DLA claim advice needed please.

Crisp_£_note

Hi

Today I have received a letter from the DLA which is dated 28th April. It advises me that they "are sorry that we have not given you a decision on your claim for DLA yet" then it says "What happens next ~ we will deal with your claim as quickly as we an. Do not worry you won't lose any money. We will will write to you as soon as we can with more information".

I applied almost 8 weeks ago (it will be on Saturday) and this is the second time I have tried to make a claim. The first being 3 years ago when it was refused and I went to appeal where it was still turned down, since then my health has deteriorated.

Does anyone know why there would be a hold up and how much longer I am expected to wait o why they cant explain what the issue is in the letter rather than leaving me wondering?

Can anyone suggest what I can do or should I just be patient? I am anxious that phoning them up to question whats going on will go against me.

Thanks

joey75

my 16 year old sons claim has taken 17 weeks and still waiting

[Deleted User]

Rining them wont go against you but it wont make them assess your claim any quicker.

These things take time. They get thousands of applications and have to assess them all, the only ones that get priority are those for people under special rules.
8 Weeks is not so long, some people wait 3+ months for a decision and then still have to wait to go through appeal etc. But if you are awarded your claim will be paid from the day you rang and asked for the forms so you wont actually lose anything by them taking their time.

Indie_Kid

12 weeks is the normal time to wait. (and their estimate)

KeaneFan10

It can take weeks sorry to be a downer ... My son has been getting DLA since he was 4 his claim was renewed a few weeks ago, i had the same letter about a decision and a few weeks later i had another stating they wanted a GP report which they got Thomas was awarded HRC HRM for 4 years until he is 16, so i am thinking they are more than likely wanting more information and they will ask you for this very soon if they are not already looking in to it x

Crisp_£_note

Hi

I'ts not that I am impatient rather that its a bit stressful with 'empty' information.

Thanks for the replies so far

kingfisherblue

OP, you say that your health has deteriorated - I don't mean to sound rude, but DLA is not decided on your health, but on your care needs.

As others have said, twelve weeks is the average wait, but it isn't unusual to wait longer, especially if they need to get reports from your doctor or specialist.

TOBRUK

Crisp_£_note wrote: »

Hi

Today I have received a letter from the DLA which is dated 28th April. It advises me that they "are sorry that we have not given you a decision on your claim for DLA yet" then it says "What happens next ~ we will deal with your claim as quickly as we an. Do not worry you won't lose any money. We will will write to you as soon as we can with more information".

I applied almost 8 weeks ago (it will be on Saturday) and this is the second time I have tried to make a claim. The first being 3 years ago when it was refused and I went to appeal where it was still turned down, since then my health has deteriorated.

Does anyone know why there would be a hold up and how much longer I am expected to wait o why they cant explain what the issue is in the letter rather than leaving me wondering?

Can anyone suggest what I can do or should I just be patient? I am anxious that phoning them up to question whats going on will go against me.

Thanks

The letter you received is a standard letter which they send out around the 8 week mark if they haven't made a decision - it is not "a hold up" and is just to let you know that a decision has not yet been made, so don't read anything into it. At the bottom of the letter you would have received on receipt of your application it states that if you haven't heard anything after 8 weeks you may contact them.

With my last claim I received this standard letter that they hadn't yet made a decision (after approx 5 weeks), but it also stated that they had contacted my GP for a report. I didn't wait long for the decision letter following this - it was actually around the 8 weeks in all from sending my re-application.

I know that it's stressful waiting for the brown envelope but I'm sure you won't have to wait too long. If you don't hear anything after a week or so why don't you phone them - they are very helpful.

Saversue

My re-assessment said contact them after 11 weeks. I had one letter in-between saying they had not yet been able to make a decision (usually get lots more letters, every few weeks).
After 11 weeks i contacted them and was told they were still waiting for a response from one of my consultants.
A week later I got my award Indefinite HRC and two years HRM, this said it had been based on my evidence only, even though I know they had a report from one of my Consultants, as I saw a copy. I can only imagine they gave up waiting for the other one to respond.
I was a nervous wreck waiting for the re-assessment, as all I was asking for was a longer time, was already getting HRC and HRM.

Sometimes it doesn't do too much good reading about other who have been turned down, because as others have said, people only tend to ask for advice when things go wrong and not bother to say when they work out well.

All I can say is if you really think you have a good case then do what you can, but think about the effect of loosing your case as well as winning.
If you can, get advice. I was unable to get any help from CAB, because I am not on any means tested benefits, I found that really upsetting, as I thought anyone could get advice from them concerning disability and welfare issues and DAIL said they could not help me because I contacted them after asking the DLA for a re-assessment.

I now feel a huge relief and am glad I took the risk, but in my heart I new that this was what I was entitled to all along.

Newly_retired

What CAB won't help you because you are not on means-tested benefits?
Certianly not the one I work in. That's is discriminatory.

hermum

I know that it must be frustrating waiting to hear but they no doubt have to gather information and possibly reports from your Drs.
Probably better that it takes a little longer & the assessment for your claim is done thoroughly & hopefully you'll get the right decision soon.