I don't understand why I was turned down for DLA and don't know what to do

Wheekypigs

My doctor said I was eligible for DLA because of poor daily living skills so my mum helped me fill in the form. We printed off some extra sheets from the national autistic society website to help to explain what I have difficulty with (because there aren't many sections on the DLA form to write about non-physical problems).
We filled it in carefully and put in the letter from the psychiatrist with my diagnosis (autism spectrum disorder) and also said they could contact my GP.
I got a letter from them today that said I wasn't entitled to any rates of DLA, they said they looked at the information I included and also asked the health professional who assessed me for ESA (I got put in the support group so I'm kind of confused why they used that as evidence I wasn't disabled enough? Also, I thought ESA assessed your capability to work, not living skills?)
I can understand their reason for no mobility rate, because I can walk, I am not physically disabled, I am autistic. Although they put "You don't need help because of anxiety or panic attacks" which I don't understand because in the form we put that I did have problems going in public and going to places I don't know because of anxiety.
For the care part they wrote, "You don't need help to communicate" but that is the opposite of what we put on the form. My biggest problem is communication and it says that on the doctor's report. I am very upset about this because I feel like they are deliberately trying to deceive me, because they know that I can't defend myself so they can get away with lying about what I wrote.

On websites like the NAS and this one people say to appeal, but I don't know how I would do that? Because I already told the truth and it's like they just ignored it and wrote the opposite. All I could do is send them the same information again but if they ignored it the first time they will just ignore it again.
There was a local disability charity in my town that used to help people with DLA cases but we already got in contact with them before and they said they don't help people with DLA anymore.

Is it even worth appealing? They already have all my information.

handlewithcare

DLA is really hit and miss at the moment . In my experience it's about how well you fill in the forms, DId you explain fully how your condition effects your care needs and how much care you need from another person because of this? I would phone them and ask for a reconsideration if that fails then appeal . Good luck

atherlon

the main mistake you made was get a family member to fill in your form , you should have got professional help with it


the government expect you to put down your worst day , not a normal day , which is what most people put on thier forms

McKneff

Your doctor has no right to say you were eligible for DLA, he does not have the authority to do this. All he can do is suggest that you apply for it given your circumstances.

The criteria for DLA is very complex these days.

Please dont take offence at this, it is meant as a compliment.

Your written communication skills are excellent.

kingfisherblue

atherlon wrote: »

the main mistake you made was get a family member to fill in your form , you should have got professional help with it


the government expect you to put down your worst day , not a normal day , which is what most people put on thier forms

No, the government expect you to put down an average day. To put down your worst day is benefit fraud.

If your days vary, you put 'On most days this happens, and on worse days, which occur x times per week/month, that happens'

If you only write about your worst day, you are not giving accurate details of how your condition affects you, and the form requires accurate information in order for an award to be assessed correctly.

OP, you could contacct the NAS and ask them if they offer any help with DLA appeals. Otherwise, ask your local council if they have a welfare office that can help. The Citizen's Advice Bureau can soemtimes help, but it does depend on the workload of the branch that you ask at. You will need to ring and make an appointment if your local branch can help.

p999j

I would agree that you really need someone else, either from Citizens Advice Bureau or a local charity involved with disabled people, to assist you.

They can support you through the process to appeal.

I think they automatically say No to many people now, in the hope that through despair of the process, which does involve a degree of perseverance and effort, people give up. One aspect which may help you is to keep a diary, recording effects of your disability on your daily life.

I think the way disabled people are treated, especially those with non-physical disabilities, is deplorable. I too have felt despairing and anxious about going through the appeal process, but eventually was successful at appeal, nearly 9 months after I first applied. I have a digestive disorder, exacerbated by anxiety, so I know where you are coming from.

I also think you have excellent written communication skills. But I also know that there is a confusion between mental disabilities and intelligence. I know I can communicate well in writing from home because the anxiety is not there. However, I cannot get the same message across verbally or in a group situation, due to hesitation, lack of concentration, poor memory and nerves.

Keep fighting. The system is no longer set up to support those in need. It is now aiming to pay out less to fewer people.

I wish you the best.

GlasweJen

OP which support group descriptor did you meet?

Sounds like you've filled out the DLA form from an emotive view rather than taking a step back and sticking to facts, you can use the appeal to remedy this.

As pointed out you have excellent written communication skills, to say your communication is poor would be a lie, if communication is your biggest problem and you can write as well as you do then you can see where the DWP are coming from.

I take it that verbal communication is a problem, is this because of anxiety? Can you use the phone? Can you talk to people you know? Can you talk to strangers? What would happen if you were at home and there was a fire, could you call out a fire engine?

Based on what you've written you have a very poor chance of getting DLA and you're almost guaranteed to lose it under PIP even if you do manage to get an award. DLA for autism is usually for kids or the really severely affected.

Wheekypigs

GlasweJen wrote: »

OP which support group descriptor did you meet?

Sounds like you've filled out the DLA form from an emotive view rather than taking a step back and sticking to facts, you can use the appeal to remedy this.

As pointed out you have excellent written communication skills, to say your communication is poor would be a lie, if communication is your biggest problem and you can write as well as you do then you can see where the DWP are coming from.

I take it that verbal communication is a problem, is this because of anxiety? Can you use the phone? Can you talk to people you know? Can you talk to strangers? What would happen if you were at home and there was a fire, could you call out a fire engine?

Hello, thank you for all the replies

I don't know what support group descriptor I met, I just got a letter that said I was in the support group and explained the different parts of the total money I was receiving.

By poor communication I mean face-to-face rather than typing. I am excellent at writing (I'm not learning disabled and went to a grammar school) and can articulate myself very well in that sense but when it comes to dealing with people I am poor. I struggle to maintain a conversation or understand things like body language, hidden meanings or whether somebody wants to be my friend or wants me to go away.

GlasweJen wrote: »

Based on what you've written you have a very poor chance of getting DLA and you're almost guaranteed to lose it under PIP even if you do manage to get an award. DLA for autism is usually for kids or the really severely affected.

I do not think that is right. I go to a support group for adults with Asperger syndrome and most of them get DLA and they are not profoundly autistic. I was told that DLA is awarded based on care needs, rather than a specific diagnosis?

colin13

because con/dems want to knock back as many people as posible,and they hope they dont appeal,,in there world it saves them money,,,these millioners making choices of the poor and needy

shegirl

What are your care needs?

I've never understood people saying there isn't much on the forms for non-physical disability,myself.Unless the kids ones are different (surely couldn't be that different) as I can fill in nearly everything for my son

haycorns

Contact your local autistic society - the berkshire one were really helpful with the form fo rmy son.

i was put off applying for DLA for my son by the form - its a bit of an emotional draina s you have to tell it how it is. When my son ( 18) asked me why I wasn't claiming , i didn't have a good enough excuse. What I said was if i was going to claim i needed to do the form thoroughly to give us the best shot of getting the support we need. it took me 3 weeks - as a carer you don't get a lot of spare time.

We were successful. I'd suggest going to appeal , but only if you can get someone to support you in putting your case across