DLA renewal

cptkwoman · 5 April 2011 at 5:07PM

Hi, My DLA renewal forms have just landed through the door - with a heavy crash!

What would be good to know is - if the renewal starts from the day they receive the forms back, or if it starts from the day the previous allowance ends?

I'm concerned that if I get downgraded, I'll lose money from my current allowance period. I'm never confident about renewal, and in the past have always left sending the forms back right to the last minute, just in case the worst happens. It means the next money takes a while to come through, but at least I don't lose any of the current award.

Just wondering if I'm right to be concerned?

Many thanks!

amberjade_2 · 5 April 2011 at 6:05PM

It will be renewed from the date your last ended. Fill it in asap as I sent mine beginning Feb and they still have not made a decision- mine ends the end of this month. It will be back-dated from the end of your last claim if there is any delay with the decision.

TOBRUK · 5 April 2011 at 6:50PM

I agree with amberjade, you need to send it back as soon as you can. My last renewal came with less than 3 months to go before my claim was ending - before it used to arrive about 6 months before.

When you send it back and receive an acknowledgement letter it states on the letter that if you don't hear from them within 8 weeks you can contact them to see what is happening.

Some have reported on here that 3 months or more have gone by and still haven't had heard back. Also, if there is a problem that you want to appeal etc it will take a lot longer and chances are if you delay, your present claim will have ended and you will be without for a while!

skater_kat · 5 April 2011 at 8:44PM

hi all, similar query but not renewal as such.

shortly submitting new information on exisiting claim for DWP to reconsider dla award level.

current award runs until July 2012.

do the DWP stop current dla payments whilst they re-assess claim?

TOBRUK · 5 April 2011 at 9:03PM

Do you mean that you are informing them of changes in your circumstances: your condition has worsened? Or have you have the renewal award and disagree with it?

As long as you understand that they can lessen your award to a lower rate or even take it away altogether.

rainbowblue_2 · 5 April 2011 at 9:05PM

My dla renewal date is 9th may, the new 4 page form arrived 24th dec, they received it back 14th jan. On 2nd april my award changed and they have back dated it to 14th jan - when they received the renewal form. Hope this helps to answer your question.

TOBRUK · 5 April 2011 at 9:10PM

Yes they backdate it back to the date your current award ends. If your award was ending on April 12th and you received the decision of the award award on June 9th they would backdate it to April 13th - from when the renewal claim date was.

Obviously if the award rate is increased this would be backdated from time of decision of new award.

cptkwoman · 8 April 2011 at 10:10PM

Many thanks for all your help, everyone! I suppose I was just thinking they might process my claim BEFORE the old claim ended (not until August)... but looks like that is unlikely to happen from what you are all saying.

Am I right then in thinking that an increase in allowance would be applied immediately, and a decrease would apply from the end of the old claim??

TOBRUK · 8 April 2011 at 10:50PM

When you send your form back they will (normally) send you an acknowledgement letter to say that they have received your renewal form.

At the bottom of the letter it usually states that if you have not heard anything after 8 weeks you can phone and ask about it.

If your current claim ends say 1st August, your renewal claim would begin on 2nd August if you are awarded.

Some wait 12 weeks or more for their decision letter, so really it would be best to send it back as soon as you have filled it in - make sure you make a copy of the filled in form (for your record) and check that you are happy with it ... do not rush it.

They may process it a little sooner than they would normally do, although if you were to post it on Monday they wouldn't get to it straight away and there would only be 15 weeks to go. I doubt very much that if they decided to change your new award in any way that they would do so before your new claim is due - by the time they get through it there wouldn't be much time to go..