Why would Social Work Services contact me?

L6MCT

EltonJohnFan wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm aware that this might be a little unusual but I'm going to go ahead and ask my question anyway. I'm a very badly disabled person with extensive care and mobility needs and I've received Disability Living Allowance now for the past few years, goes a long way in making life just that little bit easier and I couldn't survive without it. Today I received a phone call from the local Social Work Department and they have stated that they want to visit me and if I could confirm my previous address with them (parents home) which I did and the lady then stated that they wanted to ensure that they were meeting my needs and that I was receiving the correct rate of Disability Living Allowance etc. I have to ask, why would they contact me out of the blue like that? have I done something wrong because I haven't requested this visitation and I'm not sure why they're doing it all of a sudden. I asked this lady how she got my details and she told me I was on the Social Work System, what does this mean? could you tell me more please?

If you are "in the system" then it's probably just a visit to make sure you are ok and are having your needs met. I doubt if you have done anything wrong

I had a phone call last week from SW, they were arranging a visit from an OT to assess my needs.

The phone call came just after I was re-assessed and given the higher rates of DLA but I don't know if it was just a coincidence that the call came 2 weeks after the award or if it was my GP getting around to referring me (it's been a while since we spoke about it).

The OT managed to come out next day and we sat down for a chat and then she had me do a few things to see how much help I needed to do them and then she went away with a list of things I've to get installed/issued with. I was offered help with dressing in the mornings but hubby and son give assistance when I need it.

I used to receive both the highest rate of both Care and Mobility but after my award expired I had the Welfare Rights Officer help me fill in a new one and this was returned within a week or so with a lower award of Middle Rate Care and Low Rate Mobility but this time my award was made permanent. I'm not a greedy person, more than happy with the money I receive because it helps with the assosciated costs of my disabilities and I couldn't get out and enjoy life without that extra support. I'm not rich but I'm happy and I'm just afraid that I've done something wrong because I like to be independent and I don't know why they want to visit me all of a sudden. I'm sorry if this is really confusing but I've tried to make it as clear as possible and I'm just hopeful that you can help me and tell me as much as possible about this so I can have the reassurance that everything's alright, thank you very much.

I know any money is better than no money but if you were on HRM/HRC and you are as you say "a very badly disabled person with extensive care and mobility needs " you need to get as much supporting evidence from your GP/Specialists/Friends/Family as you can get and if the SW are visiting they could also help by submitting a report to DWP. I was given LRC/LRM for 3 years but asked for reconsideration and got indefinite HRM/HRC - yes I was frightened I would lose it all but I knew I was a heck of a lot worse now than I ever was when I first applied but my GP and others all backed me up. Please don't give up, I sometimes think that's what the DWP rely on, get some help with putting together an appeal and go for it.

hermum

If you've gone into independent housing from your parents then that could have flagged you up to SS. As someone else has said, confirm that it is a social worker visiting & get a friend or relative to be with you for the visit.
They probably want to make sure that you are able to cope living away from your family & see if there's any help you need.
It will probably be to assist rather than anything else. They may be able to help with an appeal for the DLA, if your needs haven't altered then you should probably still be entitled to the higher rate.

Savvy_Sue

If you had help from welfare rights with your most recent application, I'd ask them to help with an appeal.

Careful_with_that_Axe

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

If you had help from welfare rights with your most recent application, I'd ask them to help with an appeal.

I 2nd this. I had Social Services help with my original DLA application and the Welfare rights bloke has been brilliant in helping with the appeal.
The best thing is he looked over the evidence I had and was able to tell me whether he thought it was strong enough or not. Invaluable!

Gingerbiscuit_2

Social services are responsable for providing care for disabled people,. If you are on DLA then you must be disabled enough to need some help. DLA currently means you have to show you need help even if you are not getting any.

If you have a blue badge then are registered as disabled with your local council so easy for them to check any needs. There may well be services they could offer you might need. My care package is supposed to be reviewed every 3y but not been done yet!

EltonJohnFan

Thanks everyone for a great response here!

I've arranged for Social Services to visit me but due to the continued bad weather I'm not currently at my own home as I'm staying with my parents for my own safety, was stranded in my home and unable to live independtly. I'm not sure when my visit will be as they've had to rearrange it repeatedly due to the snow but I'm glad of any extra support they could give me, don't like to ask for support but I do need it to live as normal a life as possible. Take care

Indie_Kid

Gingerbiscuit wrote: »

Social services are responsable for providing care for disabled people,. If you are on DLA then you must be disabled enough to need some help. DLA currently means you have to show you need help even if you are not getting any.

If you have a blue badge then are registered as disabled with your local council so easy for them to check any needs. There may well be services they could offer you might need. My care package is supposed to be reviewed every 3y but not been done yet!

Registering disabled only exists for visual impaired people now. Having a blue badge doesn't mean you're registered.

pipkin71

EltonJohnFan wrote: »

Thanks everyone for a great response here!

I've arranged for Social Services to visit me but due to the continued bad weather I'm not currently at my own home as I'm staying with my parents for my own safety, was stranded in my home and unable to live independtly. I'm not sure when my visit will be as they've had to rearrange it repeatedly due to the snow but I'm glad of any extra support they could give me, don't like to ask for support but I do need it to live as normal a life as possible. Take care

Hope you're doing ok, EJF

I know what you mean about asking for help, but there are times when it's needed and I'm glad you're accepting the extra support available

EltonJohnFan

pipkin71 wrote: »

Hope you're doing ok, EJF

I know what you mean about asking for help, but there are times when it's needed and I'm glad you're accepting the extra support available

Thank you Pipkin, I'm doing really well thanks

It's good to have my parents with me because mum is making sure I'm eating properly and dad has been helping me keep mobile. I was helping him around the house earlier and it reminded me of when I was little, miss being with my parents and it really frightened me just how reliant I was in others because of being trapped in my own home due to the snow. I wish you well and take care there.