Is this commonplace with Disability Living Allowance?

tripp_989

hi i was awarded dla finally after 4 attempts in june but mine is not indefinatuley hope this helps xx

gardenia101

I got my DLA award (LRM & LRC) at my first attempt & got an indefinite award after about 4 weeks. Although my disability is quite "simple" in that I can't see very well & it's easy to demonstrate this with scans/examinations & it's either going to stay as it is now, or get worse, but it wont improve.

I did have my form filled in by a disability rights campaigner though which may have helped - purely because the DLA forms couldn't be provided to me in a format that I could complete myself. :mad:

kurgon

The time is often dependant on how long the supporting evidence takes to be sent in. The quality of the supporting evidence (eg from GP or community worker) is also very important as it needs to answer specific questions that are raised. If it doesn't then the claim will either be turned down or reffered for a medical. I received an ndefinite high rate mobility after 3 weeks (+low care).

Tigsteroonie

I don't know why some DLA claims are processed quickly and some not ... But our claim for our son was submitted online, and we had a decision (middle rate care) within a fortnight, no questions asked. I have to admit to having been surprised.

bertiebat

kurgon wrote: »

The time is often dependant on how long the supporting evidence takes to be sent in. The quality of the supporting evidence (eg from GP or community worker) is also very important as it needs to answer specific questions that are raised. If it doesn't then the claim will either be turned down or reffered for a medical. I received an ndefinite high rate mobility after 3 weeks (+low care).

Having read these boards for a while, I'm often surprised by the amount of people not providing as much additional information as possible with their claim.

When I claimed DLA initially, my orthopaedic surgeon quite simply refused to reply to requests from the DWP for information on my problems. The reason being that he had a lot to do with permanently crippling me and didn't want to admit it.

I got endless letters from the DWP saying they were waiting for my surgeon's input and in the end I phoned them and explained the situation. I was quite surprised when they believed me and they got a report from my GP instead. After that I got a decision quickly.

On renewal, I had changed my surgeon and was able to send various clinic letters from him and my infectious diseases consultant. These letters included details on various scan results. This was enough on their own for an indefinite award of HRM and LRC about 2 weeks after renewal. That was 2 years ago.

pipkin71

EltonJohnFan wrote: »

I have honestly never heard of awards being made so quickly and that is why I wanted to know a little bit more, really has me curious I guess.

My renewal was completed within five weeks, EltonJohnFan, and was awarded without a medical

Indie_Kid

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

I don't know why some DLA claims are processed quickly and some not ...

It might because some people have enough evidence that states they have these care and /or mobility needs. Or because some people (like myself) have complex and generally misunderstood disabilities.

clarissa

I was awarded HRM on my first attempt without a medical, in about a week. I didn't use special rules, although I have cancer (which I stated was the lesser condition of the two) and severe heart failure. I also work full-time, which I stated clearly. I completed the forms myself, although I'm used to doing them for work anyway, but included a lot of clear supporting evidence. I used examples of good, bad and normal days. Both of my conditions are very rare, one in a million, I've never come across a health professional, apart from my specialist team, that has heard of either, I'm my cardiologists only patient with it and he admits he doesn't know for sure what treatment will be effective, so I'd be very surprised if the DLA has heard of them either.

MightyB_2

I was awarded HRM and MRC on an indefinite award and it only took around 6 weeks. There was no medical; they wrote to my neurologist for information. Not sure if it depends on the disability and the expected symptoms. I have motor neurone disease so I have fairly standard symptoms for the condition and they are never going to improve, only get worse.

I was a little worried that I hadn't written enough on the form due to some of the horror stories you hear, but I only gave the most basic and honest information about my abilities (or lack of them).

24skins

bertiebat wrote: »

Having read these boards for a while, I'm often surprised by the amount of people not providing as much additional information as possible with their claim.

Yeah, I don't think people always realise how helpful letters and reports from professionals can be, anything from the past six months will be considered 'recent' so it's worth putting copies of reports from any appointments that the claimant has had recently, although I do appreciate these are easier to come by for children than for adults

In saying that, I put in recent reports from nine different professionals - neurologist, SaLT, OT, physio, psych, consultant paediatrician, teacher etc - at my son's last renewal and the DWP still contacted the school doctor for a tenth opinion! :rotfl: