DLA form - statement from someone who knows you?

TrixieB

Hello

In the part of the DLA form that asks for a statement from someone who knows you - well that person for me would be my boyfriend as he is the one that sees all of it good and bad, whereas friends tend to only hear about the bad parts not see them physically themselves and only see me on the better days.

Boyfriend is of the opinion that as what he says will be practically repeating what I will put word for word that it will look somehow dodgy and be disregarded, also the fact he is my boyfriend he thinks they'll look less favourably on it and thinks they will think how did he put it.. "we're at it" presumably he means we're in cahoots kind of thing?

I know it says you don't HAVE to put anyone down but is it preferable to? And does my boyf have a point in what he thinks?

Also he is asking do they contact him and if there's an appeal as he put in the statement would he be "called for evidence" so to put it?

Thanks for reading this rather pointless post!

lilly81

It is advised to get a health profession who knows you to fill out this section as it speeds up the processing of the forms.

rubys_mummy

My hubby filled this part in for me, and he basically said the same things i had on the form,and he detailed what care i need, and i got my DLA awarded okay without any problems x

rogerblack

TrixieB wrote: »

I know it says you don't HAVE to put anyone down but is it preferable to? And does my boyf have a point in what he thinks?

To a degree, yes.
Ideally, you'd like the report to be from an uninvolved person that knows you, is around you constantly, has no relation to you, and is an expert in the field of DLA assessment.

But, practically, few people have this.
Most professionals that see you won't have a complete picture of how you are.
Your boyfriend on the other hand will have.
Of course it's expected your accounts will tally!
He should ideally give a full account of how it affects all of your life related to DLA (care, mobility, and social), how he helps you.

sunnyone

I used a OT who was treating me and I got the correct award and the correct length of award, I cant see any weight being put on a BFs comments as he could say anything at all where as a professional will be just that profession and have no personel relationship with you, I know plenty of people do use family to fill in that box but most dont get a good outcome and from your posts you need a preoffessional that knows you and your limitations.

They never contact everyone you list as professional involved in you treatment so that box is often the only way an important memeber of your treatment team can be taken notice of even if they have wrotten letters of support for your claim.

rogerblack

sunnyone wrote: »

They never contact everyone you list as professional involved in you treatment so that box is often the only way an important memeber of your treatment team can be taken notice of even if they have wrotten letters of support for your claim.

At least in my case, they did contact my GP, as I asked them to.
Unfortunately, the response back wasn't as helpful as I may have liked.

It's also worth remembering that (pessimistically) you're also writing this for the tribunal that will handle your appeal.
They may be willing to take a lot more notice of personal testimony.

[Deleted User]

lilly81 wrote: »

It is advised to get a health profession who knows you to fill out this section as it speeds up the processing of the forms.

which is of course non sense as a health care prof probably he wont be the person who knows you best

OP its perfectly ok for OH to fill in this part of the form,and its probably only going to be repeating what you have already said,i fill it in for my wife she fills it in for me with NO problems
as part of the process they will contact your gp and or other health care prof.anyway

TrixieB

Yes that's what I thought, never for a moment thought of putting a health professional down tbh as assumed they'd be contacted in due course for their own part of the process and they don't personally know me or see me daily how can they write a statement?

To be fair, the same could be said of us putting our own comments down, that no weight should be held to them at all, there is a certain element of trust in all this isn't there.

Rogerblack am definitely looking upon this whole thing pessimistically believe me!!

Torry_Quine

I always put my OH in this section and the fact that he backs up what I say is good I would say.

TrixieB

TrixieB wrote: »

Also he is asking do they contact him and if there's an appeal as he put in the statement would he be "called for evidence" so to put it?

Anyone got anything to say on this question please?

Torry_Quine

TrixieB wrote: »

Anyone got anything to say on this question please?

My OH has never been contacted to verify his statement. When I appealed he did come along but that was our decision, he wasn't told he had to come