what do i do now as my new award has been lowered

today1121

hi, i just received the letter for my new award and i have only been awarded low mobility and nothing for care.
the reasons on the letter seems to be talking about another person.
what do i do now to ask them to reconsider? do i phone them or write a letter?
thankyou

Sylviaca

:)You will need to call DLA on 08457 123456 quoting your national insurance number. You have several options but you need to act within 1 month from the date you received the letter. You can request they send you an appeal form, when you call. You can also write to them making it clear in the letter heading that you disagree with the outcome and wish to appeal against the descision.Be very clear and concise as to what you disagree with and why. Dont be afraid to be specific and include a medications list and list of all visits to GP, specialists etc that you have had in previous years, or that you have in the future. Advise them your circumstances have not changed, or perhaps if they are worse, advise them of this. If you struggle to do this i would advise you make an appointment with CAB asap, they can act on your behalf, given your consent (this has to be clearly given to DLA stating a name of the person you consent to discussing your claim). Make sure this person knows something about the benefit and doesnt just 'think' they know. You must act quickly though. Either appeal, or request a reconsideration of the descision, an appeal is better. You can obtain any medical information that may be useful in this action, from your GP, carer if you have one (wether they are paid as a carer or not), and if possible any specialists or other health care professionals wqwho may have dealt with you in the recent past!
You will continue being paid your current rate of DLA until the appeal is heard and ., hopefully found in your favour. Ring up on a regular basis to check the process and see if the appeal is heard yet. Dont accept 'you will be notified when your appeal has reached an outcome'. The call centre can check how your appeal is going or pass on your details for a call back on the procedure and where it is currenlty at!

KxMx

Appeal officially and not a reconsideration- this is done as part of the appeal, if requested seperatley will only slow down the official appeal.

Sylviaca

As a benefit processor myself i know how the process works and how long it can take. The appeal process takes no longer than a reconsideration but, you will find the reconsideration is just looking at the information already held and will include whatever you entered on your renewal form. If that doesnt work you would then have to go for an appeal anyway. I would always recommend the appeal process. Don't be put off by the formalitites. You would be best to act quickly and ensure your letter states that you appeal against the descision made, give dates of the letter you received. Keep notes on everything including who you speak to, times of calls, copies of letters you have sent and dates posted. Post recorded delivery and track them online! Don't forget the current Government is on a big drive to get people off benefits hence the re-testing of millions on all kinds of 'sickness' benefits including DLA. Do be aware, if you appeal, they can also find against you and reduce your DLA award even more, or completely.

Indie_Kid

Do you have any evidence that states what you wrote on your DLA form?

Vaila

if anything always keep a copy of your original claiment forms, if you dont have them you can phone up the dla to get a copy

mandyboops1973

Fill in a GL24 form and appeal straight away, as part of the appeal it will be reconsiderd but they might not change it.a, they will have to look at the claim again before it gose to the tribunal because they will then have to submit their reasons for their desision to the tribunal,You should write a letter explaining why you disagree with their dessions and go into as much detail as possible. They will have to use information you submit in this letter, when they reconsider it before it gose to tribunal and when they submit their reasons to the tribunal as to why they only awarded you low rate mobility they will have to take into account what you write in your letter of appeal so its very important to try and clear everything up in this letter so it might not have to to all the way to tribunal.

what exactly where the reasons for turning you down?

gardenia101

today1121 wrote: »

the reasons on the letter seems to be talking about another person.

When I received my DLA letter a few months ago some parts of my award letter bore no resemblance to me or my disability. I rang up to query, as I hadn't been able to fill in the form myself as I'm partially sighted, but was told that the award letters are "generic" in type & often cause confusion but that the award itself will be correct. Apparantly they got lots of calls about this....

I got what I expected (LRM & LRC) but as you haven't I'd check it ASAP.

today1121

thankyou girls.i have asked for a appeal form.

[Deleted User]

Sylviaca wrote: »

As a benefit processor myself i know how the process works and how long it can take. The appeal process takes no longer than a reconsideration but, you will find the reconsideration is just looking at the information already held and will include whatever you entered on your renewal form. If that doesnt work you would then have to go for an appeal anyway. I would always recommend the appeal process. Don't be put off by the formalitites. You would be best to act quickly and ensure your letter states that you appeal against the descision made, give dates of the letter you received. Keep notes on everything including who you speak to, times of calls, copies of letters you have sent and dates posted. Post recorded delivery and track them online! Don't forget the current Government is on a big drive to get people off benefits hence the re-testing of millions on all kinds of 'sickness' benefits including DLA. Do be aware, if you appeal, they can also find against you and reduce your DLA award even more, or completely.

i`m sorry but thats rubbish...an appeal can take months,whereas a reconsideration 2/3 weeks.

Indie_Kid

woodbine wrote: »

i`m sorry but thats rubbish...an appeal can take months,whereas a reconsideration 2/3 weeks.

Indeed. When I was turned down in January 2008, it took 12 weeks to win by asking for it be looked at again. I then sent in a new form in May 2009 and my appeal got heard in January of this year.