How or where do you apply for DLA please

Waterlily24

My hubby has been suffering badly from arthritis, he's been on pain killers for about three years. He recently had kneecap replacement surgery which didn't go very well. He had the op on the 29th August and they said that knee was as dry as it could be. Anyway after the surgery they said he should be back to near normal in 8 weeks and be able to drive again. Unfortunately this hasn't happened and he still can't bend his knee any where near properly. He's had physio and they can't do anymore to help and have been in touch with the surgeon who did the op to explain. We didn't hear from the surgeon nor did the physios. Today hubby went to the hospital for a check up but didn't see the surgeon who did the op, the person he saw wasn't at all helpful and didn't know what to do. So hubby said he would like to see the surgeon who did the op but he wasn't available. Hubby had to make an appointment to see him at another time. The earliest they can fit him in is the 17th December.

Would he be entitled to DLA for a short time? He still has to use a crutch and can't sit down comfortably, he has to hobble about or lay down and obviously can't drive.

I don't drive and there is no transport here so he needs some help with transport costs. We are OAPs and only have the state pension (mine isn't a full pension) to live on.

Any advice please. Would the doctors be our first call for advice.

Thank you

nannytone_2

you csant claim for DLA anymore. it is PIP ( personal independance payment) but if his only problem is with bending one knee, then that really isnt a disability and more of an inconveneince

he would need to have had problems for the past 3 months and to expect them to continue for at least another 9 months

Torry_Quine

nannytone wrote: »

you csant claim for DLA anymore. it is PIP ( personal independance payment) but if his only problem is with bending one knee, then that really isnt a disability and more of an inconveneince

Also as a pensioner it is AA ( Attendance Allowance) that would be the benefit. It doesn't have a mobility component only a care one.

nannytone_2

didnt even realise iut was a pensioner involved!!

Morglin

He cannot receive any mobility component, but could claim AA, if he meets the criteria.

The info is available online by googling 'Attendance Allowance'. (Sorry, I can't work out how to add links from an IPad!)


Lin

pmlindyloo

From reading your other posts your husband seems to have been suffering from arthritis and other problems for some time and will continue to do so.

Of course I do not know the extent of his problems but I do think you should consider applying for Attendance Allowance.

It is awarded for needing care so you could read this http://www.ageuk.org.uk/Documents/EN-GB/Factsheets/FS34_Attendance_Allowance_fcs.pdf?dtrk=true

and other articles on google to find out more.

If you are unsure about whether he would be eligible then you could get the form and ask CAB or a Welfare Advisor to help you complete it. Perhaps there is a CAB near you that does an outreach service?

Also, have you checked whether you are eligible for Pension Credit?

Waterlily24

Thank you for the replies and sorry I got the name of the benefit wrong, I'd forgotten it had changed.

My first post in the thread didn't give the full story of his problems, it's not that he just can bend his leg very well. Although that is a major problem to us as he can't drive.

Thank you pmlindyloo and Morglin for the helpful posts.

We get pension credit but not the one that gives you free dental care etc.

We are lucky that he has been able to get free transport for his hospital appointments.

He has arthritis in his other knee too and still has pain in both legs. He is on a high dose of strong pain killers but still feels some pain. He has to use a crutch and spends his day either walking about with the crutch or laying down on the bed. He does have his lunch and dinner and a couple of cups of tea a day sitting at the table but finds it uncomfortable and painful to sit for too long. Also getting up from sitting down and bending his knee to sit down is painful and awkward. He has also fallen over a couple of times.

He seems to have had bad luck since the op. He was only supposed to be in for 48 hours but was in for a lot longer, they wouldn't let him come home because of th painkillers he was on. He eventually came home and still takes the same painkillers he was taking before the op.

Unfortunately the hospital he had the op done in and the hospital he had the physio in are different and they don't seem to communicate. The physios have been in touch with the surgeon but nothing has happened since then.

We have had some help from PALS service at the hospital regarding transport for appointments.

It's very difficult to get anywhere from here as they stopped the bus service a year or so ago. I don't think hubby would be able to walk to the bus stop even if the service still ran. It used to take me 15 mins so goodness knows how long it would take him but I don't think he would make it anyway.

Thank you again.

Sorry I'm waffling but I'm upset for him.

nannytone_2

phone 08457 123456 to ask forr AA forms and to get his claim started

pmlindyloo

You could also ring AgeUK

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/

and ask an advisor to come out and help you.