New claim for DLA Medical or not?

citygirl2010

Hi, i currently am in the support group for ESA, and have been advised that i should claim DLA, i was awarded ESA last year in july and had my medical with an atos doctor, now if i put in a claim for DLA, what does it entail? will i have to have another medical in order to be awarded DLA, i have heard various stories, some people dont have to have a medical and some do, where does it take place etc?

richard9991

citygirl2010 wrote: »

Hi, i currently am in the support group for ESA, and have been advised that i should claim DLA, i was awarded ESA last year in july and had my medical with an atos doctor, now if i put in a claim for DLA, what does it entail? will i have to have another medical in order to be awarded DLA, i have heard various stories, some people dont have to have a medical and some do, where does it take place etc?

if they do not have enough info from your claim form they will write to gp consultant etc if it is still not clear then they may send someone from atos to your home to assess your claim

atrixblue.-MFR-.

hi this has been covered allot on here and may be confusing for you.

as your in a support group of esa i would suggest that you do claim for DLA.

first off DLA is based on two elements CARE and MOBILITY.

1. its not your ILLNESS you claim for its the CARE and MOBILTY NEEDS your illness causes you PHYSICALLY and MENTALLY.

2. its best to keep a diary of your daily care and mobilty needs for E.G today was a bad day, the pain in my back was so severe i could not get out of bed without the help of my (partner, carer, children,friend) they had to physically lift and support me out of bed and help me sit down on the chair beside my bed to rest, then help me to the toilet and help off the toilet back to the bedroom chair, because i could not bend over my (partner,carer, children,friend) had to help me change my under garments and nightware, help me put on my socks fresh underwear and skirt/trousers then do up my brassier as i couldnt bend my arms around to my back as the pain is so severe, it took 10 mins to get out of bed, 4 mins to get me to the toilet,4 mins to get me from toilet to bedroom chair and 15 mins to undress and dress me. doing this will help you in completeing the form as you can refure to your diary for the questions asked in the form. keep a diary for around 14 days prior to requesting or completeing a downloaded form.

when the DLA has recieved your form they will send you a letter stating so and that it could take 8-11 weeks to give you a decision.
during this time they will ask who ever you nominate to contact in your form, doctor, specialist,consultant,nurse etc they will complete a factual report based on your medical file/ they will also be asked in this form about your mobilty and care needs so its paramount that your GP or specialist etc know your mobilty and care needs in order for them to complete this question. they may ask both doctor and specialist etc to compete a factual report. they will also consult their own medical advisers about 1.your illness 2.the care needs related to the illness 3.mobility needs related to the illness and they take the reports seriously eventhough this adviser has never ever seen you.

after that and they still cannot decide whether to award anything they will send a ATOS Medical doctor/nurse to see you at home.

its best to have good medical evidence to support your claim.

you can call ESA and request a copy of the medical assessment you took with them in that report you will see what the assessor said about you and your condition.

any reports you consultant may have given you or doctor has given you.

a copy of your prescrition request is best way to describe your medicene and dosages.

get help in filling out your forms citizen advice can help you in this. keep a copy of the DLA form if your awarded but for only 12 months you will need to refure back to it in completeing your next form, if there are any changes to your condition good or bad you can put it in the relavent area of the form.

it may seem daunting to claim but everyones claim is different, some get awarded without medical, some get awarded after a medical and some have to go to tribunal in order to get what their entitled to, everyones circumsnances are different and everyones illness and care and mobility needs are different. so to say your claim may be easy of difficult will only be based on how you fill in the forms, how your illness effects you and your level of care and mobilty. but not to be put off if you believe your entitled to DLA then claim it.

citygirl2010

Thanks very much to the above people who have given me this great advice,

kathycg

Thank you for giving useful information.

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Penny-Pincher!!

citygirl2010 wrote: »

Hi, i currently am in the support group for ESA, and have been advised that i should claim DLA, i was awarded ESA last year in july and had my medical with an atos doctor, now if i put in a claim for DLA, what does it entail? will i have to have another medical in order to be awarded DLA, i have heard various stories, some people dont have to have a medical and some do, where does it take place etc?

Exactly as Richard said in post 2. If you have sent enough medical proof, then they can base your claim on that. Failing that, they contact your GP and if that still doesnt make things conclusive, then they will ask for a medical.

Remember, you are able to send in medical reports even after you have put your claim in!

HTH

PP
xx

Indie_Kid

It's only after 2013 that everyone over 16 will have to undergo medicals.

Penny-Pincher!!

sh1305 wrote: »

It's only after 2013 that everyone over 16 will have to undergo medicals.

Between 2013-2016 all new and current claimants of working age will have a medical with a score system. They are looking to cut 20% of all DLA claimants.

PP
xx

terahurts

sh1305 wrote: »

It's only after 2013 that everyone over 16 will have to undergo medicals.

My partner has been receiving DLA for over ten years, her renewals in 2004 and 2007 didn't involve an ATOS medicals, just filling in the longest form known to mankind, but the one this year did. Apparently renewals are now being treated as new claims - at least according to the customer advisor my partner spoke to when chasing her claim.