DLA declined after 7 years...

Chelseaspie

Hello everyone I hope youre all enjoying the nice sunny weather :j

I have claimed DLA for the past 7 years without a hitch yet I applied in February (The lost my form...) and again in May and declined me, I called them up today asking for a reason but im unsure what to think as i meet all the requirements. They told me nothing has been added on the system so they will call me in a few days if they can find out why. :mad:

MY list of medical conditions...
1)Menorraghia (Extremely heavy periods, one pad every 10-20 mins)
2)dysmenorrhea (Extremely painful periods, sickness and pain in legs and back)
3)Chronic fatigue (Fainting 2/3 times a week)
4)Tiredness/iron deficient (Unable to climb stairs without needing to take a break and needing to sleep 12-16 hrs a day)
5)Diabetes (Uncontrollable blood glucose levels which vary from 2-26 on a daily basis due to sickness)
6)Depression
7)Social anxiety (Due to an attack that happened crowded places with people i dont know cause me to panic)

I listed all these and wrote about how they affect me on a weekly basis however i commented saying that it is unpredictable how tired or faint i will be feeling from day to day. However as they declined me I am now unable to receive a support worker which had been planned for when i go back to school (I had to leave school because I was too poorly to attend so i need to return), without the help I will be unable to attend

I have enquired about getting a Personal independence form sent out to fill in as it seems to be better for my illnesses. Does anyone have any advice about how to fill them out? I was thinking of adding some extra information such as what PiP will help with, how it will help me be independant, is that a bad idea?

Thank you so much for reading and replying Hopefully I can get this sorted

swingaloo

As I understand it DLA is paid for the help you need and not for the condition you have. From what you have listed it doesn't follow that you would be entitled as you don't have trouble walking and are capable of washing yourself and cooking a meal etc.

Chelseaspie

Hey Swingaloo Yeah I understand that and actually I didnt really write much about the help i need during the day, instead of just speaking about the conditions (DOH!) on certain days I cant even climb the stairs and on others i can walk for 5-10 minutes without fainting, but like i said its so unpredictable I dont cook my meals as the excess heat from pots causes me to faint so i usually stick to cold foods or foods precooked, Also when I have my periods I need someone to help administer my medication (Tablets and injections about 8 times a day)

swingaloo

Not being rude but how old are you? You mention getting DLA for 7 years but you also mention going back to school. Im just confused as if you are still school age then you wouldn't have had the period problem for 7 years.
Do you live alone? My partner cant cook a meal due to his disability but cant get the care element as he can make a sandwich and a drink and get himself up and washed. I work full time but Im home to make a hot meal in the evening.

kloana

swingaloo wrote: »

Not being rude but how old are you? You mention getting DLA for 7 years but you also mention going back to school. Im just confused as if you are still school age then you wouldn't have had the period problem for 7 years.
Do you live alone? My partner cant cook a meal due to his disability but cant get the care element as he can make a sandwich and a drink and get himself up and washed. I work full time but Im home to make a hot meal in the evening.

"School" in some circles also means 6th form college/A-level or equivalent. Placing the OP (feasibly) at any age up to about 19, if they mean school in this context. Lesser-used in the UK would be the Americanism "school", referring to university, or equivalent.

Or OP may mean common or garden school, in the traditional sense. In which case, if the periods issue is the red herring (errm...crude pun? I couldn't think of a better phrase!), it is absolutely possible to have had these problems for 7 years, and still be aged 16 or under.

OP, have you considered engaging some kind of welfare rights adviser or advocate, i.e. through the CAB or similar? They may be able to assist with an appeal, and evidence suggests that claimants are better equipped to succeed at appeals with such assistance, than without.

Chelseaspie

Im 19, going back to do 16-18 school work so I can eventually go to University. My periods started at 9, and became progressively bad until about 10-11 when they stabilized. I dont live alone, I currently live my mum who was my carer but she had a brain tumor and has had to take a back seat however she does help when she can, I currently use the DLA i receive to buy aids, a carer for when my periods start and certain tablets from health stores that have helped so much that an ambulance hasnt needed to be called for almost 1 year

@ Kloana, I havnt contacted CAB, ive heard they help you with filling out forms so maybe getting in touch to see if they can give me advice on what to write/add would be a good idea, My mom has also said she will help me write the next one as she was a carer (Not just to be, but to elderly people also) as she said I should of focused my replies differently (Man i cant fill in these forms /cry)

Troutwrestler

Could it be that you got dla as you were a child and therefor required more help? Now as an adult maybe they feel you can manage your problems yourself?

Although I will be honest, I didn't know you could get dla for heavy periods

ajb69

Can't help with the DLA, and I know that this forum can't give medical advice - but have you ever been tested for Antiphospholipid syndrome? It's no doubt a long-shot, but heavy periods & fainting can be an indicator of this - although not a cause for diagnosis on that basis alone.

But especially if you have ever had a miscarriage, embolism/DVT or a TIA, may be worth asking for a blood test to rule it out.

Drew

Torry_Quine

That sounds really bad, what is your GP doing as that isn't acceptable.

tinkerbell28

Have you never once been treated with hormone therapy?

missapril75

The fatigue and anxiety on their own would likely result in the mobility side of DLA and, together with the meals and help with meds comments, would likely give the care component too.

Hence the previous award.

It's probably just that you did the forms yourself this time and your mum or someone else previously.

This is not to say you "did it wrong" but you were maybe a bit more positive than your mum was. Many people do focus on what they can do rather than what they can't do without help. It's natural.

But the change in emphasis can make it look like an improvement in your condition.