First DLA application!!

ethika

Quite a few applications are refused first time, or if granted they are at a lower rate than needed.
First, always have help filling in the form - the CAB is excellent at this. Applicants can be confused as to the answers required to questions such as: How far can you walk without discomfort? Discomfort is different from pain, when I first qualified for DLA I could walk without discomfort for about 10 metres, pain would kick in by about 30 metres. Other questions about bathing, cooking, etc ask you are you able to do these things - if you can 3 days out of 7, then you can't because what do you do the other 4 days. An answer which says 'on a good day I can . . . . .' is asking for a refusal. In most cases it is best to truthfully give the worse cas scenario.
DISAGREE WITH A DECISION - APPEAL WITHIN ONE MONTH - the CAB run an appeals service which is very good. Your local government, through the Occupational Therapist will help with applications and appeals, attending hearings if necessary.
The Occupational Therapist recommendation can also help with accessing some other local government services, such as Disabled Facilities Grants which may cover such items as bed risers, stair rails, and under certain circumstances may help with costs for stair lifts or specially equipped showers.
There are other organizations which can also help, and failing all else ask around and see if you can find locally to you someone like myself who successfully provides this service privately for little cost - and often for no cost at all. I am not touting for your business - I am up to my eyes in DLA and other benefit applications, as well as several arguments with gas, electricity, telephone and water companies on behalf of clients, many of whom are not disabled but find coping with utility companies very difficult.

Indie_Kid

ethika wrote: »

Applicants can be confused as to the answers required to questions

I agree.

Mine was refused and 2 different organisations (CAB & CLA) were stunned than I didn't at least get one of the components - CLA said I should be at least on LRM and CAB said I should at least be on LRC.

CAB helped me and I got both for an indefinite period. I am now reapplying to get MRC.

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.

When I did my second form, they wrote back with the opposite too. They also said "you could always ask someone to supervise you on stairs; but you do not need help from another person". Um, am I missing something here? Isn't supervision also classed as help? A lot of what I need is just supervision.

I'm not sure what's worse - that or being told at my tribunal that I could just nappies / pads. (I have bowel problems - but imo, they're not serious enough to warrant wearing nappies / pads. Wearing them would also create additional needs) As if that would solve anything. There is no way on earth I'm walking around wearing nappies and it's not as if I can change them myself.

seven-day-weekend

The only time I have had anything to do with DLA forms was when myself, my husband and my son helped his girlfriend to fill in her application (she has Aspergers' Syndrome). She received LRC and LRM (what we expected) first time round.

However, if she had filled in the form on her own, she would not have explained fully enough and may well not have got it because she had not given enough information.

We told them every little thing that she needed help with , two or three times if necessary, also spelled out her mobility needs in words of one syllable. She also had a statement from an Educational Psychologist, done when she was at Uni, we sent a copy of this in too and referred to it on the form.

I think it is important to fill in the form accurately, but assuming the person reading it knows nothing about your condition.

KrazyKel

i had mine refused on my renewal, i put in the forms about my knee giving way and sometimes fall, in their reasons they put 'no risk of falling or injury' or something along those lines

They were so quick with the decision too, had a letter saying they recieved my application and my refusal both arrive the same day (but dates 2 days apart)

bondgirl77

Just to add another voice to the chorus of YES, appeal! My husband has mobility problems and his speech is severely impaired following a stroke, we got refused the first time and now get HRM and LRC. Others are right, spell out in words of one syllable what your problems are and always emphasize the worst of your bad days in terms of spelling out what it is that is wrong. The CAB will help you with this. Also another useful thing to do is photocopy your form - it is a hassle, but you will have to fill it out again, I think it's after the first 6 months or a year and it's enormously helpful to have it to hand when you do it again so you can word it similarly. Good luck, it is a horribly long form and I heard they automatically refuse a high percentage of the claims first time around so you are definitely not alone!

oystercatcher

I filled in my own forms and was awarded LRM & LRC on first application. So it can happen.

nichart20

I must have been another person that fell lucky I filled it in myself and got a reply back within week with what I was awarded I have since had a renewal and got back reply quickly

Doom_and_Gloom

OP (and others that have been refused that should get DLA) I do hope you have appealed as it does help. Since my last post I have had a letter through saying they have accepted that I need help before it went through to appeal as we did a reconsideration first. I am now reciving high mobility and mid rate care indefinitly and they had to back date it all as well! I don't understand how they refused me in the first place and now say 'oh yes you are entitled, and we can see it's not likely to improve any time soon so it's indefinite'. However I thought you might like to know that these things do happen even though they shouldn't.

celinepatricia

doom and gloom... I am so glad that the DLA have revised the decision and you have got what you are entitled to... Lets hope the rest of us who have appealed are as sucessful.

metalgal

i felt like dla didn't read my application either. have similar thread titled DLA Refusal Cos They're Stupid.

I realised they couldn't have read it properly when they said that i did not require supervision at any time. I had put in the form that i required 24 hour supervision, under orders from a mental health professional, as i posed a threat to myself. I must constantly have someone with me to stop me self harming, i sometimes do it without realising it. Also when i leave the house i suffer from panic attacks unless im with my husband in a virtually empty place.