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DLA for incontinence

Hi
I am a regular poster but posting under the new name as I am known by family and friends on here and want to protect the identity of the person I am enquiring about.

My former husband, has from birth suffered urinary incontinence due to a medical condition, he has also had a colostomy since the age of 10 because of the same condition.

He works full time (he has a very understanding boss that lets him leave and return if he has an accident). He is in hospital at least 4-5 times a year and has been since we met 18 years ago.

He has remarried, but speaking from experience she is getting up at least 3-4 times a week at night to change the bedding, getting them washed immediately while he showers etc. Social life is fairly limited as while he can take spare clothes to change, you can't really go into a pub/restaurant, family gathering in one set of clothes and leave in another! To the point where on a few occasions he is sat in a supermarket toilet while you go off to buy him new trousers and underwear. And without being offensive at times he actually smells of urine.

He has a blue badge because of the need to get to a toilet immediately, but has been turned down point blank for DLA. Is this a fair decision or is it worth him appealing?
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Comments

  • sunnyone
    sunnyone Posts: 4,716 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    MrsHelpful wrote: »
    Hi
    I am a regular poster but posting under the new name as I am known by family and friends on here and want to protect the identity of the person I am enquiring about.

    My former husband, has from birth suffered urinary incontinence due to a medical condition, he has also had a colostomy since the age of 10 because of the same condition.

    He works full time (he has a very understanding boss that lets him leave and return if he has an accident). He is in hospital at least 4-5 times a year and has been since we met 18 years ago.

    He has remarried, but speaking from experience she is getting up at least 3-4 times a week at night to change the bedding, getting them washed immediately while he showers etc. Social life is fairly limited as while he can take spare clothes to change, you can't really go into a pub/restaurant, family gathering in one set of clothes and leave in another! To the point where on a few occasions he is sat in a supermarket toilet while you go off to buy him new trousers and underwear. And without being offensive at times he actually smells of urine.

    He has a blue badge because of the need to get to a toilet immediately, but has been turned down point blank for DLA. Is this a fair decision or is it worth him appealing?

    How on earth did he get a blue badge for incontinance?
  • Dave101t
    Dave101t Posts: 4,157 Forumite
    must be a full moon....
    Target Savings by end 2009: 20,000
    current savings: 20,500 (target hit yippee!)
    Debts: 8000 (student loan so doesnt count)

    new target savings by Feb 2010: 30,000
  • dmg24
    dmg24 Posts: 33,925 Forumite
    The DWP guidance on incontinence would suggest that a DLA award would not be suitable unless it was due to cancer or severe mental illness.
    Gone ... or have I?
  • Indie_Kid
    Indie_Kid Posts: 23,085 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    DLA is given for care and /or mobility needs; not the name of the condition.
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  • MrsHelpful
    MrsHelpful Posts: 32 Forumite
    sunnyone wrote: »
    How on earth did he get a blue badge for incontinance?

    Because of the urgency in getting to a toilet, I guess you or I would be embarrassed walking through town with wet or soiled clothes.
  • sunnyone
    sunnyone Posts: 4,716 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    MrsHelpful wrote: »
    Because of the urgency in getting to a toilet, I guess you or I would be embarrassed walking through town with wet or soiled clothes.

    Under what grounds was his BB awarded, because there arent any for continance and he certainly dosnt need a wide bay, it makes a mockery of the system.

    I have walked through town drenched in blood when I hemoraged but thats not a disablity.
  • MrsHelpful
    MrsHelpful Posts: 32 Forumite
    dmg24 wrote: »
    The dwp guidance on incontinence would suggest that a DLA award would not be suitable unless it was due to cancer or severe mental illness.

    Thats why it was declined then, its not cancer (thank god). It is due to sacral agenesis which also causes a very unique walking gait, one of his anaesthetists was quite suprised he could walk at all due to the severity of the sacral agenesis, but he is fully mobile with no problems on that score, just a strange walk.
  • MrsHelpful
    MrsHelpful Posts: 32 Forumite
    sh1305 wrote: »
    DLA is given for care and /or mobility needs; not the name of the condition.

    Thanks, I just thought I would ask on his behalf.
  • MrsHelpful
    MrsHelpful Posts: 32 Forumite
    sunnyone wrote: »
    Under what grounds was his BB awarded, because there arent any for continance and he certainly dosnt need a wide bay, it makes a mockery of the system.

    I have walked through town drenched in blood when I hemoraged but thats not a disablity.

    You haemorrhaged once, he has accidents 3-4 times a day. Thanks for the abuse and sarcasm though. I was merely asking a question and your immaturity was not required.
  • sunnyone
    sunnyone Posts: 4,716 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    MrsHelpful wrote: »
    Thats why it was declined then, its not cancer (thank god). It is due to sacral agenesis which also causes a very unique walking gait, one of his anaesthetists was quite suprised he could walk at all due to the severity of the sacral agenesis, but he is fully mobile with no problems on that score, just a strange walk.

    And a blue badge!
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