DLA appeal - what does this mean?

Bamber19

jackieb wrote: »

Thank you. Yes, the photos I sent were good quality ones, and you wouldn't know what it's supposed to be, looking at the copies.

I'll just prepare myself for the actual tribunal then. Does anyone know what will happen if my daughter won't speak to them? More often than not, if anyone she doesn't know talks to her, she just puts down her head and ignores them. I posted on here about her a while back and someone said it would go against her if she didn't talk - but she's been diagnosed by a psychiatrist with selective mutism, so I don't know what to expect if she refuses to talk.

In the event she refuses to talk the tribunal may ask you questions instead, although ideally they would like to hear from your daughter, it just depends what the tribunal members are like in your area. The best thing to do would be to get reports and records from GP's and specialists that your daughter comes into contact with, focusing on her care needs and mobility needs (tribunals have the power to remove/reduce awards aswell as increase or confirming although it's not particularly common and would be preceded by a warning that they were considering that based on the papers) in order that if she does not speak there is still strong evidence in front of the tribunal.

As an aside in relation to your photographs, In a past life I worked within what is now HMCTS (Tribunals) and every so often, but rarely, pictures like you describe would be sent in. They are not well received and in fact in my office they were commonly returned without being added to the evidence. They offer little information, a picture of soiled underwear tells no story whatsoever, it tells not who the underwear belongs to or who made a mess of them and further why such a mess was made, it could be as a result of bowel incontinence or simply a staged dramatic way to make a point about someone's care needs.

jackieb

I can see your point about the photos, but if you saw them you know they wouldn't have been staged. I also sent a picture of her bed, and despite having a heavy duty mattress protector, which is always kept clean, it is stained and disintegrating over many months of 'accidents'. I sent pictures in of her pull-ups she wears at night (which don't keep everything in, hence the bed getting soiled) and her everyday clothing. The doctor also wrote about her chronic encoprisis. If you know anything about encoprisis you'll know the difference between someone 'normal' soiling themselves and someone who suffers from encoprisis doing it - you wouldn't be able to fake it.

Sorry, if it's TMI.

Horseunderwater

'If you know anything about encoprisis you'll know the difference between someone 'normal' soiling themselves and someone who suffers from encoprisis doing it - you wouldn't be able to fake it.'

Of course she and you are not faking it - a lot of this will come down to how you filled the form out for her. ie the wording that was used. I know this does sound a bit daft, but it is the way that you use the wording that makes significant differences in getting the correct care level awards. Q 36 on the adult form seems to be the one you need to correct I think.
The wording I would have used in this instance had I been the one claiming would have been:
I am incontinent with both Urine and solid waste during the night when I am in bed - I suffer from Encoprisis, which is a very severe form of spontaneous soiling and the incontinence pants I wear fail to contain the contents, so the bed ends up being soiled each time it happens. Often I am unaware that it has happened. My Mother who cares for me - has to then clean me and the bedding up before I can go back to my bed to continue sleeping. Here are some pictures taken just after I had an episode - they do not make a pleasant sight, but I wanted to provide proof of this problem to support my claim.
I would also list under medical conditions Q 13 the encoprisis and the problems there along with the Pad/pants you get for your daughter to wear. I assume they are from the NHS - you may be able to get some free by getting in touch with your district nurse incontience service. Does the GP give you any treatment for her? If yes a copy of the treatment plan.
I hope that I may have helped you a little.

jackieb

Thank you.
Our GP wrote to them explaining her problems, and her treatment. He also explained that due to her having asperger's she finds it hard to seek help and both problems make her reluctant to leave the house. Her guidance teacher also wrote to them to say that she lacks independence and she relies heavily on me. I buy the pads she wears. I've never asked for a prescription for them.

kingfisherblue

In my area, you don't have a prescription for pads or pull ups. A continence nurse visits to assess the condition and she decides how many you can have - up to a maximum of 4 a day, plus one for overnight. I get extra for my son, as he has very loose, unformed stools and can fill several pull ups a day, plus a couple more overnight. I had to fight to get more though.

Horseunderwater

jackieb wrote: »

Thank you.
Our GP wrote to them explaining her problems, and her treatment. He also explained that due to her having asperger's she finds it hard to seek help and both problems make her reluctant to leave the house. Her guidance teacher also wrote to them to say that she lacks independence and she relies heavily on me. I buy the pads she wears. I've never asked for a prescription for them.

Not a prescription - as Kingfisher says - a continence nurse can visit and assess situation and you can be given the right sort free - you get a certain amount per day. This would help you a little. They usually deliver them every 56 days or so.
Also consider getting what is called a hygiene mattress - it is covered in a water proof cover, thus negating need for matress protector per say. That way you can remove sheet and use a cloth/sponge to clean off the mess more easily. Those are just 2 small things that would help her feel a little better perhaps?

jackieb

Horseunderwater wrote: »

Not a prescription - as Kingfisher says - a continence nurse can visit and assess situation and you can be given the right sort free - you get a certain amount per day. This would help you a little. They usually deliver them every 56 days or so.
Also consider getting what is called a hygiene mattress - it is covered in a water proof cover, thus negating need for matress protector per say. That way you can remove sheet and use a cloth/sponge to clean off the mess more easily. Those are just 2 small things that would help her feel a little better perhaps?

I bought a heavy dutymattress cover. The whole mattress fits inside of it and it zips up. It has still started to disintegrate though. I do want to buy her a hospital type mattress - didn't know they were called hygiene mattress. I also have a couple of Kylie sheets but really need to get more.

I thought the NHS only supplied the nappy type pads and not the pull up type. I might look into that. It's embarrassing for her though. She doesn't talk and I have to talk for her, and she's sitting there - not nice for a teenage girl. I have a lot of washing to do. I bought an 11kg load washer so I could wash her duvets in them. They need washing about 3 times a week (I have 3 so there's always one clean) - and that's not including sheets and clothing.