DLA Medical

Hastobe_Katt

I applied for DLA back in October on the recommendation of the Blue Badge assessment nurse. My GP and (one of) my consultants have been contacted and provided medical reports. I was then sent a letter from a DLA doctor telling me I had been scheduled for a home visit for a medical assessment the following Wednesday - just four days later. I work in Wales (2 hours away from where I live) from Monday to Thursday evening and work from home on Friday so I couldn't make the appointment he had given me at such short notice. I telephoned the mobile number on the form and left a message asking for a new appointment on a Friday or at a weekend (a post script to the form said he probably wouldn't reply to telephone messages.) I heard no reply. I called again two days after the appointment, again left a message, again no reply. A week later he left a message on my phone at lunchtime on Thursday saying he could see me at 6pm that evening and if I couldn't make that appointment he would send my file back. I have no mobile phone signal at my office to the call only came through on my way home (at 5.45 - just after I left the office). At this point I was still nearly two hours from home so obviously wouldn't be able to make the appointment.

I called the DLA office the following day and explained. The lady I spoke to said that they had already had reports as mentioned above so wasn't sure why they needed to schedule a home visit as well.

Yesterday I received the (unsurprising) decision that I had been turned down. The reason they gave was that I had failed to attend the medical appointment.

I am sending an appeal letter today but wondered if anyone else had had this problem - and the problem with trying to arrange an appointment with a department that seems to assume all DLA claimants sit at home all day and so can make any time / date thrown at them.

My problem (and reason for my DLA claim) is that I have been told by my various consultants that I can no longer drive a manual car (awaiting fusion on left ankle, left knee reconstructed, early onset OA both hips (in my mid 40s) and now (amongst other things) have cervical spine damage as a result of the underlying EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome). I need to be able to drive to get to work, I can't afford to change my car without the DLA and public transport isn't an option with my disabilities. It's looking increasingly as though I will have to give up work - which I absolutely don't want to do.

sonorman

Hastobe_Katt wrote: »

My problem (and reason for my DLA claim) is that I have been told by my various consultants that I can no longer drive a manual car (awaiting fusion on left ankle, left knee reconstructed, early onset OA both hips (in my mid 40s) and now (amongst other things) have cervical spine damage as a result of the underlying EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome). I need to be able to drive to get to work, I can't afford to change my car without the DLA and public transport isn't an option with my disabilities. It's looking increasingly as though I will have to give up work - which I absolutely don't want to do.

From your posting it would seem that you are looking (hoping) to be assessed as qualifying for HRM.

Is this your only and main requirement - that you want to chop in your old car for a nice shiny automatic car?

There are 1,000's of people that would love that, that also have disabilities yet don't see DLA as a means to getting a new car.

Why don't you do what the rest of us do, including disabled people and buy your new car out of your earnings?

Mojisola

sonorman wrote: »

From your posting it would seem that you are looking (hoping) to be assessed as qualifying for HRM.

Is this your only and main requirement - that you want to chop in your old car for a nice shiny automatic car?

There are 1,000's of people that would love that, that also have disabilities yet don't see DLA as a means to getting a new car.

Why don't you do what the rest of us do, including disabled people and buy your new car out of your earnings?

I think this is a bit harsh. The OP isn't asking for an opinion as to whether she/he should be entitled to DLA; she/he's asking about the appointment system.

I'm sure that her/his GP and consultant know more about her/his physical problems than you do and, if they are willing to support her/his claim, why shouldn't she/he go through the process?

sonorman

Mojisola wrote: »

I think this is a bit harsh. The OP isn't asking for an opinion as to whether she/he should be entitled to DLA; she/he's asking about the appointment system.

I'm sure that her/his GP and consultant know more about her/his physical problems than you do and, if they are willing to support her/his claim, why shouldn't she/he go through the process?

It just seems clear that the OP is hoping for a new car to be paid for out of state funds. The OP has stated that that is the main reason for the claim.
Don't you think that a lot of disabled people would like that as well? Yet they are generally only interested in DLA to cover the extra costs of being disabled, not hoping to fund a new car when they already have one.

The whole idea of Motability is that the disabled can access the outside world, and certainly not to provide a new car to get to and from work.

Besides which, and I take your point, it will be very unlikely given the case the OP has put up that HRM will be granted.

bargain_hunter_1964

Hi,

It would appear from your post, that you are trying to apply for higher rate mobility of DLA, the DWP would only usually ask for a doctors visit if the medical evidence was not clear about the evidence required for meeting the criteria. To recieve an award of higher rate mobility then you would need to satisfy the "virtually unable to walk" criteria and this would be assessed taking into account the distance walked b efore the onset of severe discomfort, manner and speed of walking etc. If the medical evidence supplied just stated that you could no longer drive a manual car, this would not be sufficient to meet the criteria to receive this benefit. The other issues that may be a problem to you is that to recieve the b enefit you have to meet the criteria for 3 months waiting period and also the condition is likely to last at least 6 months, this again would be in question as when you have the operations at this point in time there is possibility of improvement, so this might mean that you would not meet this 6 month criteria. Although someones condition is looked at its your needs and mobility limitations as a result of that disability that determines as to whether the criteria is met. So the inability to be able to drive a manual car is totally disregarded as is the inability to do household tasks when the DLA care component is considered.

I think you may struggle unless you have very limited mobility and this is supported by either medical evidence from your GP and/or from the visiting doctor.

Regards

Hastobe_Katt

First of all - before you make sweeping assumptions about my health get the facts. I was advised by my blue badge assessment nurse to apply for DLA - in her opinion I was far more disabled than many of the claimants she saw and should be entitled. I haven't claimed in the past because I wanted to be independent.

Re the facts - I have an incurable genetic condition that causes early death from rupture of major blood vessels. this same condition causes joint problems so I have widespread arthritis and already had many joints reconstructed, fused or replaced. In the last year I have had my right shoulder fused and my left knee reconstructed. I am currently waiting for a triple fusion of my left ankle. Amongst other things, I am also having intermittent parasthesia and loss of motor control down my left side due to cervical spinal damage and cord compression. I am in my forties and was diagnosed at 17 years old. I have always worked and paid my taxes and never claimed benefits. My blue badge enables me to park close to where I work.

The comment from the nurse came after I mentioned I may not be able to drive for too much longer because I was finding it increasingly difficult to operate the clutch pedal with my left foot and my consultant had advised me to change to an automatic car.

DLA is intended to provide assistance with mobility and / or care issues. It is exactly my sort of situation that is envisaged. It is not income based, nor does it require you to be unemployed in order to claim. You are welcome to a shiny new automatic car - you can have my diseases, pain and life prognosis too... I'd trade you any day.

Mojisola

Without knowing more about the OP's ability to walk, I don't know whether DLA at any level would be appropriate but I would rather see someone get some help and stay in work rather than have to give up work and live off the taxpayer.

As Hastobe_Katt is in full-time work, perhaps looking through some of the other boards and finding ways of saving money will enable her/him to get another car. OP - People are always helpful if a poster puts up a SOA and can usually suggest ways of trimming spending.

dori2o

sonorman wrote: »

It just seems clear that the OP is hoping for a new car to be paid for out of state funds. The OP has stated that that is the main reason for the claim.
Don't you think that a lot of disabled people would like that as well? Yet they are generally only interested in DLA to cover the extra costs of being disabled, not hoping to fund a new car when they already have one.

The whole idea of Motability is that the disabled can access the outside world, and certainly not to provide a new car to get to and from work.

Besides which, and I take your point, it will be very unlikely given the case the OP has put up that HRM will be granted.

It could be argued that the OP is looking for DLA to help with the extra cost of being disabled, by being able to get an automatic mobility car which would help them to get by with their disabilities and keep them in work.

There are many different ways to help with ones disability, not just one.

I for example, assuming I get DLA, hope to be able to reduce my working days as this will drastically reduce the amount of pain I am in as I won't have to travel as often, I'll also get more time off in order to attend treatment for my disability without having to take 'paid' time off from work.

Hastobe_Katt

I walk with difficulty (and much pain!) - I have a leg brace and elbow crutches...but the crutches cause issues with my shoulders. I assumed that it was taken as read that by applying for the mobility component of DLA then I would, de facto, have mobility issues.

sunnyone

Hastobe_Katt wrote: »

First of all - before you make sweeping assumptions about my health get the facts. I was advised by my blue badge assessment nurse to apply for DLA - in her opinion I was far more disabled than many of the claimants she saw and should be entitled. I haven't claimed in the past because I wanted to be independent.

Re the facts - I have an incurable genetic condition that causes early death from rupture of major blood vessels. this same condition causes joint problems so I have widespread arthritis and already had many joints reconstructed, fused or replaced. In the last year I have had my right shoulder fused and my left knee reconstructed. I am currently waiting for a triple fusion of my left ankle. Amongst other things, I am also having intermittent parasthesia and loss of motor control down my left side due to cervical spinal damage and cord compression. I am in my forties and was diagnosed at 17 years old. I have always worked and paid my taxes and never claimed benefits. My blue badge enables me to park close to where I work.

The comment from the nurse came after I mentioned I may not be able to drive for too much longer because I was finding it increasingly difficult to operate the clutch pedal with my left foot and my consultant had advised me to change to an automatic car.

DLA is intended to provide assistance with mobility and / or care issues. It is exactly my sort of situation that is envisaged. It is not income based, nor does it require you to be unemployed in order to claim. You are welcome to a shiny new automatic car - you can have my diseases, pain and life prognosis too... I'd trade you any day.

What is your job?

Its relevant for a DLA claim, DLA can be claimed while you work but your job must not be at odds with your disability for example you cant work at a job rhe requires you to stand for extended periods if you want to claim HRMC

Mrs_Arcanum

Given all the comments about their disability from the OP they will be unlikely to ever be able to draw a pension yet they are paying tax and earning. To be so mean minded as to quibble about someone who clearly is contributing far more than they are ever likely to get back is appalling.

No it is not right that a system "assumes" everyone who is trying to claim for something health professionals think they should be entitled to are home all day. Nor is it right that something that will help them stay at work should not be given "because they work".

Please understand DLA (and all the related add ons) are directly related to the disability REGARDLESS of employment status.