Is an indefinite award of DLA really indefinite?

MoneySaverForever

Hi there, I was awarded DLA at LRM/MRC for an "indefinite" period of time. Now, I'm not sure if it's true but I was told that in the past they gave you lifetime awards instead of indefinite ones? How long does an indefinite award last, do you know? One year, two? three years, four? I'd hate to have to go through the hassle of applying for it all over again and these recent changes where genuine and very ill people are being made to go through assesments when it's obvious they're not well really make me upset

Many thanks for your help xxx

GlynD

You only have to go through a review of your DLA if you inform them of a change in your condition(s). If you've been awarded indefinite status it's probably that they don't expect you to get better but you could get worse which is when you'll have to apply for a review to get a higher award.

Prinzessilein

I have an indefinite award for DLA - lower rate both components.

I was told my award is indefinite because I am not expected to recover.

I was also told that 'indefinite' means that they do not have a set date on which to review my claim. It could be 3 months...3 years...????

At some time they will review my claim, I just have no idea when!

wottonby

I'm sorry but I must laugh at those comments!!

Indefinite means that the DWP can re-assess when ever they see fit. A fixed period is one that will be renewed at the end of the period.

As for giving an indefinite award because it is accepted that the claimant will never recover is absolute rubbish!!!!!

I had an indefinite award for HRC/LRM. Shortly after the award was given (few months) I failed an ATOS medical for another totally unrelated benefit.
Then the DLA wrote to me telling me that they wanted to reassess my entitlement again. I filled in the forms again and was told that my current award was to be cancelled forthwith. When I asked why, I was told that they believed that there was absolutely nothing wrong with me as per the assessment for the other benefit. They took everything away including the care allowance for my wife. That was 7 years ago, I have never been able to claim another 1p since.

Ironically, my care and mobility needs are no better now than they were years ago when I had the DLA. So, it must all be in the mind!!

Prinzessilein

wottonby wrote: »

As for giving an indefinite award because it is accepted that the claimant will never recover is absolute rubbish!!!!!

Not rubbish. I am merely stating what I was told, when I was given my indefinite award.

As I explained in my post (if you could stop laughing enough to read it properly, you would perhaps see I said pretty much the same as you did!) they can reassess my claim at any time.

A reassessmnet may result in them removing my awards - I would still have the condition, but possibly not the same care/mobility needs. Or they could make a real hash of things and remove the awards without reasonable grounds - and I could (and would!) appeal. Or they could leave the awards as they are and make it another 'indefinite' award - meaning they can again reassess at any time.

Wottonby, I'm sorry you feel that your DLA was unfairly taken away. Did you appeal - and did you have help to appeal? And if you feel you still have care/mobility needs could you not reapply?

kurgon

Going to be replaced by PIP anyway and ALL claimants will be re-assessed..........

ramsas

Has stated above Disability Living Allowance is coming to an end in 2013 ..consequently all existing claimants of DLA at that time will be subject to a total re evaluation of their entitlement to the incoming benefit which is to be called Personal Independence Payment.This is to entail one on one medical assessments of all claimants and subject to the outcome of the assessment awards will be made accordingly.May suggest following the link which will give you detailed info regards this.But answer to your question is that your award will indeed be subject to further scrutiny and then subsequent award made accordingly.Click on link for full details.....

http://www.disabilityalliance.org/f60.htm

jetta_wales

Indefinite with DLA means there is no intention at that point to reassess you. They might then still do so if they are given reason to like if you fail an ATOS assessment for ESA for example as they are then sent that report too. We will all get reassesed for the change over to PIP but with DLA indefinite can mean just that despite the few people that like to insist otherwise. I was given an indefinite award when I was 16 and I'm 27 now and have never been asked to complete a reassessment because there is no cure for my condition, it won't get worse but it won't get better either.

wottonby

Prinzessilein wrote: »

Not rubbish. I am merely stating what I was told, when I was given my indefinite award.

As I explained in my post (if you could stop laughing enough to read it properly, you would perhaps see I said pretty much the same as you did!) they can reassess my claim at any time.

The thing that I found amusing was the following statement

"I was told my award is indefinite because I am not expected to recover."

In which case there would never be a need to re-assess an 'idefinite' award as there would be no expectation of any improvement!

A reassessmnet may result in them removing my awards - I would still have the condition, but possibly not the same care/mobility needs. Or they could make a real hash of things and remove the awards without reasonable grounds - and I could (and would!) appeal. Or they could leave the awards as they are and make it another 'indefinite' award - meaning they can again reassess at any time.

Wottonby, I'm sorry you feel that your DLA was unfairly taken away. Did you appeal - and did you have help to appeal? And if you feel you still have care/mobility needs could you not reapply?

Yes maybe I am a little bitter, sorry I shouldn't let that come through on here.

No I never appealed against the loss of the IIDB (80%) or the complete loss of my DLA award.

I did however ask about it and what should I do. I was told by the DWP at the time that it would be a waste of my time in appealing as there is such a strong medical report now in existence that in their opinion shows that there is absolutely nothing wrong with me. Further, they warned me that that report will be used in any event should I attempt to make any future disability benefit application!

Why you may wonder. It's because I stupidly followed directions given to me during the IIDB ATOS assessment that I must sign the medical assessment to show that I agreed with it and that it was a true and factual report. I felt pressurised and wanted to get home. I started to read what it said, but the doctor who examined me told me that there was no need to do that, as there was nothing untoward in it. So I signed it without reading it and consequently signed away the opportunity to claim any future benefit - that was 7 years ago!

Such is life!

Cpt.Scarlet

wottonby wrote: »

Why you may wonder. It's because I stupidly followed directions given to me during the IIDB ATOS assessment that I must sign the medical assessment to show that I agreed with it and that it was a true and factual report. I felt pressurised and wanted to get home. I started to read what it said, but the doctor who examined me told me that there was no need to do that, as there was nothing untoward in it. So I signed it without reading it and consequently signed away the opportunity to claim any future benefit - that was 7 years ago!

Such is life!

A seven year old report wouldn't even be used by the DWP to justify a decision, there is absolutely no reason why you could not apply for DLA again.

[Deleted User]

GlynD wrote: »

You only have to go through a review of your DLA if you inform them of a change in your condition(s). If you've been awarded indefinite status it's probably that they don't expect you to get better but you could get worse which is when you'll have to apply for a review to get a higher award.

untrue,an indefinite award can be reviewed anytime after the first 12 months,and of course now all indefinite awards and old lifetime awards will ALL now be reviewed from 2013 onwards