Should I buy membership to Benefits and Work site?

alba37

Has anyone any knowledge/thoughts or advice on whither it is worth paying £16.50 for access to guides on this site: Benefits and work

I have my DLA renewal to do, and it's hard for me to go to the CAB.


Thanks

TOBRUK

I really could not tell you whether this site is any good but hopefully someone will be along who is in the know, my feeling is that £16.50 is a lot for accessing this site.

I went to CAB for my first DLA application - I was turned down! I went to appeal and went along with a friend and was successful, since then with every renewal I have done it alone and have been successful - and have always put my GP down for the part 'tell us someone we can contact who knows you best and your condition', and every time I have done this I know my GP has sent in a report. I see my GP on a regular basis and she knows my condition and how it affects me, I think this helps a great deal.

You say it is DLA renewal ... do you have a copy of what you sent before? When I make a renewal claim I always photocopy the whole booklets to keep record and it is very helpful when the time comes again for renewal.

Hope this helps in some way - I know how stressful it is.

cattie

Yes definitely invest the £16 in it. It's well worth it & is the guide used by the majority of welfare rights advisors.

As you mention you can't get to get help from an experienced welfare rights advisor I'm sure you'll find it invaluable to help filling out the forms. It will advise you on how to increase your chances a successful claim by only putting down relevant info.

Cugel_2

Your local CAB may be able to come out to see you if you tell them its difficult for you to get to them. My CAB came to me to help fill in forms.

alba37

Thanks everyone. My problem is, I don't like to talk about myself to other people, I just find it really difficult and the thought of it makes me feel awful. It's not really a physical problem I have going to CAB, if you know what I mean.

I did my last one myself, but it was a long time ago now, and I somehow don't seem to be able to do it this time. I have a copy on the PC. (I hope!) I have had my renewal in for a long time now and just don't know what to do to be honest. My GP knows me best too, so will take your advice Tobruk on that part of it, thanks. I need to do something quick!

I was worried about spending money on that site, as it did seems alot for information. Is this information not freely available else where? I will maybe give it a go this week and if I really can't do it, I guess I'll have to go for help... or loose my benefit. :eek: It's bad either way.

A x

TOBRUK

Alba, don't lose it, I know when I last got the renewal forms I felt it was too much for me, but just do a little bit each day. Look for your last copy on your pc and take it section by section, if you feel your condition has worsened just add that part to what you had before. I have more or less copied my last form (what I wrote) and just changed a little when it was appropriate. You could manage to complete it in about 4 days just doing a little every day.

I know its tough and it is exhausting (for me anyway) but please don't give up and hopefully you will have posted it by this time next week.

Go on Alba, you can do it.;)

alba37

Thanks, encouragement helps. I'll keep reading back this thread and hopefully will get it done. I'll let you know when it's in the post!

welf_man

I've been in welfare rights for 15 years - mostly in the same area as the founder of this site - and I have never heard of it. It seems rather expensive for claimants!

Does your doctor's surgery have anyone who can help you? Many do these days.

The main thing with DLA is to make sure you describe your worst days, not your best ones, and make sure you include everything - you can't really tell them too much, but you can most definitely not tell them enough!

Good luck -

Mel.

suelees1

I'm a welfare rights advisor and find the Benefits and Work site has some very good guides although it's quite a lot of money for people on benefits to pay. If you can't find a copy of your form you can ask for a copy from DBC.

peskie_pixie

I filled in my own DLA claim form renewal using the free guides on the following link (and was successful)

I know the forms are really daunting, and it took me a long time to do, but it was worth it

Good luck

Morglin

If you feel you will use the site a lot, then it's probably worth it.

On the other hand, there are many sites which give info to most questions that are free.

I think £16.50 pretty expensive, when most of this is freely available, but you will generally get good advice on there.

Lin