Why would Social Work Services contact me?

Careful_with_that_Axe

EltonJohnFan wrote: »

Hi,

Are you sure about that? I ask because it's the only thing that's stopping me from appealing, simply afraid of the outcome being a bad one and then having the hassle of going through it all again. Numerous professionals that I see regularly and some of my family have told me they feel I should be getting a higher rate of DLA than I am at this moment in time, hate to come across as a greedy person because I'm not but I think I'm about £60 worse off each week since they cut me from the highest rates and that is a lot of money to anyone. I really appreciate you telling me this but I'm still quite scared to make the appeal actually as I've been told so many times now that I could lose my award altogether and I've never been able to understand that because I'm quite clearly disabled, anyone can see that and I have a lifetime of support etc and they've never disputed any of this and awarded my DLA within a week or so but at the first award it wasn't made permanent and that's why I had to do another one earlier this year. If you can confirm with me that I wouldn't lose my award then I'll probably make an appointment with my GP to discuss this as they were really keen to find out what happened, thank you very much and sorry to be a nuisance, take care

Definately speak to your GP. It makes me so sad to hear the distress and anxiety that applying for DLA causes, but you certainly have nothing to lose ny speaking to your GP if they are supportive.
You are certainly not being a nuisance!

Indie_Kid

onetomany wrote: »

op ss carnt stop or reduce your award they can increase it tho x

DLA can't be increased by SS. They can ask for it to be looked at again - but it doesn't mean that it'll be increased.

sunnyone

EltonJohnFan wrote: »

Hi,

It's not that I'm scared but rather that I just don't want the hassle of it all because I easily get depressed and can be quite vulnerable. As I say, I'm not a greedy person and nearly every penny I get in Disability Living Allowance goes towards paying for the extra costs that I incur as a disabled person. I've repeatedly been told by the DLA team whenever I've contacted them to discuss the downgrading of my award that appealing isn't a wise thing to do and that that they have to make me aware I could actually end up with nothing and that frightens me even though I have a lifetime of being "known" as it were as a person with extra needs and I have the support of my GP and numerous other professionals and organisations who've backed me up every step of the way. I've never really had any problems in claiming Disability Living Allowance and though i can't explain why they've cut the amount I receive I just can't seem to get over my fear of losing everything because that's what their advisors have repeatedly told me. I really rely on people to tell me what help I'm entitled to and it was actually a Welfare Rights Officer and my GP who told me about DLA to begin with, so glad they did because I'd have never known about it otherwise. Take care and have a good night.

There are three possible outcomes when you appeal/ask for supersession of you DLA, it can be reduced, it can stay the same or it can be raised and that is what the helpline have to tell you but if you are secure knowing that you fulfil the criteria for a higher award and you can back that up with medical evidence I would go for it after talking to the medics who are involved in your care.

I am secure in knowing that i am entitled to HRC and HRM, if my DLA was reduced I would appeal because it would be wrong and I can prove that it would be wrong, if you feel the same ask for a supersession because you cant appeal more than a month after the date of your award (well you can get an extra week but thats no important on this thread)

oldestrocker

sunnyone wrote: »

There are three possible outcomes when you appeal/ask for supersession of you DLA, it can be reduced, it can stay the same or it can be raised and that is what the helpline have to tell you but if you are secure knowing that you fulfil the criteria for a higher award and you can back that up with medical evidence I would go for it after talking to the medics who are involved in your care.

I am secure in knowing that i am entitled to HRC and HRM, if my DLA was reduced I would appeal because it would be wrong and I can prove that it would be wrong, if you feel the same ask for a supersession because you cant appeal more than a month after the date of your award (well you can get an extra week but thats no important on this thread)

I think what the OP is trying to say is that she is happy to receive what is is currently getting. Whether she is entitled to any more is a matter for the DWP to decide.
She may have mountains of evidence that could prove that she should be on HRC & HRM, but if the DWP decide otherwise then she has to appeal.
It's the appealing and the stress involved that she doesn't want to go through.
So best to leave 'sleeping dogs lie' even though the level may not be the right one.
It's not right but the fear of this happening made even worse by the way the media portray benefit claimants, does put an awful lot of people off 'rocking the boat' too much!
You have to accept that you may lose everything before you ask for it to be looked at again, that way any positive outcome is a good thing.
In my case, I was prepared to accept the loss of my ESA claim on a point of principle, only because I know I have the strength to fight it all the way.

System

I'm wondering whether, as they perceive that you have moved from your parents house, there may be adaptation to your current house that could be made to help which fall within their remit?

Maybe the check on your allowances is more a case of an 'all in one' approach to go hand in hand with checking the house. I know that at one time Liverpool were proactive and raised my MILs allowances as well as getting stair rails fitted after one of these types of visit.

onetomany

sh1305 wrote: »

DLA can't be increased by SS. They can ask for it to be looked at again - but it doesn't mean that it'll be increased.

no sorry for confusion what i ment was they can grant funding etc for extra help with care ect but it comes out of a seprate budget from dla

GlasweJen

Have you ever received funding from social services for adaptions for your home or for managing your own care? Or do social work send people into your house to help look after you?

I very much doubt that there is a compliance issue on your DLA claim, compliance comes through Jobcentre/DWP direct.

Social work are likely to want to make sure that you're getting on alright and your care assessment is up to date.

lobster123

Hi,

I work in Social Work and carry out assessments. I can see no reason why anyone would contact you to determine if you required further assistance with your DLA if you had not referred yourself. Don't get me wrong, some workers i.e. welfare rights may make contact with you to ensure that all your benefits are in place following a review. However, I find the situation rather strange.

As someone else suggested, I would make telephone contact with the relevant Social Work office and give out no further details about yourself until someone visits and provides ID.

Better safe than sorry.

converted

Hi

i work in a social work department and regulary call people to arrange apts for sw visits, this is usually in response to a referral either from the individual or on their behalf. It may well be that your GP or someone else has asked for an assessment of your needs, which could involve looking at adaptations/equipment/carer support etc, it will have nothing to do with your DLA claim. It is nothing to worry about, just let them know the area's you are having difficulties with any help you may or may not need etc.

lobster123

I forgot to include this info. - the Social Work system basically means that anyone who has had contact with the Department has a record of their name, address, telephone number, etc put on computer along with information relating to the actual contact. For example, Welfare Rights would insert that they provided you with assitance with a DLA application.

Hope this helps.