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Mum refused DLA
Comments
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Oldernotwiser wrote: »I letter of confirmation from the organisation you rented/borrowed a wheelchair from when abroad might be helpful.
Yes this would be very useful and the DWP wont have a clue which hire service that your mum used, if shes as bad as you say she wouldnt be able to go abroad for an extended time without mobility aids.
A letter saying she used a wheelchair at the airport is a total waste of time, surely you can find "real" evidence without grasping at straws like this?
Anyone involved in youe mums care can provide evidence of her current health, she must see (apart from GP because he isnt backing her claim) consultants that the DWP dont know about, OTs, nurses, SW, podiatrist (sp) etc.
I see four consultants, 2 physios, one physcologist from the pain clinic, pain clinic nurse, rhummy nurses for blood test bi weekly, 2 practice nurses, podietrist (sp) to care for my feet etc. and if needed I could back up the evidence that I collect anyway with numerous reports to rove that I cant walk at all and need a wheelchair full time.0 -
How is it possible to obtain letter from the Birmingham Airport to say she has used a wheelchair to go abroad and to come back to UK?
What other evidence should I provide? as they already have our GPs report?
MS
A letter from the Airport will be of no help at all!
Your mum needs evidence from consultants, OT's, GP, nurses, carers, SW's.....assuming she is unable to walk as you say, these reports should be quite easy to get.
Does she have a FT carer? How does she manage getting up to bed each night? Does she need help washing, cooking, taking medication etc.
It sounds to me that a thorough report from start to finish was obtained. If your GP filled in the info they required, then that would of helped your case if it would of backed up your mum's care need issues.
In some cases the DWP can ask for money to be backdated and paid back to them, so you're quite fortunate that this hasnt happened.
PPTo repeat what others have said, requires education, to challenge it,requires brains!FEB GC/DIESEL £200/4 WEEKS0 -
IF dla goes the same way they are trying to get ESA to go, then in 2013 they will test walking by imagining you 'mobilising' (as walking is being replaced by mobilising in ESA proposed changes) with a wheelchair (an imaginary one if you dont actually have one)[greenhighlight]but it matters when the most senior politician in the land is happy to use language and examples that are simply not true.
[/greenhighlight][redtitle]
The impact of this is to stigmatise people on benefits,
and we should be deeply worried about that[/redtitle](house of lords debate, talking about Cameron)0 -
I understand DVLA might be looking at the cases again because of Government announcement.
My mother did not open the door or made a cup of tea etc - my brother opened the door for the DWP doctor - my brother helped my mother to come to the room and sat her down.
I'm being honest - I know allot of people lie during the application to obtain benefits - I know some people myself who claims DLA but they are fit enough - not sure how they manage to claim it.
My mother cannot walk 100 mitres - she always stays downstairs as she is unable to go upstairs on her own - she needs help when getting out of the bed.
How is it possible to obtain letter from the Birmingham Airport to say she has used a wheelchair to go abroad and to come back to UK?
What other evidence should I provide? as they already have our GPs report?
MS
Are you their GP/Consultant?[greenhighlight]but it matters when the most senior politician in the land is happy to use language and examples that are simply not true.
[/greenhighlight][redtitle]
The impact of this is to stigmatise people on benefits,
and we should be deeply worried about that[/redtitle](house of lords debate, talking about Cameron)0 -
Yes this would be very useful and the DWP wont have a clue which hire service that your mum used, if shes as bad as you say she wouldnt be able to go abroad for an extended time without mobility aids.
Can't anyone hire a wheelchair without actually having walking problems? Therefore, the report would be useless.Sealed pot challenge #232. Gold stars from Sue-UU - :staradmin :staradmin £75.29 banked
50p saver #40 £20 banked
Virtual sealed pot #178 £80.250 -
If your mum was able to get up, answer the door, let the medical professional into the house, go back to the sitting room, get them a cup of tea/a drink and come and sit with them in a reasonable time then she is able to walk over 100m.
But if she experienced severe discomfort or any risk to her health in doing so, then this would not count as the ability to walk.
It may be that the medical professional made inaccurate assumptions rather than asking the appropriate questions about pain.
Edit: I really should learn to read the whole thread before posting a reply. Then I would have seen that zaksmum made the same point I did only far more eloquently!0 -
OP, the key to your mum's claim is evidence. As others have said, get a copy of all the paperwork from the DWP, and in the meantime, put in a GL24 form to appeal the decision. You only have a month to so this so the clock is ticking...
Send as much extra evidence as you can with this. Get your mum to keep a diary of her care and mobility needs. I did this myself recently, and it is amazing how it all adds up. Send in a copy, as it will show them how her needs vary (or not) over a set period.
Get in touch with any and all health professionals who have had contact with your mum and ask them for letters giving their opinion on what her disability is, and more importantly, what her care and mobility needs are. Without back up from professionals, there is little hope of overturning the decision.
You should also see what letters your mum has that refer to hospital appointments, physiotherapy etc and send Copies (always keep originals and send copies, they 'lost' all my originals, but luckily, I had scanned them all into my computer!).
If your mum's condition is an unusual one, it also helps to print out and send info on the condition, which you can probably find online, or your GP may have given your mum a handout. Remember that Decision Makers are not medically qualified in any way, and may have never come across your mum's disability.
Once you get all the stuff back from the DWP, go through ALL of it, and you should be able to pinpoint the things in it that you disgree with. You then build your case around these individual points, but again, you need evidence to back up your case.
Get on to the CAB for an appointment. They can provide help preparing the case, and possibly representation at tribunal.
Remember folks, that the DWP do make mistakes, and also are currently refusing many claimants' DLA for little reason. I speak with experience here.
DLA refused at renewal, but reinstated at reconsideration. 
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qwertyuiop12345 wrote: »It may be that the medical professional made inaccurate assumptions rather than asking the appropriate questions about pain.
Maybe, as it was a home assessment If I recall, the assessor failed them on the walking test because the house was tidy, or they said they go to the supermarket..Bear in mind that a person who can easily manage around the house and garden
is unlikely to be limited to walking less than 200 metres; a person who can walk
around a shopping centre/supermarket is unlikely to be limited to walking less
than 800 metres although consideration must be given to the speed of walking,
stops and pauses etc.
(thats from the ESA doctors guidance, but probably similar thought process for DLA....)[greenhighlight]but it matters when the most senior politician in the land is happy to use language and examples that are simply not true.
[/greenhighlight][redtitle]
The impact of this is to stigmatise people on benefits,
and we should be deeply worried about that[/redtitle](house of lords debate, talking about Cameron)0 -
Maybe, as it was a home assessment If I recall, the assessor failed them on the walking test because the house was tidy, or they said they go to the supermarket..
(thats from the ESA doctors guidance, but probably similar thought process for DLA....)
Those are very good points. People often forget to mention that they cannot do their own housework, as it is not counted for entitlement to DLA. Your mum may have been asked does she do her own housework and replied 'yes' without elaborating that she can only do it for a few minutes at a time then have to rest and recover for a prolonged period afterwards.
Similarly, she may have said she goes to the supermarket every week,but failed to mention that she uses a shopmobility wheelchair.
Actually, some non- medical stuff that may help her appeal is things like a copy of her shopmobility card, photos or paperwork relating to any moblitity aids she uses and even things like photographs of her legs! The tribunal cannot do a medical exam or ask your mum to walk up and down etc, so photos showing muscle wastage to her legs could be beneficial. Anyone who has severely limited mobility for 6 years is, I would think, bound to have atrophied muscles. HTH!0 -
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