Will I lose my Disability Living Allowance?

snoop2008

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I think that it's extraordinary that so many people have received DLA for so long without having a medical. It's hard to see why anyone should think it unreasonable for regular medicals to take place.

I use to wonder about this myself and fully expected to have a visit at my home two years ago which didn't happen. I must admit I was surprised as those who I had observed who were already getting it, seemed to have improved considerably and I couldn't understand then how they kept their award. I suspect for those who are scamming the system, when they got better they didn't inform the DWP!

For those who are scamming the system, having a medical will weed them out and I honestly think it is these people who need to worry the most when that time comes. I understand the geniune will have some concerns too, but having a regular medical is a long time coming and I do not see any real reason why the genuine needs to worry.

Prinzessilein

I believe that the vast majority of DLA claimants are genuine. However there are a few who are giving the rest of us a bad name. It doesn't help that the government and the media refer to 'benefit scroungers' so freely and tar us all with the same brush.

The issue isn't really that we don't want medicals. I personally would be happy to have a medical every year - or even more frequently - if required. I am a genuine claimant. However, I would want the medical to be carried out by someone qualified - someone who has had some training in dealing with ASD patients. I am totally against any medical being carried out by ATOS because I have lost all trust in them. An ATOS medical will not necessarily be carried out by a doctor, let alone a specialist in my condition.

My own GP and my specialist both agree that I cannot work. This decision can be overruled by someone who is not even a doctor and who relies on a decidedly unfit-for-purpose computer program. Yes, I could (and would!) appeal - but the process takes a long time and there are already cases where people are being called for another ATOS medical before the appeal for the last one has been heard.

I would not be worried about having a well-conducted medical. I would welcome it, and it would - hopefully - weed out the fakers. What I resent is the present system which is leaving many genuine claimants like myself, terrified of losing their benefit.

Indie_Kid

snoop2008 wrote: »

I use to wonder about this myself and fully expected to have a visit at my home two years ago which didn't happen.

I expected to have one last year adn would have had no problem with it whatsoever.

For those who are scamming the system, having a medical will weed them out and I honestly think it is these people who need to worry the most when that time comes. I understand the geniune will have some concerns too, but having a regular medical is a long time coming and I do not see any real reason why the genuine needs to worry.

But if someone is a faker, then they'd probably know how the medical will go and will act accordantly. (ie, they claim they can only walk 5 metres before pain sets in; so will only walk that distance and then say they're in too much pain to walk)

However, I would want the medical to be carried out by someone qualified

I would too. Although that may cause a problem for those of us with multiple medical conditions - would we see a few people who work within fields related to our conditions or just the one specialist?

Oldernotwiser

I think that the issue is confused by calling this process a "medical". An assessment or medical assessment would be a better term for it.

andyandflo

When DLA was first applied for me in 1995, within weeks a letter came through saying that I was awarded HRC & HRM 'for life'.

In the intervening years I put in for reviews and the level of support dropped with each application. This went on until 2004 when it finally dropped to LRM 'for life'. At no time was a medical carried out for the first application or even for the reviews. Neither did I ever send in any evidence to support the claim. My condition started to deteriorate again in late 2004 but I did nothing about it.

Then this year I decided to apply by way of a review again as my condition is now as bad if not worse than it was in 2004. After weeks of waiting, the reply came back that they saw no reason to increase it. No medical was offered nor did I send in any evidence.

To me it seems that they have certainly tightened up their processes since 1995, and were more than willing to reduce the level of support when I asked for it. Now trying to get back what I was originally given is nigh on impossible.

Maybe the answer is never to ask for it to be reduced in the first place, but that is fraud!
And what has happened to the 'lifetime' awards? They seem to have disappeared!

Yes I for one would be more than pleased to have a medical carried out by whoever - at least that way they could see that what had been written on the review form was the truth.

In my opinion too many people hang on to their awards after their health has improved instead of asking for it to be withdrawn. And as for not testing people over pension age - from my experience they are the ones that continue to claim even though their health improves.

All of this relates to one medical condition only.

Indie_Kid

Lifetime awards are now "indefinite awards".

andyandflo

sh1305 wrote: »

Lifetime awards are now "indefinite awards".

Thanks for that but 'lifetime' awards were meant for life - they could never be altered by the DWP unless the claimant asked for it - that's what they told me in 1998.

But 'indefinite' means they can review it at any time and need no reason or excuse to do so.

So they can't be the same.

Are you actually saying that the former are no longer are given, and the the latter have been put in their place?

Indie_Kid

From what I've read, yes.

snoopy89

Lifetime awards are now "indefinite awards". i was on a life time award, but when my dla was put up i then was informed my award was for 3 years????. how can u get a life time award since i was 23 now i am 54 and in worse health then it gets cut to 3 years. bloody nuts. i dont know if i should complain or stop worring.? but which ever way at least it helps a lot and i am happy that i have it. better than a slap in the face with a wet kipper.;)

djtrev

ok i have just been told over the last 3 years i have Rheumatoid Arthritis every where in my body and i cant bend my fingers and hands as there gone, my toes are bent under and across each other, im in pain 24 7 cos of this, i have also Parkinson's disease and bronchus i have got a Hypodermic Needle stuck in my ankul t...hat as been there from when i was 6 mths old i have always been in pain with that i have add operation to get that out but its taking my leg off to get rid of it, i was told back in 1975 i will have to live with it and even now i cant walk with it too far without pain but i still went to work, but i cant work now, and it was 2 years ago i was told i cant work again when i add new medical check and all this as made me have Depression and anxiety attacks, do i have to do this again and im i classed as a scrounger :mad: