DLA.. could I claim?

Morglin

This site may help, but I would advise asking the CAB to refer you to a professional to assist with the form filling (and any appeal, if necessary):

http://www.benefitsnow.co.uk/default.asp

Lin

mioliere

JuStSoMeOneUdOnTKnOw wrote: »

Thank you mioliere.. I find the same.. I read and have learned a lot from this site.. and many times I also have trouble sleeping at night so I'm very familiar with what you're describing

Hi, Justsomeoneudontwanttoknow - just wondered how you are? Hope everything is OK?

Morglin

Try this informal assessment you can do at home:

http://www.benefitsnow.co.uk/default.asp

If you do decide to claim, then ask the CAB to help you to fill out the forms, or refer you to a welfare rights worker.

http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/getadvice.htm

Lin

mclaren_2

Hi

never seen this thread before. If you're unsure, then yes, you are entitled to DLA. You will get DLA low rate mobility and care (which means that CA can not be claimed by another person for you - you need middle or higher care for that) but you will also get Disibility premiem and IS.

£17.10 Care DLA
£17.10 Mobility DLA
£25.25 DLA Premiem
£59.15 Income Support

You also will be entitled to HB (Housing Benifit) and grants

That all said, Since you have a CPN, talk to her/him, because as they are part of the Social work department, they can talk to people on your behalf, so infact you might get Med rate DLA care £43.15.

If you are awarded DLA care Medium rate, then your friend or who looks after you, can get CA (carers allowance) (but only if they earn less than £80pw) and Income Support with Carers Premiem

JuStSoMeOneUdOnTKnOw

Thanks everyone.. I'm fine, just didn't expect any more replies here

I was diagonosed this week with something called Lymphodema, which explains why at times I have problems with walking and sometimes even holdng and gripping things as my body is so swollen. I am just waiting for an appointment to come thru from the referral.

On the positive side, it means I'm not such a fatty after all, lol I am one of the few who can claim that my vast bulk is the result of a medical condition. It also explains why even a minor wound takes months to heal.

Less positively, the condition is incurable and the treatment for it seems rather bizarre as well as debilitating, as well as time consuming, but I shall find out more when I see the specialist.

So Im thinking it's probably best to wait and see exactly what the effects of this treatment are likely to be as well as the formal diagnosis and the name of a specialist to put on the form, yes?

I have been referred to a psychiatrist and a CPN but no contact as yet so I don't have names or any info on who they are likely to be and again i thought it probably best to wait til I can put names on the form?

Other than that, nothing new to report but thank you all for posting all that information for me

mclaren_2

JuStSoMeOneUdOnTKnOw wrote: »

So Im thinking it's probably best to wait and see exactly what the effects of this treatment are likely to be as well as the formal diagnosis and the name of a specialist to put on the form, yes?

I have been referred to a psychiatrist and a CPN but no contact as yet so I don't have names or any info on who they are likely to be and again i thought it probably best to wait til I can put names on the form?

Hi

No, imo, i would put the form in asap. The longer you wait, the less benifits you will get basicly (i mean in financies). from the date you get the form, you have 7 weeeks to fill it in and send it back, and the claim starts from the date of the form is sent to you (stamped on the form). So if you dont have a form, get one.

If you need help filling it out, go to CAB (advised) and they will fill it for you (but phoine your local CAB office as most times, they require you to have an appointment - leave atleast 90 mins for this appointment as it takes about this time to fill in the forms.

On the form, they will ask for your GP's contact details, so they can get a report from him/ her, and hopefully by then, (takes up to 2 months after claim is put in) you will have a diagnosis, and your GP can fill them in. If no diagnosis has been given, your GP can put exactly that on the form.

But i would not wait to put in any claim, as the longer you wait, the longer you wait for a desision

lexi

Less positively, the condition is incurable and the treatment for it seems rather bizarre as well as debilitating, as well as time consuming, but I shall find out more when I see the specialist.


Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. My mum had breast cancer & i remember the doctor saying one of the complications/side effects of removing the lymph nodes was a condition called lymphodema. Luckily she never got it & so far has made a great recovery from her cancer. However as i try to be prepared i did some checking of the condition just incase. i did read somewhere ( a few yrs ago tho!) that massage is particularly helpful, as it keeps the skin supple. Might be worth giving it a go, dont think it can do anymore harm. Also i gather the swelling is down to fluid retention, and if the lymph nodes arent there the fluid cant more around. I cant remember all what i read but if you do a search on the internet you may get some more help. I wish you well.

beanielou

Yes, I would advise you to put your claim in ASAP & get Cab or similar to help complete the form for you.

JuStSoMeOneUdOnTKnOw

Thanks everyone.. I'll give them a call tomorrow then to request the form.

Lexi.. yeah apparently I'll be taught the massage technique to do on myself, however that's not going to be so easy as there are parts of my legs I can't reach so easily, lol - I'll have to get myself a gorgeous young male masseur to help me out glad to hear your mum is on the mend tho

I've just started a serious diet to shift as much of my natural overweightness as I can, hopefully that will help if it's possible for it to work :eek: It's kind of depressing to think I could be this bloated lump forever with no way of shifting it.

peachespeaches

If you request the form asap, your claim is usually backdated to when you requested the form, so if it takes you several weeks to get to see the citizens advice or consultant dont worry.

However, dont be put off if they turn you down first time. This is very common: it happened to me. I asked for it to be looked at again. If that doesnt work you can appeal. Its just an exhausting process when youre ill. Ive recently been advised to try again for mobility component, but havent been well enough.