dla

dazzadub

im still waiting on dla claim, applied in october

doc sent crap report, the consultant refused.

dla want atos to come out and do a report.
i have emailed dla with new consultant details who is willing to do a full report, will they stop atos and ask him or still get atos to do it.


also someone i know refused atos to come out and got someone private to do a medical at his home, and dla were happy with that can that be done.
i know it happened as i was there and had to give the doctor directions over the phone on how to get to house.


ive been waiting ages now, need to know either way as im due a big operation very soon and need some help

hobbledehoy.

dazzadub wrote: »

im still waiting on dla claim, applied in october

doc sent crap report, the consultant refused.

dla want atos to come out and do a report.
i have emailed dla with new consultant details who is willing to do a full report, will they stop atos and ask him or still get atos to do it.


also someone i know refused atos to come out and got someone private to do a medical at his home, and dla were happy with that can that be done.
i know it happened as i was there and had to give the doctor directions over the phone on how to get to house.


ive been waiting ages now, need to know either way as im due a big operation very soon and need some help

Hello

I can't really help much with your problem, as my knowledge about DLA is '0'.

However, I was thinking about claiming it, but have been put off because of the form.
I thought everyone had a GP report completed for you?

If so, and the DWP want another report why are you so against ATOS doing it? Surely, they are the most experienced people that will be able to say whether you have needs, not a Consultant who is really a medical guy?

What sort of private medical are you talking about? How much would that cost compared to the ATOS one?

Richard1075

If the decision maker want's an ATOS report then there is little you can do, other than supply as much information [eg: supplying a report from your new consultant. If DLA is refused you have the Tribunal route.

You have to remember that the Decision Maker looks at the claim form and medical evidence from GP and or Consultant. They can ask for ATOS to do a report too - the decision process is then made by the unqualified Decision Maker looking at all of the information and THEY decide what is the truth and if to make an award.

Hobbledehoy - ATOS do not always use medics to make their report, sometimes clerks are used with a "tick box" list. It is the Decision Maker who makes the final choice to award or not to award and it is on THEIR opinion and not the medical evidence to decide what is the truth - that is the HUGE problem with getting a DLA award!

More decisions are over-turned at Tribunal than are refused - but you have to go to the Tribunal rather than having a paper hearing.

sandraroffey

one word of advice is never ever fill in the dla claim form yourself. how it is filled in and how questions are answered, governs how they respond.

go the citizens advice people and they will have someone there who can fill it in for you. they are used to doing these things and are very good at it./

i filled my own one in. and was turned down. so i went to appeal and got the citizens advice person to help. he was brilliant and chased them all the way. even came to the tribunal meetings with me. went on for 18 months until in the end they agreed, and had to backdate my claim for all that time.

when my daughter claimed dla for her little lad who has suspected aspergers, she went to the CA at the outset and wasnt turned down at all. had the dla for him within 6 weeks.

they know their stuff!!!

hobbledehoy.

sandraroffey wrote: »

one word of advice is never ever fill in the dla claim form yourself. how it is filled in and how questions are answered, governs how they respond.

go the citizens advice people and they will have someone there who can fill it in for you. they are used to doing these things and are very good at it./

i filled my own one in. and was turned down. so i went to appeal and got the citizens advice person to help. he was brilliant and chased them all the way. even came to the tribunal meetings with me. went on for 18 months until in the end they agreed, and had to backdate my claim for all that time.

when my daughter claimed dla for her little lad who has suspected aspergers, she went to the CA at the outset and wasnt turned down at all. had the dla for him within 6 weeks.

they know their stuff!!!

Hello,

Yes I have heard that CAB are very good at helping to fill the form out. It's not what you put on it, it's more of a case of how you put it.

Unfortunately, my CAB doesn't appear to have anyone qualified enough to help with it, so they pass it to a benefits expert. With this comes the means testing element because it comes under the Legal Aid Scheme. I don't receive any means tested benefits, so either I will have to pay CAB to do it or get a solicitor. In my case, I have given up before I start as I can't afford that and as you say, filling it in yourself is asking for trouble.

dazzadub

ive heard bad bad things about atos, making crap reports etc and awards being refused even tho they should have been awarded.

atos only involved as my gp sent a poor report and first consultant refused to do a report.
bloke from dla told me what gp put on form, had issue for 9 years, has very bad pain and is limited to what he can do and really struggles with walking and thats it.

im due for an operation soon and seen new consultant at hospital who is specialist in this feild and he said i will always have the issue even after op but will hopefully reduce pain levels by half.
he knows my restrictions etc and commented a few times about id say you couldnt do that and do this.
i asked dla to request report form him but they asked atos, the person coming out is a dr.

so what is going to happen when they come out?
my dad said to make sure you tell the truth and be as helpful as possible, is this the way to go.

i only need it short term, as i really want to get back to normality and hopefully do some work again

sleepless_saver

dazzadub wrote: »

i only need it short term, as i really want to get back to normality and hopefully do some work again

dazzadub, DLA is payable whether or not you are in work as long as you have the qualifying care or mobility needs. Though I hope for your sake that the op is successful and makes life less painful!

Nym_Mcfroglet

hobbledehoy. wrote: »

Hello,

Yes I have heard that CAB are very good at helping to fill the form out. It's not what you put on it, it's more of a case of how you put it.

Unfortunately, my CAB doesn't appear to have anyone qualified enough to help with it, so they pass it to a benefits expert. With this comes the means testing element because it comes under the Legal Aid Scheme. I don't receive any means tested benefits, so either I will have to pay CAB to do it or get a solicitor. In my case, I have given up before I start as I can't afford that and as you say, filling it in yourself is asking for trouble.

How bizarre. I don't work for CAB, just a Welfare rights organisation, and we fill DLA forms in for anyone regardless of income. Norty of them that! How much are they asking for?

[Deleted User]

dazzadub wrote: »

ive heard bad bad things about atos, making crap reports etc and awards being refused even tho they should have been awarded.

atos only involved as my gp sent a poor report and first consultant refused to do a report.
bloke from dla told me what gp put on form, had issue for 9 years, has very bad pain and is limited to what he can do and really struggles with walking and thats it.

im due for an operation soon and seen new consultant at hospital who is specialist in this feild and he said i will always have the issue even after op but will hopefully reduce pain levels by half.
he knows my restrictions etc and commented a few times about id say you couldnt do that and do this.
i asked dla to request report form him but they asked atos, the person coming out is a dr.

so what is going to happen when they come out?
my dad said to make sure you tell the truth and be as helpful as possible, is this the way to go.

i only need it short term, as i really want to get back to normality and hopefully do some work again

whilst i`m not the biggest atos fan i will say this:

my daughter in law applied for dla,refused and lost appeal
re-applied and they sent an atos doc out,following which she got mrc and hrm no problem

[Deleted User]

Nym_Mcfroglet wrote: »

How bizarre. I don't work for CAB, just a Welfare rights organisation, and we fill DLA forms in for anyone regardless of income. Norty of them that! How much are they asking for?

its standard now for cab,if they cant do it via a volunteer and use qualified help they charge if you cant get legal aid as they have to pay for legal assitance
the truth about cab atm is that they are swamped with clients,another avenue if you have one would be welfare rights run by local council,but i suspect they will be in the frontline for cuts

hobbledehoy.

woodbine wrote: »

its standard now for cab,if they cant do it via a volunteer and use qualified help they charge if you cant get legal aid as they have to pay for legal assitance
the truth about cab atm is that they are swamped with clients,another avenue if you have one would be welfare rights run by local council,but i suspect they will be in the frontline for cuts

Hello,

Yes you are perfectly right. I have telephoned another CAB and they say that they are now 'pushing' a lot of work they did for free towards what used to be the Welfare Rights Officers who have been made redundant. You can only access this free advice and help now if you qualify for Legal Aid. So not being on a means tested benefit means pay up or put up!!
Yes in my council they finished all off the WRO's 2 years ago, the same time they closed public loos and refused to cut council owned grass!!

It's a good job that I can just about afford not to claim DLA!