DLA Mobility rules for the blind are changing?

peediedj

when we applied for dla for our son years ago,we got middle rate mobility,then he was registered blind,we told dla,but they said nothing had changed,we appealled and got moved up to high rate

Skirge

peediedj wrote: »

when we applied for dla for our son years ago,we got middle rate mobility,then he was registered blind,we told dla,but they said nothing had changed,we appealled and got moved up to high rate

When I went from being registered partially sighted to registered blind I applied was refused appealed and was refused again.. but now under these new guidelines I should qualify.

peediedj

Skirge wrote: »

When I went from being registered partially sighted to registered blind I applied was refused appealed and was refused again.. but now under these new guidelines I should qualify.

mind you my son has many other disabilites so maybe that was the difference

Indie_Kid

Skirge wrote: »

I am shocked this is how they are doing it and we are not allowed to apply via a form

This would save the DWP / DLA unit so much time.

celbelle

My partner is registered blind, he has leber congenital amaurosis since birth. His name begins with B and he hasn't had a phone call yet. From what I've read I believe that he should receive it. Has anyone received a call yet?

sunnyone

celbelle wrote: »

My partner is registered blind, he has leber congenital amaurosis since birth. His name begins with B and he hasn't had a phone call yet. From what I've read I believe that he should receive it. Has anyone received a call yet?

the ammount of people registered blind and the number of people who will actually qualify from the DWPs own numbers dont tally, less than one in 6 people registered blind would quality in the first figures that the DWP published when the change was announced.

Ziggazee

Hope this helps :-

"The Regulations set out that a new prerequisite to entitlement is certification of severely sight impaired or blind by a consultant ophthalmologist. Entitlement is further referenced by satisfying one of two conditions:-

has visual acuity, with appropriate corrective lenses if necessary, of less than 3/60; or
has visual acuity of 3/60 or more, but less than 6/60, with appropriate corrective lenses if necessary, a complete loss of peripheral visual field and a central visual field of no more than 10° in total.

Individuals would be referred to the optometrist for a report of Visual Acuity and Visual Fields when a certificate of visual impairment (CVI) alone had not enabled a decision to be made regarding entitlement. Examples of when this may occur include,

When the individual was assessed as Severely Visually Impaired (SVI) before 2005;
Is not in possession of their CVI; or
Has a CVI that indicates that they do not meet the criteria, but a deterioration of their visual impairment can reasonably be expected since their CVI was issued.
.
The Eye Care Specialist Report will also be required for new claims from April 2011 and will become part of the suite of medical evidence reports. There will be a use for this form in cases involving a visual impairment for those who do not fulfil the criteria outlined above"

DLA are currently in the process of contacting all existing claimants of the benefit who they recognise may qualify.

nannytone_2

i was at the hospital this week for a laser procedure and I spoke to my consultant about this.
He was so angry. He said that only a handful of his 'registered blind' patients would be eligable for HRM.
I have to total loss of visual field, and central vision of less than 10 degrees........but brecause i can see nice bold black letters (2 lines) on a lit background, in a dark room..there is no possibility of qualifying.
i get LRC and LRM at present, but have been advised to go for MRC.
My consultant says the MRC would compensate for being unable to get HRM. But....... I don't feel I need MRC and am unwilling to exaggerate things in order to compensate.
I do however, NEED HRM, of which I dont stand a hope in hell of getting!

sorry, rant over lol

jonnypb

nannytone wrote: »

]i get LRC and LRM at present, but have been advised to go for MRC.

If you can get moved up to MRC then it is only £2 a week less than HRM

nannytone_2

i know, but that isnt the point i'm making. i don't need MRC...i could qualify for it but i refuse to exaggerate my problems in order to get it.
the problem i have is going out.......and i dont qualify!