DLA and Blue Badge - why do they always say no.

Savvy_Sue

Have you had help with the form, or only ever done it yourself? A Welfare Rights adviser or someone from CAB may do a better job, not because they know better than you how you're affected, but they know what to put on the form.

TOBRUK

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Have you had help with the form, or only ever done it yourself? A Welfare Rights adviser or someone from CAB may do a better job, not because they know better than you how you're affected, but they know what to put on the form.

Hi SavvySue, my personal experience is that when I first applied for DLA I had help from CAB and was refused. I went to tribunal (CAB rep couldn't come with me) and won. The second time was the same but ever since then I have filled the re-application forms myself and have had no problem!

However, I suppose it depends on how good the person is you get at CAB or anywhere else.

Invasion

It's really important to state how often good/bad days are if you give examples of how often you need help on a good day, say you have X number of good days a week/month and X number of bad days. Otherwise they have no idea how much help you need on average.

Savvy_Sue

TOBRUK wrote: »

Hi SavvySue, my personal experience is that when I first applied for DLA I had help from CAB and was refused. I went to tribunal (CAB rep couldn't come with me) and won. The second time was the same but ever since then I have filled the re-application forms myself and have had no problem!

However, I suppose it depends on how good the person is you get at CAB or anywhere else.

I think once you've 'got the hang of it', it's much easier to DIY from the last one you did. Obviously keeping a copy of each one helps enormously - you can copy what you wrote before, making any changes as required. But you've then got the information, and you're in the mindset of 'what can't I do?' which probably isn't your main focus most of the time!

redleaf_2

Hi savvy sue,

Last time I filled in the form a relative helped me who's a social worker. She has helped lots of her clients fill them in, but maybe it's better to get help from someone non-related.

Thanks on the tip for saying how many good and bad days you have, invasion. I'm not sure of this myself, but if I gave it some thought I think I could work it out.

Sorry about thinking you meant an average day Tobruk. I can see giving examples of my worst and bad days is a good idea - it will give them a good range of information, and might help me out. I understand what you said about being honest with yourself. I'm usually pretty restrained when I write about that which I can't or need help doing - as quite frankly I don't like to think about it. I am going to have to print out all these posts I think as there's some excellent tips here, and I need some time to go through them all and properly consider and understand them. I received a letter this evening saying they are looking at my claim again as I suggested and I may not hear from them for 11 weeks (sigh). However, hopefully that time I can spend getting ready for the tribunal.

In response to SH1305 - without going into too much detail, I am ok going to the toilet and washing/having a shower (it may take me some hours to get around to doing it mind), and getting dressed. Cooking is a real problem for me, and social activities are really affected. I can't swim or anything like that. Housework is also a massive problem (basically I can't do most of it). I never really expected to get the care component though, I have to say.

I wonder sometimes - these doctors and specialists and medical proffessionals all say you should apply and should be getting DLA and what not, but I'm not sure they actually know the criteria. I only say this because I've only ever applied under the guidance of the medical profession!

TOBRUK

redleaf, I know it's hard to take time thinking about what you can't do or have great difficulty with - it's depressing and it's admitting to yourself that you're not as capable as you like to think.

I get low care rate (I did have middle care rate for a while) and I too have difficulty cooking anything (sometimes I feel too exhausted to eat!) - in their letter saying I was successful and being awarded DLA this time they stated that I was being awarded LOW CARE RATE because I had difficulty preparing a meal.

I too have problems with having a shower (which exhausts me) and I'm unable to have a bath because I am then too weak to get out. Dressing takes ages, that's if I get dressed at all which isn't very often. If I do get dressed, after a while I have to get undressed because my body hurts so much.

I don't have a social life, last time my sisters took me out for a meal, halfway through the main meal I started shutting down, I was too tired to speak, hurting all over and ended up lying down for 3 days later.

If people come to see me I tire quickly. Sometimes can't tolorate noise/sounds, such as tv. I can no longer read very much - can't remember what I've read or can't make sense of it - my mind is scrambled.

Housework! If I manage to change the bed that's me shattered and unable to do anything else.

I know exactly what you are going through and yes, I do believe you also should get care rate.

Once I had a good job I loved with excellent prospects at the BBC, a great social life which was hectic, and loved going places - I lost it all. My GP told me she doesn't think I will ever work again.

Sorry for long post but want you to know that I understand and you should try for both mobility and care component of DLA.

The very best of luck.

redleaf_2

Hi Tobruk,

Thanks for the last post and your encouraging words. Hearing what you have gone through certainly sheds a bit of a light on what they do and don't award for. I wish you the best of luck with any more dealings with DLA you may have in the future also. I think the whole process is far too confusing.

Thanks to everyone who has posted. It's cleared quite a few things up for me, and has given me a boost to carry on the process. I am going to take all the advice from this forum and apply it to myself, ie. work out how many good and bad days, examples of better and worst etc., so that if I have to take it to tribunal I will be prepared. I am going to contact CAB or a disability action group to see if they will help me.

Thanks again everyone. You can't imagine how greatful I am!

Indie_Kid

It may help you to keep a diary.

Invasion

Housework unfortunately isn't considered in DLA forms.. However, if the inability to do housework interferes with your social life then it may count, i.e, you want to invite friends over but you're too ill to be out of bed and sitting up, so you'd like them to sit in your bedroom with you, but you've been too ill to change your sheets for a while, or do the washing up and your bedroom is a mess covered in dirty places etc, if you need care then to change your sheets and do the washing up in order to see friends, it may count.

joyciebird

Invasion wrote: »

Housework unfortunately isn't considered in DLA forms.. However, if the inability to do housework interferes with your social life then it may count, i.e, you want to invite friends over but you're too ill to be out of bed and sitting up, so you'd like them to sit in your bedroom with you, but you've been too ill to change your sheets for a while, or do the washing up and your bedroom is a mess covered in dirty places etc, if you need care then to change your sheets and do the washing up in order to see friends, it may count.

The only time domestic help is considered in award of DLA is if it is linked to a specific need, say for instance someone is incontinent and has an accident with requires changing the sheets, putting the bedding in the laundry, this is considered, but the example you gave is not taken into account