DLA Fail

Supernatural

Thanks, and so sorry to hear of your husband's troubles davsidipp. You're right, we have to battle on regardless.

Try and think positive Teabag29, hopefully the decision maker will understand your daughters difficulties.

shegirl

teabag29 wrote: »

Mental health is an illness and why should ppl with mental health not be allowed to have children then? that would be discrimination would it not! Also just because there is history of it does not mean it will be passed down. Hang on my dad died of cancer so I best not have any more kids incase they get cancer hey. What a ridiculous view you have. Just because someone has mental illness does not mean they should be denied the right to be a parent, the same rights everyone has.

Mental health is not an illness.:eek:There is good mental health ie no problems(healthy) and then there is bad/ill mental health ie mental health problems/issues..illnesss.

On the more serious side,the chances of getting DLA for your daughter are much much smaller due to no diagnosis.While it is possible for some people to get it prior to diagnosis,due to your daughters problems it may be quite hard,especially as the majority is behavioural.So you really need to push to get her seen to see what is going on.Try not to take too much notice of online checklists and symptoms as anyone could fit into any of the things they say as they do not go into detail and they do not give explantions on the severity,circumstance and context.Many of the things you quoted on the schizophrenia checklist apply to many other things including normal teenage behaviour,so be careful when using and trying to apply them.

In the mean time you are getting her to school safely so there is no panic there,what is worrying there is that the other kids are in school early (is it allowed and ok?if so then no issue at all) so that's what needs sorting,it's not that you can't get her there because you can,it's that it's done in a way that possibly may affect the other kids,so get some help with that for now instead of focussing so much on getting DLA so someone else takes your daughter to school!!! Also,ask yourself given what you claim,if she'd be safe on the bus!

She's clearly been very open about the voices etc which I'd have thought uncommon,so keep a check on it and push to get her seen

teabag29

School havent said anything to me regarding my younger to being left alone in playground much earlier than school time however the school is set on a main road so i'm constantly panicking incase they go out of the gates (eldest is 8). there is nobody else that can take my dd to school as i have no family/friends nearby so thats not an option. the bus that comes i think she would be safe on because its especially for kids with behavioural problems and aswell as the driver there are 2 adults on board who sit with the kids and take them in and out of school from the bus so they are safe.

The reason I looked at the checklist for skitzophrenia is because my mother had it and the child psychologist said that was vital info and to make sure I mention it on every appt as it may well be inherited. I do realise however that my dd's symptoms could spell alot of things.

I am trying as hard as i can to get her seen asap but I cant make the waiting lists any shorter or make them see her quicker i'm afraid. Also I am not 'focusing so much on dla' as you put it, I put in a claim as someone suggested it to me and when I rang to explain about my dd the lady at the other end of the phone said I should definately put in a claim so i did. If i am not entitled then i'm not, I haven't lost anything by it but there's no way that if there is a possibility I can claim for my dd and make her life better that i'm not gonna try.

shegirl

teabag29 wrote: »

School havent said anything to me regarding my younger to being left alone in playground much earlier than school time however the school is set on a main road so i'm constantly panicking incase they go out of the gates (eldest is 8). there is nobody else that can take my dd to school as i have no family/friends nearby so thats not an option. the bus that comes i think she would be safe on because its especially for kids with behavioural problems and aswell as the driver there are 2 adults on board who sit with the kids and take them in and out of school from the bus so they are safe.

The reason I looked at the checklist for skitzophrenia is because my mother had it and the child psychologist said that was vital info and to make sure I mention it on every appt as it may well be inherited. I do realise however that my dd's symptoms could spell alot of things.

I am trying as hard as i can to get her seen asap but I cant make the waiting lists any shorter or make them see her quicker i'm afraid. Also I am not 'focusing so much on dla' as you put it, I put in a claim as someone suggested it to me and when I rang to explain about my dd the lady at the other end of the phone said I should definately put in a claim so i did. If i am not entitled then i'm not, I haven't lost anything by it but there's no way that if there is a possibility I can claim for my dd and make her life better that i'm not gonna try.

But you do seem focused on it and seem focused on getting her to school.Again,I said to think about getting help with getting the others to school and you turned it into nobody else to take HER to school....

By the way,are there other kids in the playground when you drop your yonugest two off?Or are there teachers with them?

I also find it bizarre that the school don't seem to have and see issues like you do,there is also the fact that you instantly thought of someone taking her to school rather than the other kids,which,despite not having anyone,suggests to me that you aren't that concerned about her safety getting there.My son is severely autistic and if I had concerns about his safety (which I always do) it wouldn't even cross my mind for someone else to take him somewhere.

Can I ask what you have told your daughter about the mental health issues in the family and what she has told you about voices etc?It's just very unusual and I don't believe a school (as useless as they can be and I know this all too well) woul start pretending that something like that did not happen because actually if it does happen within school then they should be very wary and concerned

teabag29

shegirl wrote: »

But you do seem focused on it and seem focused on getting her to school.Again,I said to think about getting help with getting the others to school and you turned it into nobody else to take HER to school....

By the way,are there other kids in the playground when you drop your yonugest two off?Or are there teachers with them?

I also find it bizarre that the school don't seem to have and see issues like you do,there is also the fact that you instantly thought of someone taking her to school rather than the other kids,which,despite not having anyone,suggests to me that you aren't that concerned about her safety getting there.My son is severely autistic and if I had concerns about his safety (which I always do) it wouldn't even cross my mind for someone else to take him somewhere.

Can I ask what you have told your daughter about the mental health issues in the family and what she has told you about voices etc?It's just very unusual and I don't believe a school (as useless as they can be and I know this all too well) woul start pretending that something like that did not happen because actually if it does happen within school then they should be very wary and concerned

Either I have mis-read or not understood what you have said but i dont see where you asked about getting the others to school, either way it would be the same answer I have no immediate family close by to help get ANY of them to school. And yes if there were I would ofcourse feel safe with my mum or brother taking her to school, they are familiar with my dd's condition and i trust them completely.
As for the mental health history, my dd doesnt know about the mental health family history, i dont see that she needs to know about this.

She hasnt said much about the voices and ive not pushed her on it at the doctors advice. Its what ive seen myself, we could be sitting there 1 minute and she'll jump up screaming asking why are saying that to me and her character will turn completely but nobody has said anything.

The school are not pretending this has not happened, the hearing voices has only started recently (past month or so). The school said they were wholly behind me due to her disturbing behaviour but once doctor said they had to apply for funding they died off and in a recent school report wrote her attendance is excellent, (she has been truanting since january on and off and she is 93%) and she is polite. they failed to mention in the 6 mths shes been at that school shes been arrested for truanting and shop lifting, had 4 fights with other pupils, cannot get along with other kids, has stolen from atleast 5 pupils (prob more but only caught on these occasions), disruption in class etc. It was the head of year who said she feels as though dd doesnt know what shes doing let alone why and often doesnt remember what shes done.

On the other hand she does have a totally different side to her character, such a loving child who is eager to please and has a great sense of humour. The only way i can describe her is as if she has a spilt personality. It can be hours days or weeks between her switching characters and there is no apparent reason triggering off the change.

teabag29

shegirl wrote: »

there is also the fact that you instantly thought of someone taking her to school rather than the other kids,which,despite not having anyone,suggests to me that you aren't that concerned about her safety getting there.

I think that comment is very rude and uncalled for. I CAN ASSURE YOU i am very concerned about my dd's safety getting to school. So does that mean if i said i have noboby to take the younger ones to school I dont care about their safety then? the only person I would trust taking my children to school are my close family or the disability bus so if I could get either of that help then why shouldnt i let them take her, soesnt mean i dont care for her safety at all it means i'd know she was safe.

shegirl

teabag29 wrote: »

I think that comment is very rude and uncalled for. I CAN ASSURE YOU i am very concerned about my dd's safety getting to school. So does that mean if i said i have noboby to take the younger ones to school I dont care about their safety then? the only person I would trust taking my children to school are my close family or the disability bus so if I could get either of that help then why shouldnt i let them take her, soesnt mean i dont care for her safety at all it means i'd know she was safe.

No,that's not what I meant at all! There just didn't seem to be too much concern over her safety in getting there (as you claim there is hence taking her) as you take her due to having no friends etc who could...I wasn't suggesting you aren't concerned lol but more it's not as much of a concern ie not as dangerous etc as maybe you seemed to suggest to start with.But that's just me and the way I see it from having a very unsafe child.No offence at all was intended there,probably didn't explain very well lol

diolch

Supernatural wrote: »

As I feared, a lovely brown envelope dropped on my doormat this morning turning down my recent application for DLA. They seem to have totally disregarded everything I wrote on the form (and god knows I thought I wrote enough, 20 sheets of extra info detailing every little difficulty and the mobility and care needs associated... sigh)

I suffer severe diabetes complications (constant neuropathy, every step is agony) proliferative retinopathy (my eyes are failing at a staggeringly fast rate with greatly reduced vision, even my consultant is shocked) and all the other delightful pain and fatigue associated with being undiagnosed for 10+ years.

So, where do I go from here? Do I go straight to appeal or ask for a reconsideration? If so what do I need to do? (write, phone, request appeal form? etc). I'm so livid, it's been a particularly bad pain week for me but according to them I can dance a jig whilst balancing a ball on my nose!!

I have a referral to a counselling service Tuesday as I'm not coping well at all at the moment, being in constant pain really can make you want to jump from a very tall building... should I get them to get involved in the appeal?

I want to go about this right but this is my first application, would appreciate advice please.

I would be very surprised at all if you managed to get any level of DLA for Diabetes even though you do have those mild complications. It is very rare for Diabetes to be allowed for DLA. The complications are a different kettle of fish. It depends on the level of them. I know of many type 1 insulin dependent sufferers, some who are near blind, others that can only walk short distances, yet they are declined at regular intervals.

The DWP do not see Diabetes as an illness that has DLA connections.
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/medical-conditions/a-z-of-medical-conditions/diabetes/

diolch

jetta_wales wrote: »

It' suprising how many decisions are completely over turned just on reconsideration alone. It's definitely a first easy step that's worth taking.

I would also point out that that a surprising number of claimants that have their application turned down, DON'T appeal or ask for a reconsideration on the basis that they genuinely believe that the DWP are Judge, Jury and Hangman. They instead send in another claim. Obviously that will be turned down straight away based on the recent failure of the other one. After a few of these refusals - they give up altogether!

Why do people think and believe they will fail? Because of the media pressure making genuine claimants think that they are benefit scroungers! They have no belief in themselves.

Supernatural

diolch wrote: »

I would be very surprised at all if you managed to get any level of DLA for Diabetes even though you do have those mild complications. It is very rare for Diabetes to be allowed for DLA. The complications are a different kettle of fish. It depends on the level of them. I know of many type 1 insulin dependent sufferers, some who are near blind, others that can only walk short distances, yet they are declined at regular intervals.

The DWP do not see Diabetes as an illness that has DLA connections.
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/medical-conditions/a-z-of-medical-conditions/diabetes/

I'm not trying to claim for the actual disease, lots of people have it after all and live a normal life, but the problems the complications personally cause me. I have gastroparesis too, and just this week been investigated for kidney problems, because everything else has gone wrong all at once they are worried I've got every bit of nerve damage going.

My eye consultant says I must have been undiagnosed for 10-15 years for the degree of damage I have developed, when first tested my blood sugar was 31.9. Sadly this disease has wrecked my body and taken away my health, and I'm not even 40.