DLA Award Reduced

sunnyone

I had a lifetime award of HRM and MRC, I asked for it to be looked at again when I started needing more help at night and it was changed to HRM and HRC indefinate award without any problems a couple of years ago.

But I am reliant on others for most things and I had the medical evidence to prove it, I would advise anyone to make sure that you can back up your claim before asking for a suppersession and take independant advice to protect your current award.

TOBRUK

sunnyone wrote: »

I had a lifetime award of HRM and MRC, I asked for it to be looked at again when I started needing more help at night and it was changed to HRM and HRC indefinate award without any problems a couple of years ago.

But I am reliant on others for most things and I had the medical evidence to prove it, I would advise anyone to make sure that you can back up your claim before asking for a suppersession and take independant advice to protect your current award.

Thanks for that sunnyone. Can I ask how you go about informing them (when you are on indefinite awards for both) about changes in your condition? If you have HRM and LCR and you care needs have increased do they look at both or just the care? If you inform them by letter, do they send out the whole form again to fill in before they make any decision?

Indie_Kid

TOBRUK wrote: »

Thanks for that sunnyone. Can I ask how you go about informing them (when you are on indefinite awards for both) about changes in your condition? If you have HRM and LCR and you care needs have increased do they look at both or just the care? If you inform them by letter, do they send out the whole form again to fill in before they make any decision?

They look at both. This is why I always update them on my mobility needs; but can only get LRM.

sunnyone

TOBRUK wrote: »

Thanks for that sunnyone. Can I ask how you go about informing them (when you are on indefinite awards for both) about changes in your condition? If you have HRM and LCR and you care needs have increased do they look at both or just the care? If you inform them by letter, do they send out the whole form again to fill in before they make any decision?

I knew my mobilty was safe, I cant walk at all so I asked for just the care looked at but they may have looked at both.

I did fill the whole form in again, it was sent after I sent a letter, I was sure I couldnt go down but after reading some of the threads here I might not have done the same again now.

My case is pretty simple, most other peoples arnt as simple so you have to be very carefull before you ask for a supersession and its very wrong that severely disabled people are afraid to ask for what the awards that they should get and/or have to fight appeals.

nickyt

When I rang them and asked about my son's award I was told that when you ask for a reconsideration or appeal (which ever way you word it) they look at the whole award again. They can not just look at one piece of information and that by looking at the whole award you are at risk of losing some of the award, all of the award or you could get more but they can not tell you until the whole award has been looked at again.

MECFS_2

Tally-Ho wrote: »

You really do need to think and weigh up the possibilities such as could you manage without the High Mobility Component, and/or no Care Component in a worse case scenario versus being moderately better off every week.

Tally

Thanks for the well considered reply Tally. Unfortunately it is not a case of being moderately better off on medium rate care. In addition to the £30 a week reduction in DLA I would lose a £40 a week income support premium, and £30 in housing and council tax benefit. £100 a week is a big drop for me.

I have recieved the medical report from their doctor today. It is supportive of my case. My plan is to ask for a reconsideration going through all the specific points of care I was told I didn't need help with in their decision letter, using proof from the sources they said they used as evidence i.e. their doctors report, my GP report and my claim pack. In addition I will get a letter of support from my support worker who visits me at home explaining how my condition affects me. I am seeing a solicitor on Tuesday who will write out to my consultant for further evidence if required. Its a gamble but all I can do is get advice and try from there.

GlasweJen

I've been on middle care, lower mobility for years but at my last renewal they awarded nothing, I called them, asked them if they'd actually read my form (where i'd written specifically about blackouts) as their letter seemed to indicate that the person who didn't need DLA had no problems with fits or blackouts. A week later I had a letter telling me that my award had been reconsidered and I got my MC LM back indefinately.

My BIL can't walk due to only having one foot and the other has had really bad pig skin grafts, he's in constant agony and not even the ketamine drip helps. He applied for a renewal of his high mobility low care and got awarded low for both of them, appealed and got the whole award taken off him at tribunal despite turning up in his wheelchair.

MECFS_2

GlasweJen wrote: »

I've been on middle care, lower mobility for years but at my last renewal they awarded nothing, I called them, asked them if they'd actually read my form (where i'd written specifically about blackouts) as their letter seemed to indicate that the person who didn't need DLA had no problems with fits or blackouts. A week later I had a letter telling me that my award had been reconsidered and I got my MC LM back indefinately.

My BIL can't walk due to only having one foot and the other has had really bad pig skin grafts, he's in constant agony and not even the ketamine drip helps. He applied for a renewal of his high mobility low care and got awarded low for both of them, appealed and got the whole award taken off him at tribunal despite turning up in his wheelchair.

Just goes to show its not really an exact science this business - you are succesful but your partner isn't in getting the award. Decision makers do not always read the evidence in front of their own nose - I sent in some evidence, rang the section to check they had it and their response was a nervous one - she said she would 'try' to get the decision maker to 'actually read it'. It seems it is not a case of each claim is only as good as the evidence - it is also only as good as the decision maker looking at the evidence, which appears to be pot luck.

GlasweJen

Yep, I agree that it's all to do with how the decision makers see the awards, my BIL was told that normal amputees get used to losing their limb but clearly the DM didn't know much about bad skin grafts.

davsidipp

GlasweJen wrote: »

I've been on middle care, lower mobility for years but at my last renewal they awarded nothing, I called them, asked them if they'd actually read my form (where i'd written specifically about blackouts) as their letter seemed to indicate that the person who didn't need DLA had no problems with fits or blackouts. A week later I had a letter telling me that my award had been reconsidered and I got my MC LM back indefinately.

My BIL can't walk due to only having one foot and the other has had really bad pig skin grafts, he's in constant agony and not even the ketamine drip helps. He applied for a renewal of his high mobility low care and got awarded low for both of them, appealed and got the whole award taken off him at tribunal despite turning up in his wheelchair.

did your bil appeal against tribunial decision with his medical evidence how could they do that it seems wrong.