Question regarding DLA

Kathy220559

Hi

I was just wondering if anyone on here has been awarded DLA for depression. I have suffered with this for around 5 years now due to a work situation...I guess it was 'bullying' although I hate to use that term. I have since been made redundant. I now claim incapacity benefit but because my husband, who is now retired receives a small pension we are slightly over the threshold for any other benefits.

I tried to claim DLA over a year ago and was turned down. I didn't appeal as I thought there was no point, but now reading these boards it seems that many people are told they are not entitled and succeed on appeal.

I honestly feel that my condition is as debilitating as some physical conditions and was totally honest when filling in my claim form.

I guess it is more difficult with depression as they are taking a person on trust as they cannot see the disability as they could if it were physical. That said I do feel somewhat discriminated against as my problems are of a mental nature.

Is it possible to re-subit a claim after being turned down and not appealing. I find the claim form very difficult to complete as it is distressing to write down exactly how I feel and the limitations the depression has on me.

Please, is there anyone out there who can give me some advise?

healy

There is nothing to stop you putting in another claim form if you were turned down before. With DLA it is not the name of the illness/disability that is important but the care and mobility needs that arise from it.

Morglin

You can get DLA for depression (depending on the severity and how it affects you), but it is one of those disabilities that is difficult to prove and DLA Unit have a habit of rejecting many claims for it.

I would contact your local CAB and ask them to refer you to a welfare rights worker, who will help you complete the forms and deal with any appeal.

This site may help you to assess the likelihood of success:

http://www.benefitsnow.co.uk/questions/dlagatewayquestions.asp

MIND may also know of workers in your area who would be able to help you:

http://www.mind.org.uk/About+Mind/Whatwedo.htm


Lin

Kathy220559

Hi

Thank you for your help. I think I will submit another claim and get someone who knows what they are doing to help me fill it in. I guess I have nothing to lose.

peachespeaches

Good luck Kathy!

I had my first claim turned down and appealled and got lower rate care only. My claim wasnt for depression but I do suffer from it as a side effect of my other disabilities. I found that they werent interested in certain conditions. For example, the visiting doctor didnt want to know anything about my fibromyalgia which is disabling at times, but he was interested in my disc injury. If you ask them to look at it again if you get turned down, make sure someone is in the house with you if they send a doctor. I found him a bit intimidating and he asked leading questions.

cifpower

Talk to your doctor and give him a good idea of how you are feeling. It is important he has a good idea how your depression affects you because it is more than likely he will be asked to write a report by the DLA people.

You could also ask for a referral to a CPN - they are more experienced in depression and would be able to help you more acutely.

You can get DLA - I receive low rate mobility and mid rate care for depression so it is worthwhile claiming.

Morglin

Kathy220559 wrote: »

Hi

Thank you for your help. I think I will submit another claim and get someone who knows what they are doing to help me fill it in. I guess I have nothing to lose.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Try to have a chat to your GP, and make sure that he is aware of your needs and how depression affects you - they will write to him, and the more supportive he is, the better.

If you have a CPN, then do the same.

Lin

Kathy220559

Hi everyone and thanks for your replies.

I have a great relationship with my GP and he has been very understanding and supportive throughout my depression, in fact I don't know whre I would be now if he hadn't been. He is very clued up on everything and he wrote on several occasions to my workplace and told them that my condition was solely down to them and he would not even consider letting me go back to work until things changed. They did try, in the end to put things right but it was too little too late and then I got made redundant because my place of work closed down.

When I first went to him approx 5 years ago he sent me for counselling and gave me meds which helped, and I did return to work. However, it was back in the same situation and so not suprisingly I was off again and again. He now says that in his opinion my condition has deteriorated so much that it is something I will have to learn to live with. I cannot see myself returning to work in the forseeable future, not only because of the depression but also because it is work related. I am angry in the sense that if I had fallen at work and broken my leg I would have solicitors begging to represent me in a compensation claim, I have lost thousands in money, but because it is depression I have no-one to turn to. Why is there still such a stigma about mental illness?

My husband had a major heart attack and was forced to retire and we now desperately need some extra funds or we will have to sell the house. As I said previously, because we opted to take his pension as a monthly sum, BIG mistake, we are now slightly over the threshold for any other benefits apart from DLA. That seems to be our only option at the moment. It just seems really unfair, (I know life is unfair) that my husband is now 62, has worked all his life, as have I and due to circumstances beyond our control for both of us we are forced to 'beg' for anything.

Sorry if I come across as whining, just getting things off my chest I think.

Any more advice will be very much appreciated.

firesidemaid

hi there

just a few thoughts on your situation to try and help.

if your husband cannot work due to ill-health, should he also be claiming incapacity benefit? and would he also be entitled to dla as well?

for both of you, make aure you write down how your conditions affect you at their worst. also ask each other how you each think the conditions affect you too.

there is normally a mental health rights worker based in your local opd who can help you with claims too.

good luck.

AnnieP_3

Kathy220559 wrote: »

Hi

Thank you for your help. I think I will submit another claim and get someone who knows what they are doing to help me fill it in. I guess I have nothing to lose.

Go to your local CAB and see if they have an advisor who specializes in Welfare Rights who can help you fill it in.
It often helps if someone proffessional is behind you.