dla rate gone down

A_Flock_Of_Sheep

tempested wrote: »

I did when I was uplifted to HRC from MRC, but it didn't make any difference.

Admittedly now the DWP is probably enforcing the rules more rigidly and what was deemed suitable for "x" rate a few years ago is not considered the same now.

It is very hard to get successful claims first time round. We are inundated with claims and appeals where I provide advice. I deal mainly with fresh claims and renewals. I have seen people's previous forms and can tell that the same evidence won't hold in the renewal.

tempested

sock-knitter wrote: »

i suffer from sever depression, and need someone with me to prevent me harming myself when i'm at my worst.
yes the income support has gone down, because i no longer get the severe disability premium.
they have reports from both my gp, and mental health nurse
i will ask them for a statement of resons first thing monday morning, thanks everyone for your advice

The statement of reasons is little more than them saying 'you don't have care needs' - full stop, it never goes into any detail of HOW they came to that decision using the evidence they had. So don't be surprised with what it doesn't say!

tempested

A_Flock_Of_Sheep wrote: »

Admittedly now the DWP is enforcing the rules more rigidly and what was deemed suitable for "x" rate a few years ago is not considered the same now.

It is very hard to get successful claims first time round. We are inundated with claims and appeals where I provide advice. I deal mainly with fresh claims and renewals. I have seen people's previous forms and can tell that the same evidence won't hold in the renewal.

Could I then ask what more evidence thay would need if the original evidence isn't now enough?

In my case, I can tell you that in the first claim, no evidence was sent in other than a GP report that they obtained and the claim form.

Then a new claim was made because I missed the renewal date by a month. I used the original form as a master, and supplied evidence that I had gathered over the previous 3 years when I had MRC. They then obtained another GP report and they gave me HRC until 2002!

Then I put in another new claim in late 2010 (after 8 years of having nothing after the previous one ran out, being in and out of hospital and mentally unable to cope with filling out another of those forms), using the original claim form as a master, the evidence used in the two previous claims + copies of the two GP reports (1st & 2nd claims), and additional evidence from consultants over the 8 year period since the second claim etc.

There is no more evidence I can send in and no way am I fit enough to argue my claim in court.
So I let it go and accepted LRM only as my lot.

So if you can point me in the right direction as to where you would suggest I go, then I am shafted!! CAB, DIAL, AgeUK + many others - tried them but they can't help due to being over stretched and under resourced.

sock-knitter

like tempested i did keep a copy of my original claim form, and used that to help me fill in the new one, also had a report from mental health nurse and gp, to accompany recent claim form and they still moved me from hrc to lrc, despite been in hospital several times after self harming and suicide attempts.
still going to ring them on monday for a statement of reasons and take it from there
thanks everyone for all replies

A_Flock_Of_Sheep

These days my approach with filling in the DLA form is different than say a couple of years ago. Firstly, I always bear in my own mind and tell the client that DLA is paid to help meet the additional costs of a disability. It is not an additional sum of pocket money to spend on bills, rent, food, fags, booze, wine, women and amateur dramatics. That is what IS/ESA is for or wages if you are employed.

NEVER say DLA will be used to employ a cleaner, childminder, personal shopper, cost of shopping being delivered or other such domestic bits and pieces.

With that in mind I gather a snapshot of the client's disability diagnosis and then brainstorm with them what additional expenditure the disability will incur. I generally sit with them for this and it is surprising how much I can come up with that the client hasn't thought about. Until poor health myself I was a Nurse and Nursing training has been very useful with advising for sick benefits.

Once I have a clear mindset of the additional costs I then interweave them as examples in the questions the form asks in the "additional information" boxes.

I also give the client a letter (from the client) to pass to their GP/Secondary care provider such as a CPN warning them of a forthcoming DLA claim. This is later followed up with another letter after the form is prepared detailing a synopsis of the client's care/mobility needs asking them to make an appointment with the client to discuss any aspects.

If it is a DLA renewal I will ask what additional costs the client has had, what they think they spend on currently and what they would like the money for in the future.

tempested

A_Flock_Of_Sheep wrote: »

These days my approach with filling in the DLA form is different than say a couple of years ago. Firstly, I always bear in my own mind and tell the client that DLA is paid to help meet the additional costs of a disability. It is not an additional sum of pocket money to spend on bills, rent, food, fags, booze, wine, women and amateur dramatics. That is what IS/ESA is for or wages if you are employed.

NEVER say DLA will be used to employ a cleaner, childminder, personal shopper, cost of shopping being delivered or other such domestic bits and pieces.

With that in mind I gather a snapshot of the client's disability diagnosis and then brainstorm with them what additional expenditure the disability will incur. I generally sit with them for this and it is surprising how much I can come up with that the client hasn't thought about. Until poor health myself I was a Nurse and Nursing training has been very useful with advising for sick benefits.

Once I have a clear mindset of the additional costs I then interweave them as examples in the questions the form asks in the "additional information" boxes.

I also give the client a letter (from the client) to pass to their GP/Secondary care provider such as a CPN warning them of a forthcoming DLA claim. This is later followed up with another letter after the form is prepared detailing a synopsis of the client's care/mobility needs asking them to make an appointment with the client to discuss any aspects.

If it is a DLA renewal I will ask what additional costs the client has had, what they think they spend on currently and what they would like the money for in the future.

Gee Flock from Shap!!

Where do you work out of?

Wherever it is would you mind taking a client from Canterbury LOL??

What you have said sounds absolutely the right way to go about it. I just wish that there were more like you up and down the country.

Being on the receiving end so to speak, looking at it that way, self analysing then completing the form, is an impossible task for me at least. My mind won't react like that, can't think that logical and can't put those feelings, opinions and examples down on paper that would mean anything to anybody else. Whether that is part and parcel of the illness, the symtoms, the side effect of the drugs or a combination of all three.

I would imagine that the task is as difficult for as many others. That idea of contacting the professionals is brill, but do you know how hard it is to even want to discuss those things with the GP, Consultant etc? I flatly refuse to discuss those matters, feel so stupid.

In my own case that was the reason why I let the award in 2002 slip away without renewing it. As time went on it became more difficult to approach the subject. That is until I had to see my GP as I was at breaking point in 2010. The counsellor that he put me in touch with told me to reapply which I did.
I am now back under the care of the CMHT at the hospital. I had 8 years of freedom from all of that - now back on the rollercoaster of drugs and therapy - uggggh!!

I feel so low now after reading what you offer. It just reinforces my self belief that I cannot cope properly with even the simple things like filling forms in properly.

You offer a fantastic service and am so envious of the people that you advise.

dmg24

tempested wrote: »

Gee Flock from Shap!!

Where do you work out of?

Wherever it is would you mind taking a client from Canterbury LOL??

What you have said sounds absolutely the right way to go about it. I just wish that there were more like you up and down the country.

Being on the receiving end so to speak, looking at it that way, self analysing then completing the form, is an impossible task for me at least. My mind won't react like that, can't think that logical and can't put those feelings, opinions and examples down on paper that would mean anything to anybody else. Whether that is part and parcel of the illness, the symtoms, the side effect of the drugs or a combination of all three.

I would imagine that the task is as difficult for as many others. That idea of contacting the professionals is brill, but do you know how hard it is to even want to discuss those things with the GP, Consultant etc? I flatly refuse to discuss those matters, feel so stupid.

In my own case that was the reason why I let the award in 2002 slip away without renewing it. As time went on it became more difficult to approach the subject. That is until I had to see my GP as I was at breaking point in 2010. The counsellor that he put me in touch with told me to reapply which I did.
I am now back under the care of the CMHT at the hospital. I had 8 years of freedom from all of that - now back on the rollercoaster of drugs and therapy - uggggh!!

I feel so low now after reading what you offer. It just reinforces my self belief that I cannot cope properly with even the simple things like filling forms in properly.

You offer a fantastic service and am so envious of the people that you advise.

Good to see that you're getting some help again Andy!

A_Flock_Of_Sheep

dmg24 wrote: »

Good to see that you're getting some help again Andy!

Andy?? I am a woman!

A_Flock_Of_Sheep

dmg24 wrote: »

I was responding to tempested ... it's andyandflo back again.

Who? I don't know what you are on about?

dmg24

A_Flock_Of_Sheep wrote: »

Who? I don't know what you are on about?

It's a troll that makes up stories (including his own suicide) to get a reaction. He also likes to get people to help him and then laughs at them - previously someone offered to set up a website for him and then he posted all about them. A very odd character, but well known in these parts (and to the MSE Team).