DLA review

mercman1969

Daughter has Brain Stem Cancer and in January after challenging the DLA refusal she was awarded DLA at the lower rate

Wife went to see CAB today who have said that she should be on at least the middle rate for that condition and that they will assist with challenging the award

My question is -

Are we likely to be successful or is this simply going to add to our stresses?

dmg24

DLA awards are made on the basis of care needs, rather than the condition itself. Also, assuming your daughter is still a child, the award is based on the care needs of the claimant in addition to those of a healthy child.

It is difficult for anybody that does not have personal knowledge of your daughter's condition to say what award she should get. Perhaps you could speak with her specialist and ask for their opinion? Even then, remember it is only an opinion (medical specialists do not tend to have specialist benefits knowledge also), the ultimate decision would be with the DWP Decision Maker.

mercman1969

dmg24 wrote: »

DLA awards are made on the basis of care needs, rather than the condition itself. Also, assuming your daughter is still a child, the award is based on the care needs of the claimant in addition to those of a healthy child.

It is difficult for anybody that does not have personal knowledge of your daughter's condition to say what award she should get. Perhaps you could speak with her specialist and ask for their opinion? Even then, remember it is only an opinion (medical specialists do not tend to have specialist benefits knowledge also), the ultimate decision would be with the DWP Decision Maker.

Appreciate what you say, and we understand it is down to her condition. The situation has changed in that she has to have monthly examinations and we watch her constantly for tell tale signs of her requiring treatment

I suppose it is that change that has prompted CAB to state what they have done

In effect although she has recently started school...the school are instructed to watch her and when she is at home wife is her carer

jazabelle

Really sorry to hear about your daughter's condition. Sadly, needing doctors appointments and watching out for symptoms wouldn't be the kind of thing they are looking for.

They want to know does she need help with her care needs - directly relating to her condition, and not her age. Has her mobility been affected? Do you have to spend time at night with her? I don't know her age, but if she's older does she have problems with going to the toilet that you need to help with?

I don't know anything about that kind of cancer, so not sure what the symptoms are.