DLA Medical Services

seeamje

Hello

My DLA claim is now going to dla medical services for their advice. I already get high rate care and low mobility. I was awarded low mobility in addition to high care after I requested my claim to be looked at again but asked a new decision maker to look at again. He/she sent it to their doctors to look at it.

I am not too sure what this means. Will they lower my award? What should I expect?

Thank you

TOBRUK

I'm not sure if I have understood you correctly but have you recently applied or had renewal application DLA which after you received their decision you requested a reconsideration? After that reconsideration they awarded High care and Low mobility?

Since that you again requested another reconsideration and also asking that a new decision maker to look at your claim?

If you ask them to look at your claim again you run the risk of losing whatever award they have given you - they look at the whole of the claim again. If you now have HRC, this could be lowered or worse, the same as with the mobility rate.

seeamje

Hi

Sorry if I wasn't clear. I had high rate mobility last year but asked them to look at the mobility part recently. My high rate care stayed the same and i was awarded low mobility. I asked for someone to look at this again and was told that they had given to their medical service to look at to get some advice. They didn't say why. I gave them more information only relating to mobility and said care had not changed.

I understand they can lower awards and wondered if this was common or should i expect the worst?

Thanks

seeamje

Does anyone have any ideas? Thank you

GlasweJen

The medical service team basically take applications for DLA for conditions that don't appear on their list. They do have doctors and various people who specialise in long term conditions on their team and they will look at the condition, your supporting letters and the application and assess if your care/mobility needs are likely given the conditions you have. They will decide if what you've written is accurate and how long the condition is likely to last (if applicable) and then refer it back to a decision maker who will decide the level of award.

sox8369

So it is not necessarily a bad thing when the claim is passed to the medical service advisor ?

I ask because I am in the same situation as the OP except that ours is a first claim.

I suppose that if the DM thought it was an instant 'no' they would have already rejected it. So cant decide if it is good or bad that the claim has now gone to the medical team.....

GlasweJen

No it's not a bad thing, it's actually quite a good thing, it means they're seriously considering the application but just need filled in with some details. It can delay the process a bit though as they can take a while to do the research and work out the extent of expected care/mobility needs.

sox8369

Thank you - I hadnt looked at it from that point of view. Appreciate the comment and now you have put it that way it does make sense.

I guess it may well delay the claim a few more weeks but that doesnt matter if we get an award at the end.

I think i have just read so many posts on here that i assumed that the claim was going to be a disaster and was already reading up on how to appeal - so i had a little panic about the medical services because i didnt understand why the claim had to go to them - you have made me feel better about it now. Thanks x

seeamje

Hi

I don't have a rare condition that is why I am worried. I can only hope that my award is not lowered and they are getting advice on the mobility part only.

Thank you Glaswejen for you comments.

sox8369

Hi Seeamje - i hope they dont lower the award for you, I have read on here by an ex-DM that they dont often do it, but if they do you can appeal and try to get it reinstated - i think they may just be getting advice on the mobility part and checking that the condition fits what you have put - keeping everything crossed for you and keep us informed x x

GlasweJen

seeamje, is your condition complicated or do you have more care/mobility needs than someone who has the condition usually would?

I have syncope which isn't usually allowed for DLA, my initial application was referred to the medical services as I had more care needs than someone who just collapses a couple of times a year (I hit a couple of times an hour on really bad days), DLA was subsequently awarded and I've never had any bother with renewals except my last one where i didn't fill out an important page (oops), it was reinstated at reconsideration stage though and indefiniately.