Walking how much pain?

debbiedeboo

TOBRUK wrote: »

I understand what you are saying debbiedeboo, this is why it needs a lot of thought and taking your time to fill it in. I find keeping a diary near the time to re-apply helps along with looking back at your previous application to see whether your needs have changed.

Also, although it may be depressing you have to sit down and think about how you really are, being honest with yourself - as you found when thinking about the 'stumble' question and the realisation that you stumble far more than you first thought. I think if I remember as the form had changed when I recently filled it in, it asked something like how many times have you stumbled in the last week, or something similar to that.

I know how difficult the form is to fill and you need to stress your difficulties and what they are in your answers to each question and repeating on just about each page.

Maybe my advice worker friend was trying to get me to be more honest about my condition because as he talked through it with me it was clear it was worse than I was describing it. I've spent the last two years with far greater care needs than my dla tiers allow for as I have deteriorated so much but I've left it until the renewal time to do anything about it. Bit silly really as I have had to rely on a friend to be my full time carer for free.

Saversue

TOBRUK wrote: »

Saversue, have you got a pill dispenser, you know the 7 day 4 times a day (could do with 5 times a day for the inbetween tablets) box? I have used it for about 6 months now as I kept forgetting whether or not I had taken my tablets! The only thing is that it takes ages to fill, but it is worth it.;)

Good evening Tobruk.
I wish I could get a pill dispenser large enough to take over 20 night time tablets, 11 in the morning and the others through the day, and some of them are pretty large. My bedroom is like a pharmacy and I keep everything in piles for the time of day, but a moments lack of concentration and its easy to get mixed up.
My mum, in her 80's gets her meds in weekly sealed packs from the chemist, but there is no way all of mine would fit.
Are there any HUGE pill dispensers?

I certainly wish that everything I am taking would help me sleep at night and not when normal people think it's time to get up!

code-a-holic

When i applied I told them about my worst day, but also told them my experience on a good day. And got DLA on my first application and 2 years later it was changed to indefinate. On my worse day, Tears will start to run just thinking of moving from one room to another. A good day will mean I will got to Tesco's, yet know that the jaunt will make me need a chiropractic session and help getting off the toilet! I had a 4 month old baby and a 2 yr old at the time i claimed, I told DLA that I was adamant that i would try to lead a mostly normal life to the outside world for the sake of my children and my sanity. They know that instead of a stick i use a pushchair. I did go out without children the other day, i walked 50yds and fainted, so in future i will be taking a empty pushchair, I cant bring myself to use a stick yet.
Im going all me,me, me! My point is- share your best days, dont be afraid to show what you do to help you carry on despite the pain or discomfort. From what i hear - the fraudsters out there apply as if they cant move a muscle ever, yet those genuine disabled people do like to try and do some normal activities - im sure DLA know this.

seven-day-weekend

debbiedeboo wrote: »

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.

Here we go again.

Benefits and Work is a scaremongering place imho.

I agree with Pipkin, if you have a variable condition, fill the form in stating this and then specify how often you have bad days.

It is just lies otherwise to fill it in as though you are like this all the time when you are not.

I helped my son's girlfriend fill in her form for DLA and she was awarded it first time. There are no trick questions. Just tell it as it is, with examples.

TOBRUK

I totally agree with you seven-day-weekend and do not understand why so often people are advised (and take the advice) to concentrate totally on their worst days! This is totally wrong and it is fraud, there is no other word for it no matter how you like to justify it.

I also agree with you about 'benefit and works' website which I have had a look at. I personally wouldn't pay a subscription for this website in order to seek advice, be able to access all pages or in order to reply to posts. I find it very strange but maybe that's just me!

There are no trick questions on the DLA form, they just want a true overall picture, and with the answers given from the form together with any evidence from reports etc they make a decision. If you disagree with that decision you can request a re-consideration, and if you still disagree you can appeal.

The form is long which can be daunting, but you should take time filling it in and just do a little at a time - then it's not so bad.

seven-day-weekend

Debbie doodoo mentions that ' they have trick questions that they do not give you any clue how to answer'.

Two things spring to mind here, the main one being why should you need a 'CLUE' about how to answer? You know about your condition and how it affects you far better than anyone else. I agree some people may need help with the wording, or even physically writing it down, BUT (and this brings to mind my second point), only you know how your condition affects you from day to day and so that is what you put on the form.

I can't be doing with all these conspiracies, just tell it as it is, it's easy enough.

daska

Oooooh, yes and no to SDW and TOBRUK.

I had no knowledgeable support available to complete my forms first time round and I found the advice on B&W invaluable purely because the guidance in there helped me identify problem areas that I simply wouldn't have considered. E.G cooking, well, as I couldn't even make tea at that point my parents and husband and kids did it all for me - our thinking was that because I had people to do it for me I didn't have a problem. But from DLA POV that way of thinking is really not helpful!

debbiedeboo

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Debbie doodoo mentions that ' they have trick questions that they do not give you any clue how to answer'.

Two things spring to mind here, the main one being why should you need a 'CLUE' about how to answer? You know about your condition and how it affects you far better than anyone else. I agree some people may need help with the wording, or even physically writing it down, BUT (and this brings to mind my second point), only you know how your condition affects you from day to day and so that is what you put on the form.

I can't be doing with all these conspiracies, just tell it as it is, it's easy enough.

My name is not doodoo and I was only quoting a professional advice worker. I haven't even been claiming what I am entitled to for the last couple of years so I'm hardly going around frauduently filling in forms. I had to be reminded how severe my condition was because I was writing about the 'good days' more than the 'bad days' in my recent renewal form. I'm not happy how my posts are being quoted and 'fraud' being shouted out in the same post. I've said already I would never recommend anyone being dishonest and if my posts had been followed the conversation with the advice worker came about because I wasn't being realistic enough about my condition and he had to remind me of my worst days.

pipkin71

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Debbie doodoo mentions that ' they have trick questions that they do not give you any clue how to answer'.

Two things spring to mind here, the main one being why should you need a 'CLUE' about how to answer? You know about your condition and how it affects you far better than anyone else. I agree some people may need help with the wording, or even physically writing it down, BUT (and this brings to mind my second point), only you know how your condition affects you from day to day and so that is what you put on the form.

I can't be doing with all these conspiracies, just tell it as it is, it's easy enough.

Personally, I didn't like the 'playing them at their own game' comments

It isn't a game.

You simply fill out how your illness / disability affects you - truthfully. Anything else is deceitful.

seven-day-weekend

Sorry I read your name wrong, I apologise.

I was not for one minute thinking you were advocating fraud, it was just when you said that they didn't give you a clue about how to fill it in, I thought why do you need a clue, just tell it as it is, they are not trying tom 'trick you as you seem to suggest.