DLA Decision!

LadyMorticia

Hey everyone.:wave:

Some of you may remember that I asked for my DLA award to be looked at again as my mobility needs have increased. It's taken 12-ish weeks for a decision to be made and I've been awarded HRM and HRC (I was on LRM and HRC). The decision was based on the DLA form and information from my GP.

The letter says they have awarded me from 23/04/2012 until 17/07/2013. I can understand this because my original award was until 17/07/2013 and M.E is a fluctuating illness so next year I could be alot better (hopefully!).

We were going to trade in the HRM for a Motability car as we are without a car at the moment, have been car-sharing with MIL and we need a car due to my disabilities, but not sure if this is possible anymore due to the fact that there is less than a year on my award? Is the year from the date you apply for Motability or from when your award starts, if that makes sense?

I understand that PIP is coming in next year (although, not sure at what point next year) so things will change again.

Any advice would be very much appreciated please.:o

rogerblack

As I understand it, it may not be possible with a short award.
I believe there is a scheme where you can ask the DWP to consider the length of award.
If your current insurance bill is not high, and you are willing to drive a second hand car, that can be the considerably cheaper option, though admittedly requires some savings upfront.

LadyMorticia

rogerblack wrote: »

As I understand it, it may not be possible with a short award.
I believe there is a scheme where you can ask the DWP to consider the length of award.
If your current insurance bill is not high, and you are willing to drive a second hand car, that can be the considerably cheaper option, though admittedly requires some savings upfront.

I think that's the option that we are going to go for. My award runs out next year anyway and we're going to be getting a backpayment so we're going to put that towards a secondhand car. We've always had secondhand cars as it's all we can afford. Ideally we would have liked to have been able to get Motability due to the fact that newer cars tend to be more reliable and so that we could choose one that would have enough space for my wheelchair etc but I think that buying another secondhand car is looking like the better option.

Thank you for your help.

Savvy_Sue

The big advantage of getting your own car is that if you lose the HRM at any point in the future, you won't lose the car. This used not to happen until you'd appealed, but now from what I read Motability don't (can't?) wait for the appeal and you lose the car a month after your award. Given the apparently random nature of awards these days, certainly in your position you seem to have made the right decision!

LadyMorticia

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

The big advantage of getting your own car is that if you lose the HRM at any point in the future, you won't lose the car. This used not to happen until you'd appealed, but now from what I read Motability don't (can't?) wait for the appeal and you lose the car a month after your award. Given the apparently random nature of awards these days, certainly in your position you seem to have made the right decision!

That's very true and a very valid point seeing as we rely on a car!

As a side note: Does anyone know how long it will take for the backpayment to arrive in my account? I know that the backpayment will be HRM less the LRM that I've been receiving, if that makes sense? The letter says that it can take 3-4 working days, but it doesn't say if that's from the date of the letter? Also, my next payment is due on Wednesday (I get my DLA weekly. Does anyone else? Seems like a rare occurrence nowadays!) so is it likely that the backpayment will go in at the same time?

I'm asking because my lovely in-laws have offered to lend us the rest of the money (as much as I hate borrowing from anyone!) to buy a secondhand car so it'd be nice to know when to expect that we can go looking at them.:o

PlasticMoose

Congratulations on getting the result you needed :beer:
When I had a back payment due it took less than a week (I think 3-4 days but that included a weekend) so hopefully it should come through quickly.

On the car front, if it were me I'd be opting for a second hand I think. I'd rather have that security of knowing it's mine, and of course you're not limited in terms of milage etc.

Congratulations again. I hope things are made easier for you as a result.

[Deleted User]

thats great news lady M,as for pip that could be some time off probably towards the end of 2013 at the earliest

LadyMorticia

PlasticMoose wrote: »

Congratulations on getting the result you needed :beer:
When I had a back payment due it took less than a week (I think 3-4 days but that included a weekend) so hopefully it should come through quickly.

On the car front, if it were me I'd be opting for a second hand I think. I'd rather have that security of knowing it's mine, and of course you're not limited in terms of milage etc.

Congratulations again. I hope things are made easier for you as a result.

Thank you. It's a weight off of my mind, that's for sure! The extra money will come in very useful as it means that when I'm able, I'll be able to go out and also be able to get a better wheelchair more suited to my needs. Unfortunately, I don't qualify under the NHS because the criteria here is that you need the wheelchair for 4 hours a day, 4 days a week and I can't go out that much as I'm housebound/bedbound alot and just manage to hobble with my stick indoors.

Thank you for letting me know how long your backpayment took. I know that it can vary sometimes.

I think we're definitely going to go down the secondhand route. DH wants another Astra again due to it being big enough for my wheelchair, a good drive and it being in our price range.

woodbine wrote: »

thats great news lady M,as for pip that could be some time off probably towards the end of 2013 at the earliest

Thank you.

It's a relief! The decision maker based his decision on the form and a report from my GP. He also acknowledged that somedays I might be able to walk further than others (although, not by much) but that for a majority of the time, my mobility is very restricted.

So, would that mean that, because they send out the forms a few months early, that I'd most likely get a DLA form rather than a PIP form?

rogerblack

LadyMorticia wrote: »

So, would that mean that, because they send out the forms a few months early, that I'd most likely get a DLA form rather than a PIP form?

It's really impossible to say at this point.
For obvious reasons, near a benefit changeover, they tend to want to assess people once, for the new benefit, not for the old benefit, then 6 months later for the new.
So, some awards get extended a bit, and come in under the new criteria.
But PIP may get delayed in its implementation.
Especially considering UC is happening in the same sort of timescale.

LadyMorticia

rogerblack wrote: »

It's really impossible to say at this point.
For obvious reasons, near a benefit changeover, they tend to want to assess people once, for the new benefit, not for the old benefit, then 6 months later for the new.
So, some awards get extended a bit, and come in under the new criteria.
But PIP may get delayed in its implementation.
Especially considering UC is happening in the same sort of timescale.

It's all a bit confusing in some ways, I guess.

I shall just have to wait and see. I'm happy enough to have been granted what I have, even if only for a year.

sunnyone

Great new LadyM.

I know this thread isnt about you being a disabled mum but I hope you dont mind me giving you this link on this thread as it is the best by far parenting forum for wheelchair users and they dont mind if you are not a para or not, we are a very friendly bunch who have found way to manage the problems you have not yet come up against and hopefully you will find the best way to transport baby etc.
http://www.apparelyzed.com/forums/forum/29-parents-in-wheelchairs/