DLA Tribunal

HomingPigeon

Damn, I typed out a long, detailed reply, pressed submit ..... and it's completely disappeared! That's the second time it's happened on this thread. I must be doing something wrong.

So, thanks very much to all the posters, very kind of you all to reply.

Basically, OH has other problems, one of them being that due to arthritic hands and elbows, he cannot manage to insert suppositories. I have to do this for him. Also, he sometimes needs to wear an incontinence pad and he worries that people will be aware of this due to the smell. This in turn causes him to become very down and reluctant to leave the house, or sometimes even come out of the bathroom ..... I have known him sit on the toilet for hours. I think it brings on some sort of depression, although he refused to tell the doctor this. He said he was worried the doctor would refer him to a psychiatrist. I should add that as well as the IBS, he has a digestive problem which he has had for many years - long before he was diagnosed with IBS. He didn't tell the doctor the problem about inserting his suppositories as he was embarrassed. I think the doc should have been told.

He has cut down his working hours to half a week, and even then, he takes days off (unpaid) as the need arises. Fortunately his employer is also a very good friend. Otherwise he would have lost his job a long time ago.

I don't know if the fact that he still works will go against him at the tribunal. Anyone any thoughts about this please? Thanks.

seven-day-weekend

The fact that he works should not go against him.The award of DLA is based on care and mobility needs arising from the condition.

Whilst sympathising with your husband (my husband also suffers from IBS, as well as anxiety and depression), his problems do not appear, from what you have said, to require much in the way of care or mobility needs that can't be overcome with the correct treatment or procedure (if he doesn't tell the Dr his problems then the Dr is not going to be able to offer help).

Also, if your husband is depressed (quite often the case with IBS sufferers), then he should be getting help with that. Having the correct treatment for his IBS and his depression may in turn make the IBS better as it is quite often stress-related.

I'm not minimising your husband's condition, honestly, as I know what it can be like, but feeling depressed and embarrassed about your condition does not in itself constitute care and mobility needs, which is what the award of DLA is based on.

I wish you and your husband well.

HomingPigeon

Thanks ever so, s-d-w.

It does sound like OH is very unlikely to be awarded anything.

I didn't think he would qualify for DLA but an acquaintance (a CPN) who knows him well, told us that in her opinion he was a good candidate for this benefit. This spurred him on to try.

He has problems walking (arthritis) and was given a disabled parking badge (blue badge) on the recommendation of his doctor. I know these parking badges aren't easy to get so at least that's something to be grateful for.

Sorry to hear about your husband's condition, and thanks again for your help - much appreciated.