Living Allowance A step-by-step guide to claiming DLA for children under 16 with brain related conditions is an up to date version of the guide people have to pay for if they want the Downloadable guides to claiming welfare benefits from Benefits and Work
I appreciate the authors need to live and those who can afford the Benefits and Work fee do get excellent value for money. But for those parents for whom £15 is a problem this link to a free upto date guide for claiming for a child with brain related conditions is wonderful.

Any person claiming for a child, irrespective of that child's particular needs will benefit from using this guide as obviously the bits that don't apply to your child can be ignored.

quidsinquentin

I don't wish to cause a fuss here..but on a BBC radio programme a couple of years ago, the issue of the doctors who do the (what was) DSS - now Benefits Agency - medical interviews was raised. It turns out that the doctors are actually just GPs from various surgeries around the country who apply to do the testing as they get paid for it. It saves the BA a lot of money.

It seems that if a doctor passes 10 out of 10 as unfit to work and eligible for benefits, they are not 'invited' back for any further medical interviewing (no more pay). They need (or so it was claimed during the programme) to pass around 50% as fit for work, and therefore not eligible for benefits. And I also seem to recall a GP saying that he withdrew from the scheme because pressure was put on him to pass people as fit for work, when they clearly weren't.

My O/H is fairly expert (she works for a specialised CAB) in this area. I hear some fairly horriffic stories (she never - ever - gives away anything like personal details, names, etc) about people being passed as fit for work, when they are clearly seriously ill. Some of the cases she's dealt with, of often traumatised people, have also had a serious effect on her health.

She's attended numerous tribunals now, and she has noticed that the tribunal panels are now much more ready to vociferously rebuke the medical interviewers and the Benefits Agency than they were in the past.

I suppose the point I'm making is that the person who makes your medical report for the BA can also be the person who interviews someone in your position a week later. Seems wrong somehow.

SMC_2

quidsinquentin wrote:

I don't wish to cause a fuss here..but on a BBC radio programme a couple of years ago, the issue of the doctors who do the (what was) DSS - now Benefits Agency - medical interviews was raised. It turns out that the doctors are actually just GPs from various surgeries around the country who apply to do the testing as they get paid for it. It saves the BA a lot of money.

A number of years ago the medicals were done by BAMS but now they are done by a company Atos Origin.

rozzid

bettyboo1963 wrote:

i applied for DLA a few years ago now with Degenerative discs in my lower back and was turned down.
I appealed and was turned down so I then went to tribunal, when on looking at my medical report was awarded High rate mobility and low rate care.Yipee.
In Dec 2004 my DLA ran out & I had to re apply, my circumstances had not changed with regards to my disability but I had lost nearly 8 stone in weight, I was turned down for DLA and decided to of course go back to tribunal.
I was seen by the panel of 3 people and was told that I was not entitled to DLA anymore as I had lost a large amount of weight.This was totally irrelevent to my disability but I lost all my benefits.:mad:

However I was told by a very kind man at the Disabilty Helpline that i could make a fresh claim straight away which I did.

So I waited while my claim was looked at and when I received my accePtance letter I could have cried: High Rate Mobility but no care this time.:T
So to re cap: I was turned down in a Tribunal in February 2005 but accepted by a fresh claim in March 2006, where is the logic in that.

My advice to anyone claiming DLA is to go to the Citizens Advice Bureau and see one of their special people who specialize in helping people to fill out the claim forms for DLA and MOST DEFINATELY APPEAL AGAINST ALL DECISIONS.

This sounds remarkably similar to my case. I was awarded DLA mobility at higher rate for a year then rejected 12 months later although my condition hadn't changed (I have non-specific chronic lower back pain and take LOTS of drugs to get through the day) I appealed and went to tribunal and was again turned down.:mad: But I was told that there was nothing else I could do but accept the decision. How do I get in touch with the Disability helpline Officer?? If you can help - please let me know.
Thanks