not sure what to do Dla /pip question

lemontart

Finally seen neuroligist who has all but ruled out MS subject to tests and suggested may be M.E. or other reasons.

My health has been getting worse whilst waiting for this appt and I have no idea when I will finally find out why I am this way. Let alone if reversible.

My savings are shrinking fast, have just filled in esa form from Atos and was wondering if I should or can submit claim for dla whilst still undergoing tests and awaiting diagnosis, I currently get no help with housing costs as it is a remort last year due to endowment shortfall.

I pay around 50% of council tax due income of £105 in benefits so I know it is going to get impossible in current months as will barely cover basics let alone food,

ineed

I think it's pip now not dla, here's a list of pip criteria http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-points-system.

If you meet the criteria apply, do you have evidence you could send in, such as copies of test results and treatment?

TOBRUK

Hi Lemontart,
If you have been suffering for at least 6 months with your condition then apply - you have nothing to lose. I have M.E. and I do receive DLA high mobility and I receive DLA care.

I know things are changing and DLA will become PIP and I think all new claimants that apply now is for PIP. With DLA it is not the illness but rather the way it affects you.

If you can gather evidence such as a consultant report or other health care proffesionals to write how your illness is affecting you, this will help towards your claim.

Good luck, M.E. is a horrible illness and many symptoms which are very similar to MS which is why you have seen a neurologist. Perhaps you could ask your neurologist to write a report.

I don't know what the new forms are like, but if they are anything like the DLA forms - it's around 39 pages! Remember to make copies of everything you send them and make a photocopy of the form and keep it safe for future reference, together with any letters, reports for evidence.

rogerblack

lemontart wrote: »

My savings are shrinking fast, have just filled in esa form from Atos

if you can get a backdated medical note from your GP or other medical professional that has seen you - you may be able to claim ESA backdated for 3 months from the time of claim.
I am unsure how this would work if you have a live claim, if you can apply for backdating.
(this would only apply if you would have been eligible for other reasons - for example you weren't working)

lemontart

I have just started getting esa - me not yet diagnosed ms virtually ruled out and awaiting mri - I do not have test results any I have had are at the drs ie, ultra scan on leg, bloods, initially was off as I fell down stairs in January then other things happened and worsened all of which I had been putting down to exhausting of 12 hr shifts over last couple of years.

I feel like I going mad but that is another issue altogether, all the dr has put on sick notes to date is pain, though also having investigations and under gyne dept for some of symptoms too as well as having been in hospital for depression a couple of months ago - have to see gp tomorrow to see what next as told by neurologist I saw he "does not do M.E." show looks like another referral needed. Sorry I ramble on just feeling bit lost at moment.

ineed

Sorry to hear that, sounds like you have a lot on your plate .

TOBRUK

lemontart, when you see your GP tomorrow tell him/her exactly your situation and about applying for DLA/PIP. If you do apply they will ask who your GP is and if they can contact your doctor - they do send for details from your GP and it is important that you tell your GP that you are applying.

Tell your GP that you need evidence of your condition and perhaps your GP will help you with this. I had to leave work because of M.E. which was quite devastating. It is difficult to explain to people how it affects your day to day life and hopefully you have an understanding and supportive GP.

p999j

lemontart try to get someone to assist you with these forms, like an advisory service or charity, because you sound exhausted. One thing I have learnt is that to deal effectively with a restriction (such as ME), you need to accept your limitations and ask for and accept help.

For me, that has been very difficult, as I have always been very independent.

But another way to look at it that many people get joy from helping others and you would be denying someone that satisfaction, by not asking for help!!

Many charities and organisations can assist you in other ways. Food banks, MP's offices, specialist organisations, web pages like this, etc. You may not feel like investigating, so ask a good friend to help you- people feel helpless seeing their friends go through difficulties and this is a way that they can really help. Don't be too proud to ask for help. We all need it at some point in our lives. I too went through a very difficult financial transition due to an 'invisible illness' (as many such as IBS, IBD, MS & ME are called) and all the damned paperwork really doesn't help. Who feels like doing an income and expenditure sheet if you can barely get out of bed?!! But have fait that things will improve in time and this time may be difficult but it will pass. xxx

TOBRUK

p999j wrote: »

lemontart try to get someone to assist you with these forms, like an advisory service or charity, because you sound exhausted. One thing I have learnt is that to deal effectively with a restriction (such as ME), you need to accept your limitations and ask for and accept help.

For me, that has been very difficult, as I have always been very independent.

But another way to look at it that many people get joy from helping others and you would be denying someone that satisfaction, by not asking for help!!

....
I too went through a very difficult financial transition due to an 'invisible illness' (as many such as IBS, IBD, MS & ME are called) and all the damned paperwork really doesn't help. Who feels like doing an income and expenditure sheet if you can barely get out of bed?!! But have fait that things will improve in time and this time may be difficult but it will pass. xxx

I totally understand and agree with you p999j, your post struck a chord with me as I too had great difficulty in firstly accepting this debilitating illness and just could not believe this would happen to me. I was working full time in a career I loved, did a lot of overtime, social life was hectic and people kept telling me to slow down. I walked quickly - would run around mostly at work. Then all of a sudden I was hit by this illness until I lost everything, my career, social life all came to a sudden halt! My life literally stopped! So so hard to accept!

I had to move from a house to a bungalow and move area to be near family for help 2 years ago after falling downstairs ending up in hospital with fractured skull and smashed right wrist which they can't fix! Now can hardly walk and have to use a crutch to get around and had to adapt the bungalow including a seat attached to the wall in the shower!

Accepting any help when you are so independant is extremely hard which I totally understand.

lemontart, just wondering how it went with your visit to the GP? I do hope you have been given as much help as possible. When filling in any form, if like me you also have difficulties with short term memory, exhaustion and baby brain (eg when at times you can't even make sense of a simple letter) then the only way to approach it is break it down - try to fill in a couple of pages (of approx 39 page form) a day and no more than this, otherwise it is overwhelming!

You can get help with the form but you can also do it yourself which I managed and was successful! Don't give up and as p999j said - learn to accept help! When I find it difficult to accept help I think to myself what I would do if it was reversed - when I was healthy I would have been the first to offer help to (and would want to) a family member or good friend! Let us know how it goes.

After saying that, I need to try and begin to tackle this ESA form I have to fill in again!:(