Refused DLA

Ralphy101

Just got my decision letter in the post this morning.

Basicllly I am a little mad and upset.

Every thing I have told them in my application - they have appeared to ignore and give me " you do not need help with this" etc.

The docs thought i had Rapid Cycling Bi polar 2 disorder - but a new shrink has diagnosed me with , Shizoid personality disorder + Bordlerline personality disorder, elements of cyclothmia and Severe anxiaty.

The anxiety alone causes me severe panic attacks - im scared to drive since having one on a motorway. I get them at night in bed - and my partner has to calm me down - i take medication to try and relax me when these come on... as well as 1000mg Depakote a day to curb the manic episodes i get.

I cant go out in places like resturants because i freak out.... get paranoid ---- I punched a man to whom thought was laughing at me in January - ( prompted me to seek help), I forget to eat when i get manic episodes.... My whole life is in chaos

I have called them and explained the above - asking why they didnt they actually take this information on board as it was all on my application form....

It just seemed like a template letter they sent me. So much stress i could be doing without!

deathvalleydemon

Ralphy101 wrote: »

Just got my decision letter in the post this morning.

Basicllly I am a little mad and upset.

Every thing I have told them in my application - they have appeared to ignore and give me " you do not need help with this" etc.

The docs thought i had Rapid Cycling Bi polar 2 disorder - but a new shrink has diagnosed me with , Shizoid personality disorder + Bordlerline personality disorder, elements of cyclothmia and Severe anxiaty.

The anxiety alone causes me severe panic attacks - im scared to drive since having one on a motorway. I get them at night in bed - and my partner has to calm me down - i take medication to try and relax me when these come on... as well as 1000mg Depakote a day to curb the manic episodes i get.

I cant go out in places like resturants because i freak out.... get paranoid ---- I punched a man to whom thought was laughing at me in January - ( prompted me to seek help), I forget to eat when i get manic episodes.... My whole life is in chaos

I have called them and explained the above - asking why they didnt they actually take this information on board as it was all on my application form....

It just seemed like a template letter they sent me. So much stress i could be doing without!

did you have an atos medical?


if so, therein lies your answer.

deathvalleydemon

I would also just like to state, i was denied DLA on the basis of the pathetic and chock full of lies esa medical report.

i have a medical report where atos deems me unfit to work AND classes me as disabled but it wont be took into consideration.

if they can use the esa medical to determin dla, then why are they not able to take into consideration the medical i had for industrial injuries disablement benefit?

are they able to just decide to do as they please as they see fit so it suits them?

Ralphy101

Whats an atos medical?

and why the laughing? I would love for people to experience what its like living with a panic disorder.

I work for a living - but work has had the make changes to my job role so that i dont drive as much now.

Having my partner having to dispense me my drugs because during a hyper manic episode i cant even remember to eat for days on end?

Having to have somebody with me for when im in public - to stop me freaking out on people - is that not care needs?

Having to be dragged out of bed/watched in the mornings when i get a serious bout of depression - is that not care needs?

I do not want to quit my job - firstly because i dont want people to think im sponging off the system - and depsite everything ive said regarding my health - ( and with help from my employer's) i can work..... however it is seriously a daily stuggle.

Since being diagnosed with mental illness(s) - i can seriously vouch how people are really and truly ignorant are.

iluvmarmite

Ralphy take no notice of the poster above you, he is a troll so all his input should be ignored.

clemmatis

Yes, the troll's gone now, kicked out, I hope. Ralphy, I think you should appeal, and get advice on filling in the form from CAB or a welfare rights officer. Or there's a site called benefits and work that some people recommend, though you have to pay a (small) yearly fee.

http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk

Newly_retired

Ralphy do you know you can appeal against the decision? You need to do so within one month of the date on the decision letter. If possible, get someone like CAB to help you with this.

PurpleSky_3

Definitely appeal - mental health disorders are the hardest to get recognised by the DLA asessment. (Personal Experience). And if they refuse again request to go to a Tribunal where actual Doctors will look at your case.

It took 18 months, and a long hard fight for me to get DLA (Panic attacks, anxiety disorder and depression - just been provisionally diagnosed with ME to add to the mix!) I eventually got the award after requesting a Tribunal and now my awesome Hubby gets Carer's Allowance for looking after me as well.

Hitch up your breeches and get ready to give them a fight!!

Make sure in your appeal you detail what care you NEED... ignoring the care you currently receive... Imagine what would happen if no-one was with you when you had an episode.

My Panic Attacks are controlled at the moment because my husband knows how to calm and settle me - along with my night terrors, But that doesn't mean that I don't NEED care - I am lucky enough to receive it. And that is what DLA is all about - what Care you NEED.
My husband makes sure that I eat 3 meals a day - he makes sure that I get my backside out of bed in the morning. Some one calling you on the phone to remind you to take medication is a Care need - it is something that a person without your disorder would not need.

So definately take it further, and further still if needed...

TOBRUK

Ralphy101 wrote: »

Just got my decision letter in the post this morning.

Basicllly I am a little mad and upset.

Every thing I have told them in my application - they have appeared to ignore and give me " you do not need help with this" etc.
.....

I have called them and explained the above - asking why they didnt they actually take this information on board as it was all on my application form....

It just seemed like a template letter they sent me. So much stress i could be doing without!

I understand how you feel after reading the decision letter, yes it does feel like template letter, it's matter of fact and very cold, but that is just standard. It is upsetting when you receive a letter like that.

I hope you are feeling a little better today. As others have said you need to appeal. I don't think it helps to phone them ... you need to write to them. When I disagreed with their decision on my DLA last year, I wrote to them stating that I disagreed with their decision - and the reasons why. I wrote a very long letter explaining my difficulties (based on the points in their letter) and my care needs.

Perhaps I was one of the lucky ones because three weeks after I sent the letter I received another decision letter which they changed their mind and changed the DLA rate to a higher rate. Some people go to appeal rather than write and ask for a reconsideration - but it worked for me. Don't write an angry letter, just state the facts and give an explanation why you disagree.

I don't know if this helps, but just wanted to give you some hope. You have one month (from the date on the decision letter) to write to them - disagreeing with their decision and ask if they could reconsider their decision.

jetta_wales

I agree the letters are dreadful and then if you ask for a reconsideration they just send you pretty much exactly the same letter again just two weeks later, feels pretty much like a slap in the face tbh.

Ralphy101

Thank you for your kind words guys.

I feel much better today - i called them yesterday and explained why i need help and stuff - going through the points on the letter where they said i dont .

Taking your advice on board - i will follow this up with a letter also - as you say it is much better getting your point across in writing.

I really do feel as people do not take mental health seriously - it is such a paradox as Doctors and professional's are also stressing to me not to get stressed as this is a trigger - yet when i do seek help - i get flat repsonses like this from the DLA etc. causing me stress.

It really does berate me when i see and know people who claim this and other benefits when there is truly nothing wrong with them - havent worked a day in their life. Yet i have been struck with mental illness in the last 2 years - and im trying to hold down a job, pay a mortgage - be a good partner and be a good father.

It does make you wonder - wheres the incentive ? When the goverment seems to be helping those - who clearly have no motivation in helping themselves.