First DLA application!!

celinepatricia

When you first apply for DLA does everybody get a refusal letter with reasons on it, that when you read them, it is obvious they havnt even read your application?

concerned43

No - why have you?

jazabelle

I certainly have. It's like everything is the exact opposite to what I said. Me: "I need a lot of help getting out of the shower, bed, whatever" and a lot of detail about the exact help I need. Them: "You don't need any help at all."

I put I struggle to walk, but I walk slowly with a walking stick, with breaks, have to sit down at times and sometimes need to lean on someone, I can walk about 20 to 30 metres on a better day. They put: You can walk 600 metres with no trouble.

I mean 600?? What? Where did they even pull that from, other than the obvious?

celinepatricia

yes... filled it in with the help of a lady who works for a carers association. my husband has been off work now for 8 months, he has renal cancer and had his kidney removed. he has a massive scar from front to back around his middle and he has got a huge post operative bulge where his muscles have not managed to heal properly... he is in a lot of pain and needs a lot of help, all of which we filled in on the forms. he cannot walk very far (about 30yards) before he has to stop because of pain... he cannot sort his medicines (he is diabetic) he cannot cook because he cannot bend to put things in the oven, and, he is on strong painkillers, so, if he did manage to put something in the oven he could fall asleep and burn the house down!!! I just cant believe I got this letter back saying you can walk 400meters and you can cook and do not need help.. i am sure that they cannot possible have read it.....

celinepatricia

have you appealed Jazabelle?

[Deleted User]

appeal,you have one montn to do so,get help with this from welfare rights or cab

blue_haddock

I have had the very same thing happen with my application. I stated similar kinds of things as you - difficulty walking, getting in and out of bath etc and had my local DIAL assist filling the forms in. Eventually i get an rejection back because they think that i can do pretty much everything i said that i cant, this was allegedly based on the info in the application and the letter they got from the rheumatology consultant.

When i called them regarding it i asked for a copy of the letter from the consultant which they duly sent me. It states they have not assesed me in the way tha DLA require but could do so if required for a fee. They then sent them a copy of my notes and the referal letters between GP and specialists.

Having read the notes i have no idea how they have reached the conclusions that they have. Surely if i state i have trouble picking things up and my medical notes state there is swelling and tenderness in my hand joints along with limited movement in my shoulders, elbow and wrist that should be sufficient evidence to confirm what i have written?

jazabelle

celinepatricia wrote: »

have you appealed Jazabelle?

I will do. I haven't had the letter long. I've been trying to gain the energy to get through the appeal process.

I will be visiting the CAB tomorrow to get the appeal form.

Prinzessilein

I don't think anyone read my first application! I had help from DIAL to fill it in, but when it came back as a rejection the reasons looked as if they were talking about someeon totally different to me!b They told me I don't have any care needs, I don't need any help outside, I never have panic attacks....I think they took the form I wrote and wrote the eaxct opposite!
DIAL handled my appeal and I was awarded LRC and LRM - indefinite awards as I am obviously not going to recover....well if it they can see that, why did they refuse me initially?!

blue_haddock

It does seem as if everyones first application is virtually always refused.

At least this gives me a bit of hope as i now know its not just me!

Good luck everyone!

Doom_and_Gloom

Yes, I got refused and have appealed. My doctor and physio were amazed that I got refused as my condition limits what I can do quite alot. I can't walk without aids. I'm constantly in pain. If I walk too far one day I'm nearly bed bound the next. I need help getting in and out the bath (had to admit defeat on this one after falling over too many times).

My dad thinks a blind person reveiwed my DLA application as the letter sent back was all the opposite to what I stated on the form. I know I have a rare condition so not many of these cases will come up but it seems to us they didn't even contact the relivant doctors to do with it all. I've seen a lot of doctors, had loads of different scans, seen the pain clinic, seen a physio etc. All they have been able to do is help me so the pain has not got worse and that my mobility not get to much worse! There isn't much more they can do without surgery which they don't want to do incase they damage my spinal cord.

OP I hope your husband is coping okay. It is difficult being in so much pain as I know. I also hope you are okay. I watch my partner helping me and it does take it out of him although I know he will never complain about it. Make sure you have time to yourself sometimes to give yourself a break. It's not easy being a carer to a partner as you are on the go all the time. Make sure you take care of yourself as well.