DLA - have my needs changed?

Ames

hi all, my DLA claim runs out in June, so the forms will be here in a couple of months and I'm already panicking.

I get HRC for my mental health problems. They seem to have got better - I haven't self harmed as much, and haven't attempted suicide at all during this claim. BUT, the reason for this is the DLA. It means I can do things to stop it getting so bad. For instance, having a cheap mobile so I can call family when I'm out and having a panic attack so they can calm me down. A few weeks ago I managed to use the bus on my own for the first time in years, because I called my sister when I left the house and she talked to me until I was settled down on the bus. (I'd also taken extra medication to calm me).

It also pays for me to go to support and other therapeutic groups.

I'm really worried that they'll say I don't need the money, I'll have to stop everything that helps, get worse, and then reapply. If that's likely to happen I'd rather know now so I can prepare myself for it.

The other thing is the HRM. Since starting uni in September, I often have to walk further than 40 yards. But, I'm in almost constant pain and regularly end up not being able to sleep because I'm in agony. I know that pain counts towards getting an award in theory, but have they tightened up on this?

I just want to prepare myself, partly in case it all stops, but also so that I can start keeping a diary and things of how I'm getting around problems. So often I realise that my way of doing something is odd, but it's become second nature so I don't see it as being due to my disability.

andrea_louise

Keeping a diary certainly helps for filling the forms in - I would definitely recommend this. Don't worry, did you keep a copy of your previous DLA form?

saidan

what care needs do you have?
i'm not sure paying for a mobile is a care need really.

do you need help to get up, wash, dress, eat etc....do you need someone with you to keep you safe? someone to cook for you?

if the answer is no - and you can live indepently with someone at the end of the phone i would say your dla should stop.

i couldn't work out if you get hrm?
why are you in pain after walking 40 yards - do you have a medical condition that causes this? or is this due to your mental health needs?

Ames

andrea_louise wrote: »

Keeping a diary certainly helps for filling the forms in - I would definitely recommend this. Don't worry, did you keep a copy of your previous DLA form?

DIAL kept a copy.

saidan wrote: »

what care needs do you have?
i'm not sure paying for a mobile is a care need really.

do you need help to get up, yes wash yes, dress yes, eat etc....do you need someone with you to keep you safe definitely? someone to cook for you yes?

if the answer is no - and you can live indepently with someone at the end of the phone i would say your dla should stop. I do live alone with very little support, but need a lot. I struggle with most things.

i couldn't work out if you get hrm?
why are you in pain after walking 40 yards - do you have a medical condition that causes this? or is this due to your mental health needs? Yes, I have a physical condition as well as a mental condition.

I don't really have the time to go through all my care needs here, I've done a pretty comprehensive post in the past so I'll try and find that.

Ames

The search doesn't seem to go back far enough to find the post.

I have needs relating to my physical condition, but get HRC for my mental illness. As I said, I haven't self harmed or attempted suicide, but other problems are still there. Things like being unable to use the phone to make appointments etc without building up for days. Having regular panic attacks. Needing encouragement for just about every aspect of personal hygiene. Doing stupid things - like this evening I was in tesco and needed the loo (I have continence problems) so I abandoned my trolley - leaving my handbag in it. I'm amazed it wasn't stolen. I'm easily manipulated/taken advantage of, especially on the phone. I've been known to give out my bank details to a cold caller to get rid of them quickly - I haven't done that for a while, mainly because I now screen calls. I have to have everything planned exactly, I go into meltdown if things change without plenty of warning. And yet I often miss appointments when I'm swinging up or down in mood - I went to the hospital for important treatment a week late last month.

That's just off the top of my head, I'm sure there's more.

saidan

if you have care needs - and mobility needs, then your award should stay. if they have reduced significantly then your award should also reduce.

as long as you can evidence your needs then i'm sure you will be fine.

do you have someone eg community nurse, who can help you fill the form in?

Ames

No, I don't have a CPN. As I said, DIAL help me with the forms.

I just want to know if using DLA to pay for care needs to be met, which means that the problems have been alleviated, would be classed as me not having care needs.

As in the above example, whereas I'd had suicide attempts before my last award, I haven't had any in the five years of this award, which is because of the help I've paid for with DLA. But I got it because of things like self harm and suicide attempts.

I'm not sure if I'm explaining myself well here.

ab.da54

You say you need someone to help you get up, get washed, get dressed etc but live alone with little support.

Do you have someone come in to help you do those things the times you go to college, or meet with family, go out?

If so, your award should stay as it is. I think, only you could know if your needs have changed.

Ames

No, I don't have someone to come in. I tend to go out in dirty clothes a lot, shower very little (weekly when I'm doing well, less than fortnightly when I'm not), etc.

Social services offered me help, but I couldn't afford the amount they wanted me to contribute - they wouldn't take into account the cost of my MH needs, such as meeting my support worker.

ETA: I don't think I'm phrasing my question properly. I know my needs haven't changed, but my symptoms have been lessened due to getting DLA to help things. Will the decision maker accept that, or are they likely to say that as I haven't been self harming etc I can't have the same level of care needs?

Or to put it another, hypothetical way. If I had a physical issue with having falls, and paid someone to go with me to catch me, would they be able to say that as I haven't had a fall where I landed on the floor, I don't have a problem with them?

ab.da54

Ames wrote: »

No, I don't have someone to come in. I tend to go out in dirty clothes a lot, shower very little (weekly when I'm doing well, less than fortnightly when I'm not), etc.

Social services offered me help, but I couldn't afford the amount they wanted me to contribute - they wouldn't take into account the cost of my MH needs, such as meeting my support worker.

So, do you think it is just the one aspect of your care needs that have changed - and that is no suicide attempts, self-harm [well done, btw]?

If all other needs remain, your DLA may well continue. Appreciate it can be a stressful time filling in those type of forms.

Ames

Yes, as I said in my edit, the symptoms are being managed (ie no self harm or suicide attempts) because of the things I spend my DLA on. If the DLA went, then I wouldn't be able to pay for those things, and so I'd go back to self harming and suicide attempts.