DLA Medical Report

Eridani

Hi there,

New to the forums but have a quick question....how long does a doctor have to complete a medical report for DLA or is it at the doctors discretion? what sort of timescale should I start chasing things up in?

Thanks

Eridani

nashly

DLA is a slow process and can be a couple of months from you filling the form in to the DWP giving you a decision, which is probably going to be no from the DWP as that is their standard policy, and then you appeal and get a proper assesment by independant adjudicators.

MrsManda

nashly wrote: »

DLA is a slow process and can be a couple of months from you filling the form in to the DWP giving you a decision, which is probably going to be no from the DWP as that is their standard policy, and then you appeal and get a proper assesment by independant adjudicators.

Why do people insist on scaremongering? there is no need for it and blanket statement as misleading.

To the OP. I don't think there is any specific guidance, doctors generally get it done when they can. Your confirmation letter from DLA should say how long you should wait to hear before chasing it up. I think it said six weeks in my case though I did get a letter about a month later to say that they were still waiting for a letter from my specialist and would contact me as soon as they had it.
You may be able to speed up the process by making sure your doctors know you have applied and that they may be receiving a form to fill in soon. It's a good idea to do this anyway as you can discuss your reasons for applying so that the doctor is up to date with your care/mobility needs an they are fresh in the doctors mind when the form arrives.

My DLA took about 2 months to sort out due to them waiting for reports but contray to the scaremongering often found on this site, the decision was in my favour.

Eridani

nashly wrote: »

DLA is a slow process and can be a couple of months from you filling the form in to the DWP giving you a decision, which is probably going to be no from the DWP as that is their standard policy, and then you appeal and get a proper assesment by independant adjudicators.

Hi, no disrespect but you can't really go saying that as you don't know the basis of my claim - if the DWP were going to say no to everyone the first time round I'm surely the fairness of their assessment criteria would be called into question?

Eridani

MrsManda wrote: »

Why do people insist on scaremongering? there is no need for it and blanket statement as misleading.

To the OP. I don't think there is any specific guidance, doctors generally get it done when they can. Your confirmation letter from DLA should say how long you should wait to hear before chasing it up. I think it said six weeks in my case though I did get a letter about a month later to say that they were still waiting for a letter from my specialist and would contact me as soon as they had it.
You may be able to speed up the process by making sure your doctors know you have applied and that they may be receiving a form to fill in soon. It's a good idea to do this anyway as you can discuss your reasons for applying so that the doctor is up to date with your care/mobility needs an they are fresh in the doctors mind when the form arrives.

My DLA took about 2 months to sort out due to them waiting for reports but contray to the scaremongering often found on this site, the decision was in my favour.

Thanks, I applied for it three weeks ago so I'll have a while to wait yet but the waiting can make you really anxious can't it. I've been told I should have applied years ago but I thought that because I received DLA for my disabled son that I wouldnt be eligible because I was caring for him. Its only when my husband lost his job and we had to claim ESA that I was told I should be claiming DLA for myself and possibly carers allowance that I decided to make the claim althuogh I am quite embarassed about it.

spherelance

They do tend to be slow with DLA and they do look at the forms in an ultra critical manner. I applied the first time and failed but then got some advice from a mental health advocate. He said to describe what it is like at it's worse and don't even mention good/better days, just focus on the bad and don't pull punches. Needless to say the second time I applied I got DLA and I've recently had it renewed. Shame the same can't be said about my IB but that involved Atos and their fantasy sessions (i.e. the outcome bears little resemblance to the actual session).

Good luck with the DLA and don't be afraid to re-apply if you get knocked back.

sardine

spherelance wrote: »

They do tend to be slow with DLA and they do look at the forms in an ultra critical manner. I applied the first time and failed but then got some advice from a mental health advocate. He said to describe what it is like at it's worse and don't even mention good/better days, just focus on the bad and don't pull punches. Needless to say the second time I applied I got DLA and I've recently had it renewed. Shame the same can't be said about my IB but that involved Atos and their fantasy sessions (i.e. the outcome bears little resemblance to the actual session).

Good luck with the DLA and don't be afraid to re-apply if you get knocked back.

Hello,

I have the DLA form in front of me to complete as I want to test this system of people (on the balance of probabilities) having their first claim thrown out. I am also trying to find out how much effort, time and wasted energy claimants have to put in to make sure that the GP is able to answer the questions on the form DBD370(N).

I have read on this site on many threads how you are supposed to describe the help you need, when you need it and how much you need.
Some say, always look at your worst day x 24/7, some say good, bad and those in the middle whilst others say to just take the average.

You say you described your worst days and was told NOT to mention good or better days.
Which is the right way? What am I supposed to describe?

I want to do this 'by the book' as I don't want a decision that will be influenced by me 'exagerating the truth'.

How did you complete your first claim form?

I am also told by the DLA helpline when I starting asking questions that you can only put in a new claim after 6 months after failing the first - something to do with linking rules or something.
P.S. Looks like DMG has answered part of my question and is saying that you have now committed benefit fraud!

MrsManda

Eridani: I know it can make you anxious, and I understand about being embarrassed about it, I wasn't particularly keen on applying but I needed it and it did work out for me eventually - just took a lot of time with the paperwork

Sardine:

there is a document linked on one of these threads (though annoyingly I cannot find it at the moment) which tells you how you ought to fill out the forms properly. Basically you are supposed to fill it in about your average day but there are questions which ask on average how many days a week you have these needs so you can put details about your worse and best days.
When I filled out my form I wrote about my problems, made sure I said how many days a week I had these problems but also put that it does vary between me being relatively ok to me being hardly able to do anything.
For most of the questions I put 'see additional sheet' and typed a more detailed answer to what fit in the box. I didn't see my GP or consultants to tell them I was applying though at the time they were seeing me regularly so knew what my problems were.
The Decision Maker used my application form, a report from my consultant and the report from my ATOS medical for ESA to make their decision.

sardine

MrsManda wrote: »

Eridani: I know it can make you anxious, and I understand about being embarrassed about it, I wasn't particularly keen on applying but I needed it and it did work out for me eventually - just took a lot of time with the paperwork

Sardine:

there is a document linked on one of these threads (though annoyingly I cannot find it at the moment) which tells you how you ought to fill out the forms properly. Basically you are supposed to fill it in about your average day but there are questions which ask on average how many days a week you have these needs so you can put details about your worse and best days.
When I filled out my form I wrote about my problems, made sure I said how many days a week I had these problems but also put that it does vary between me being relatively ok to me being hardly able to do anything.
For most of the questions I put 'see additional sheet' and typed a more detailed answer to what fit in the box. I didn't see my GP or consultants to tell them I was applying though at the time they were seeing me regularly so knew what my problems were.
The Decision Maker used my application form, a report from my consultant and the report from my ATOS medical for ESA to make their decision.

Thankyou for that information.

When you say you were seeing your consultant where they aware of your 'medical' problem only, or did you also discuss how your 'medical' problem was affecting your life?

I wasn't aware that they would refer to the ESA assessment as well and use it to decide your entitlement as such. I know they use it as supplementary evidence as the two benefits have two totally different points of reference.
If as you say they did, then that in itself will create another scenario to consider when I fail. I received 0 points on my ESA, yet after I sent them some bits of evidence of my condition in (not how it affected my ability to do any work) to discredit the report and show that it was a fabrication of the truth, on reconsideration they upped it to the Support Group and not to be re-assessed until March 2013. If they go by that report, that will give me fun and games to play with.

spherelance

dmg24 wrote: »

The 'advocate' told you how to commit fraud. You need to inform DLA that your description is inaccurate - you should describe good/ better and bad days, and explain how often each occur.

Good thing I didn't follow his advice to the letter as I felt overdoing it with the negative wasn't the best.

<snip> I thought this was a help and advice board not a board to be called a fraud and an idiot for posting my appeal recorded delivery. Lose the attitude because you do give out decent advice <snip>

Needless to say I won't be asking for help around here again in a hurry.

MrsManda

sardine wrote: »

When you say you were seeing your consultant where they aware of your 'medical' problem only, or did you also discuss how your 'medical' problem was affecting your life?

I wasn't aware that they would refer to the ESA assessment as well and use it to decide your entitlement as such. I know they use it as supplementary evidence as the two benefits have two totally different points of reference.
... on reconsideration they upped it to the Support Group and not to be re-assessed until March 2013. If they go by that report, that will give me fun and games to play with.

I don't think you need to worry in terms of the ESA assessment, it's used as supplementary evidence and they'll also have the information about the reconsideration and your Support Group award which can only work in your favour.

I didn't have a diagnosis when I applied so my doctors were well aware of my symptoms and the effect they were having on my life as they were the ones advising me to give up my studies, not to leave the house alone, and to not cook alone.