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DLA reduced on review

Sorry just venting, here. .

My wife has been getting DLA, high rate mobility and middle care for some time -the award was indefinite, reviewed early last year. Her health has gone downhill in recent months and Social Services expressed surprised that due to the work I put in overnight, we were not getting high rate care. So they send a welfare rights guy round, who then sends for a nighttime review form, fills it in and sends it off. So what happens? DWP reduce the care to lowest rate!! We're so ****d off with them all now - we didn't want to rock the boat, but social services and welfare rights both said no, we were entitled to the higher rate..

Welfare rights are coming back tomorrow, but is this typical behaviour for DWP? Do they always reduce things, hoping people won't appeal, so they can save money? What a performance, and what stress to put us through - my wife is distraught now, it's money we can ill afford to lose.

Comments

  • pipkin71
    pipkin71 Posts: 21,821 Forumite
    irrelevant wrote: »
    Sorry just venting, here. .

    My wife has been getting DLA, high rate mobility and middle care for some time -the award was indefinite, reviewed early last year. Her health has gone downhill in recent months and Social Services expressed surprised that due to the work I put in overnight, we were not getting high rate care. So they send a welfare rights guy round, who then sends for a nighttime review form, fills it in and sends it off. So what happens? DWP reduce the care to lowest rate!! We're so ****d off with them all now - we didn't want to rock the boat, but social services and welfare rights both said no, we were entitled to the higher rate..

    Welfare rights are coming back tomorrow, but is this typical behaviour for DWP? Do they always reduce things, hoping people won't appeal, so they can save money? What a performance, and what stress to put us through - my wife is distraught now, it's money we can ill afford to lose.

    When I sent in a review, my DLA was increased, so it isn't standard to reduce it at review.

    You say you didn't want to rock the boat with regards benefits, so you could have simply said no thank you, and not put in for a review.

    Your option now is to appeal if you believe the decision to be wrong. On what grounds have they reduced the award? It tells you in your letter why they have come to that decision. Do you have evidence of where their decision is the wrong one?

    With reviews, people have to accept that it could go the other way and awards reduced.
    There is something delicious about writing the first words of a story. You never quite know where they'll take you - Beatrix Potter
  • In my experience this is typical behaviour of DWP. Each time after reapplying for my daughters DLA care - and her condition did deteriorate year upon year I might add - we were repeatedly turned down. Twice I won on appeal and third time tribunal decided in our favour. Each time the initial decision maker did not really have a valid argument but of course had the power to refuse the claim. I believe this to be purely an attempt to save money in the hope that people do not have the will or intelligence to challenge them
  • Board Guide comment

    If any poster would like to discuss the policy issues surrounding DLA please start a new thread on the discussion board, thanks!
  • dmg24
    dmg24 Posts: 33,920 Forumite
    10,000 Posts
    smashee72 wrote: »
    In my experience this is typical behaviour of DWP. Each time after reapplying for my daughters DLA care - and her condition did deteriorate year upon year I might add - we were repeatedly turned down. Twice I won on appeal and third time tribunal decided in our favour. Each time the initial decision maker did not really have a valid argument but of course had the power to refuse the claim. I believe this to be purely an attempt to save money in the hope that people do not have the will or intelligence to challenge them

    The DM is given no incentive to refuse claims. Perhaps the information you gave in your application was not sufficient? :confused:
    Gone ... or have I?
  • I always keep copies of everything, the renewals were identical each time except year upon year had additional details of deterioration . So Their decision making was not consistent in my case- my advice to anyone who has this problem is not to fall at the first hurdle but fight your case.
  • my wife has just been turned down for D.L.A on both things she has arthritec complain in her hands/arms/legs and feet, diabitees and cronic asma our G.Pand her her consultants wrote reports saying how she is unable to do things for herself and walk.ive told her to apeal but she said she didnt want to but when i showed her this she wants to apeal.
    hyltonlad
  • Indie_Kid
    Indie_Kid Posts: 23,097 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    smashee72 wrote: »
    I always keep copies of everything, the renewals were identical each time except year upon year had additional details of deterioration . So Their decision making was not consistent in my case- my advice to anyone who has this problem is not to fall at the first hurdle but fight your case.

    They probably don't use the same decision makers; so they'd all come to different conclusions.
    Sealed pot challenge #232. Gold stars from Sue-UU - :staradmin :staradmin £75.29 banked
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