Walking how much pain?

pipkin71

debbiedeboo wrote: »

The problem is Pipkin is that you don't know when you are going to have bad days or how often. One week you may need help seven days but another week you may feel moderately well. It is not fraud, it's making sure you fill in the form in the right way to get the help you need. They have their tick boxes and if you've had a couple of good weeks and put down you only need help a couple of days then you will not get the dla. They do not read and assess the forms on an individual basis, they have criteria and if you do not fit that strict criteria you will not get the dla. This is why some people who really do deserve dla do not get it, there is a way to fill in the forms.


It is not a case of fraud or being dishonest but a case of playing them at their own game. They do not want to give you the benefits you deserve so they have trick questions that they do not give you any clue how to answer. That is why so many deserving people fail in their claims.

Sorry debbie, I disagree.

True, someone with a chronic illnss may have one bad week then one good one, but think of this. If they only describe the bad week, and then, on a good week, they are observed by the DWP, what happens then?

As far as the DWP are concerned, they will have lied, which will be considered fraud.

As for playing them at their own game, ridiculous!

When I filled in my DLA application - on my own, no help from an outside agency, I truthfully listed both good and bad experiences, what I could do when bad and when symptoms eased. I was given DLA on first application. That was also increased - without having to jump through hoops - when I gave a change of circumstances.

It isn't about them not wanting to give anyone any money, but making sure that the money is given correctly, and imo, only stating bad days, when someone has a mixture of both, is fraud.

pipkin71

debbiedeboo wrote: »

They have their tick boxes and if you've had a couple of good weeks and put down you only need help a couple of days then you will not get the dla.

If someone has good weeks and only needs help for a couple of days, then DLA should rightly be refused, so only filling the form in, describing those couple of days, is definitely fraudulent.

daska

You don't have to be in any pain to be awarded a blue badge or HRM. The aspects they consider are 'discomfort', gait, speed etc. So, for instance, I get pain but it's low-level not agony, however I drag my feet, am very slow, become exhausted and breathless very quickly and finally fall over which is why I've been awarded HRM.

Blue Badges are issued by your local council. THIS LINK will take you to a look up facility which will tell you the contact details.

And please, go back to your GP or to another GP in the practice and ask for help.

debbiedeboo

Hi
I didn't say someone who only needs help a couple of days should get dla. I said you might be relatively well for a couple of weeks which might colour your perception of your illness when you are filling in the form and then be really ill for the next few weeks so you end up saying you are better than you actually are. I would never encourage fraud but I am going on the advice of advice centres and advice workers. It's not my personal opinion, it is the advice of professionals.

pipkin71

daska wrote: »

You don't have to be in any pain to be awarded a blue badge or HRM. The aspects they consider are 'discomfort', gait, speed etc. So, for instance, I get pain but it's low-level not agony, however I drag my feet, am very slow, become exhausted and breathless very quickly and finally fall over which is why I've been awarded HRM.

My sticks stop me falling over half the time but can sympathise with the 'very slow' comment.

My DDs make out I'm racing someone, but the other person always seems to win - whether old lady or small toddler

pipkin71

debbiedeboo wrote: »

Hi
I didn't say someone who only needs help a couple of days should get dla. I said you might be relatively well for a couple of weeks which might colour your perception of your illness when you are filling in the form and then be really ill for the next few weeks so you end up saying you are better than you actually are. I would never encourage fraud but I am going on the advice of advice centres and advice workers. It's not my personal opinion, it is the advice of professionals.

As maybe, but, as I said, imo, they're wrong to suggest you should only fill in your bad days.

It asks on the DLA form to fill it in honestly. If someone only needs help 4 days out of 7, then they should honestly say that. Giving bad day scenarios only, distorts what someone can do, with regards care and mobility, so I would always suggest filling in the form giving both circumstances.

daska

pipkin71 wrote: »

When I filled in my DLA application - on my own, no help from an outside agency, I truthfully listed both good and bad experiences, what I could do when bad and when symptoms eased. I was given DLA on first application. That was also increased - without having to jump through hoops - when I gave a change of circumstances.

I did the same with my first application. Filled it in by hand (virtually unreadable) and gave examples of bad and better days (yes I'm a B&W member). They wrote to my GP and I had a decision within about 6 weeks IIRC. On my second application they'd made the form much longer and I had a very young baby to cope with as well. I did the form with my husband, included a hospital report, they wrote to my GP and again I got a decision very quickly - this time under 4 weeks.

The third application has been difficult(ish). I did it with the help of a support worker. She reckoned it didn't need anywhere near as much detail as I had previously included. I pushed her to put more in but it still wasn't as full a picture as previous applications. I included my SS assessment and care plan, supporting statements from carers etc. But this time I had to have a medical and it's taken 12 weeks.

Now, some of that might be because they're tightening things up, but alternatively it might be because this application form didn't include specific examples such as "on x date I attempted to do this and this was the result". I can't know for sure but I'm tempted to think that the DMs respond to an obvious attempt to be honest.

TOBRUK

I agree with you pipkin71, you should not fill in the form based only on your worst days. I have mostly bad days, but when filling the form and your condition fluctuates, you state how you are on your worst day and then on your best day giving plenty of examples. My application has been successful and rate recently increased.

If you keep a diary for about a month noting your condition you get a good idea of how your condition fluctuates.

debbiedeboo:

They have their tick boxes and if you've had a couple of good weeks and put down you only need help a couple of days then you will not get the dla. They do not read and assess the forms on an individual basis, they have criteria and if you do not fit that strict criteria you will not get the dla. This is why some people who really do deserve dla do not get it, there is a way to fill in the forms.

The DLA form has changed slightly since 3 years ago - they do have boxes to tick but then they also include a box which you can tick if none of the above apply and there is a space to explain and give your answer. So you can give other information this is what I did when none of the others applied.

There is also a whole page at the end where you can write any other information and you can add pages to give them a full picture.

debbiedeboo:

It is not a case of fraud or being dishonest but a case of playing them at their own game. They do not want to give you the benefits you deserve so they have trick questions that they do not give you any clue how to answer. That is why so many deserving people fail in their claims.

I disagree, there are no trick questions, you just have to take your time to fill in the form and answer truthfully. If you don't know how to answer a question you should seek help. I have filled in these forms on my own although it takes a couple of weeks to fill as I can't do it in one go.

If you disagree with their decision you can write to them stating the reason, enclosing any other evidence you may have and they will look at your application again.

debbiedeboo

Hi
I wasn't suggesting that anyone should be dishonest. It's just that many people have a tendency to make out they are doing better than they really are. When I was filling in my latest application I was talking through things with my friend who is the care worker and we came across the question 'how often do you stumble'? I said it was probably only about once a week but then my friend said but I see you stumble everytime you try to stand up and my husband agreed and when I thought about it I realised I stumbled several times a day. We have a tendency to not see how bad we really are so I think it is better to err on the worst case scenario because to be honest that is probably more accurate. xx

Tobruk: I do think the diary thing is a good idea though xx

ninelives_2

It needs an expert to fill in DLA forms. I was receiving DLA Mobility and Care component (lower rates) following a Stroke after RTA which was given to me for life. I also suffer from a back condition as a result. I then acquired Lymphoma (cancer of lymphatic system) for which I had chemotherapy and am 3 years in remission. My DLA was increased to Full on both for three years. At the end of three years I had to reapply. The whole lot was taken from me and had to go to appeal. I was awarded Full rate on both indefinitely. This was thanks to my "Welfare Rights Officer". Get in touch with yours at Social Services. They also advise on Blue Badge. With regards to back pain ask your GP to refer you to an orthopaedic specialist. I had facet joint injections and have been almost pain free for above six months. I was on Gabapentin, Diclofenac, Paracetamol and Codeine. Now I only take Paracetamol. Back pain may return but then you can ask for further injection. Hope this helps