DLA tribunal

A_Flock_Of_Sheep

sardine wrote: »

I see, but to some or I should say quite a few, £18 is a large sum of money, especially as the information is available FOC from the DWP and other souces. But each to their own I suppose.

As I was saying, your friend went to the GP with the DLA form that she had completed. Some people just send the form in and hope that the GP will do his/her bit at the end when asked. This isn't likely if they know nothing about the probems that the claimant has.

I do seriously worry that there are people out there that can't afford the £18, find it difficult to fill in the DLA form, can't access help with it due to reduced funding and don't complain to the GP enough to get a part decent report.
The system is failing them.

Still, it must work for those who are borderline cases, that know how the system works and know how these forms should be completed, and how to play the game with the GP by constantly visiting, complaining about every twinge knowing that it is all making up the detail for the GP to give a full and detailed report. I know quite a few, no doubt most of you do.

If people know how to play the game but choose not to, then I suppose they do really deserve to get nothing.

As regards the OP, if they are assessed as needing this level of support, then they are entitled to it.

You are right about the "learning to cope" part. The B&W guides really tease out the issues you have and in fact just coping isn't good enough. You can really understate the problems you have on a DLA form. The B&W guides are very good. I think some CAB places have the B&W guides and use them.

daska

sardine wrote: »

Of course you have to tell your GP if you are having pains in your chest for example. You, they, want to get to the bottom of the matter.

I was referring (not very well I admit) to those people that already have a disability, know what is wrong and know how the illness fits in with the symptoms. Take for example a simple thing of Type 1 diabetes. Everyone knows that one of the side effects can be loss of consciousness due to low blood sugar. Do you bother to tell your GP every time that happens 2, 3 times a week)? Why? You know exactly what it is and how it can be rectified. The GP can't do anything more for you, that you can't do for yourself.
However, if it isn't reported how can the GP confirm that his/her patient regularly collapses due to not being in control of their own medication.
With the same disease, most know that another side effect is the inability to use your legs at times/burning feet etc. (no mobility) This is unfortunately one of those things with diabetes. There is no point in telling your GP, they can't do anything other than to tell you to check your blood sugar level more often and watch your diet.

If everyone that has Type 1 diabetes went to their GP with every little problem, there wouldn't be enough time for the GP to see all of their other patients.

BUT, by not going, the GP can only say that the patient is in full control and that there are no adverse problems regarding care or mobility.

That's the game!!

Finally, how do we reach out to these vulnerable members of the population to make sure that THEY receive their full entitlement?
I don't know, but it damn well gets me annoyed when I see them struggling to cope.

But if you don't make your GP aware that you continue to struggle to control your blood sugars then they might not suggest help from a dietician or other delivery methods etc.

Re the most vulnerable members of the population, it's not just getting their full entitlement but getting the support to use it. The increase in personalised support plans is putting a huge strain on a lot of less able recipients and they are getting ripped off - e.g. I recently discovered that one friend of mine is paying nearly 20% of her budget to a management company whose sole responsibility is to manage her PAYE for one employee (approx £70 per payslip!).

sardine

daska wrote: »

But if you don't make your GP aware that you continue to struggle to control your blood sugars then they might not suggest help from a dietician or other delivery methods etc.

Re the most vulnerable members of the population, it's not just getting their full entitlement but getting the support to use it. The increase in personalised support plans is putting a huge strain on a lot of less able recipients and they are getting ripped off - e.g. I recently discovered that one friend of mine is paying nearly 20% of her budget to a management company whose sole responsibility is to manage her PAYE for one employee (approx £70 per payslip!).

Getting back to the original question, I think it is up to each individual to do as they feel and are able to cope with.

As regards this side issue, what I was trying to point out is that there are others in a much worse state.

In my example about not everyone queues up to see the GP with every little thing that happens in their life. Because of that, they fail to receive DLA due to a GP report that is at best, only half the story.
Diabetes as an example, every sufferer knows that good sugar/blood levels are important. They also know what type of foods and quanties that they should be eating. They DON'T need to visit the GP to be told that, they already know it. But not telling the GP counts against them!!

Likewise with a chronic condition that requires high levels of pain relief medication. Should they go to their GP every time they have an episode so that it is recorded in their files?
No, they have the medication at home and know what to do. Why would they bother the GP when the sufferer has all of the tools to help themselves?

I could go on but I won't as it is detracting from the original question.

Finally what has the second paragraph of your comments got to do with the price of fish???