Dla

Indie_Kid

Newly_retired wrote: »

If you get turned down again after a review then you can appeal.

I was told this isn't true. (by someone at DLA unit) You're better off appealing straight away - they look at it again anyway.

MrsManda

sh1305 wrote: »

I was told this isn't true. (by someone at DLA unit) You're better off appealing straight away - they look at it again anyway.

You have a month to ask for a decision to be explained and reconsidered. If you disagree with the decision made after it has been explained and reconsidered then you have a month to appeal.

The OP will have received details on how to appeal the decision with her decision letter.
If you disagree with a benefits decision

When the benefits office sends you a letter about their decision, if you do not agree, you can ask them to explain or reconsider it.
If you're unhappy with a reconsidered decision you can appeal.
You can ask for an explanation or reconsideration of every decision, but some benefit decisions cannot be appealed.
For example, you can't appeal against decisions on Budgeting Loans, Community Care Grants or Crisis Loans. The decision letter will make it clear if it can't be appealed.

Deadlines

You have one month:

• after getting a decision to ask for it to be explained, reconsidered or to appeal
• after getting a reconsidered decision to start an appeal

A late appeal may be accepted if you have special circumstances that prevented you appealing in time, but not if more than 13 months have passed.

Indie_Kid

wheretheresawill wrote: »

I think its awful that it depends on how well you fill in a form as to whether you get DLA

Decision makers aren't mind readers. How do you expect them to know what help you need? I have different care needs to a few people with the same diagnosis as I do.

babymoo

I received my letter saying no in the morning post, I had spoken to them on the phone in the afternoon, heard their reasons, told them I was going to appeal and asked for it in writing and had seen someone at the local CAB by 4pm the same day getting the ball well and truly rolling. Be aware, it is a long, time consuming and very stressful process, if you have a carer you may want them to go with you to everything, not only does this back up that you need care but if you are prone to episodes, this may help to keep you calm. I have no idea about bipolar and don't wish to offend by my wording, just can't quite think of any other way to put it.

Those who have said that they wont take 13 years into consideration are correct, they go by how you are at the time you submit your form so if your tribunal is 12 months after that they wont go on how bad you are at the time of the tribunal it will be how you were at the time of submitting the claim form.

I agree that it depends on how well you fill the form in, you have to know how the decision makers think but then I am prone to thinking that if you answer everything honestly and you genuinely deserve it then your more likely to be turned down 1st time because your 10 times more likely to say what you are capable of as opposed to highlighing what you really need help with. This isn't a bad thing in general, it is just a coping mechanism. Once youve done this a few times you pick up some tips. Its going to be difficult but if you have real care needs then you need to make them see that and don't give up fighting.

p.s. don't worry about the thanks button, doesn't always work with me either.

dmg24

sh1305 wrote: »

I was told this isn't true. (by someone at DLA unit) You're better off appealing straight away - they look at it again anyway.

If you say you wish to appeal a reconsideration will automatically be carried out, so I agree it is best to do this.