DLA and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Annieuk75

I have suffered with RA for 4 years and was in receipt of lower care DLA. When I sent my renewal forms back last year, I was refused and have been to tribunal today. It was one of the worst things I have been through, I felt like a criminal on trial. When I was first awarded DLA, they said it wS because I needed help to prepare a meal.
Today however, they informed me that I was able to prepare a piece of chicken and vegetables for one person, therefore I was not entitled to DLA. Has anyone else been affected by this?

rogerblack

Can you reasonably prepare a meal for one, from fresh ingredients - that's what the test is.
Reasonable adaptions that are readily available may count. (say a stool, if it hurts to stand for the period)
In general, you cannot appeal pure decisions of fact from the tribunal - unless they improperly ignored evidence.
Not believing you, and stating they did not believe you is not ignoring.

(there are other reasons too)
Write to the tribunal, and ask for a written statement of reasons.

Indie_Kid

Did you provide evidence explaining why you can't cook a main meal for one? You would be expected to use aids. But if you can't use them / they don't solve the problem, you need to explain why.

northerntwo1

Who cooks every meal in your house?

mazza111

northerntwo1 wrote: »

Who cooks every meal in your house?

It's not about cooking every meal in the OP's house, it's about whether the OP can prepare a meal using fresh ingredients. Even my daughter who is disabled, could throw a pizza in the oven. As it happens, I cook her meals and she puts them in the microding, I do the same with my old mother. If I didn't do that they would be eating pizza or ready meals every day of the week.

It sounds like you haven't explained the reasons as to why you can't cook a meal from scratch OP. And it's not really about your condition, but how it affects you.

northerntwo1

mazza111 wrote: »

It's not about cooking every meal in the OP's house, it's about whether the OP can prepare a meal using fresh ingredients. Even my daughter who is disabled, could throw a pizza in the oven. As it happens, I cook her meals and she puts them in the microding, I do the same with my old mother. If I didn't do that they would be eating pizza or ready meals every day of the week.

It sounds like you haven't explained the reasons as to why you can't cook a meal from scratch OP. And it's not really about your condition, but how it affects you.

They have a blind husband and 2 very young children. Therefore it's very relevant as I don't think 2 young children eat pizza every day. If no one in that house is Capable of cooking a meal then support services need put in place.

mazza111

northerntwo1 wrote: »

They have a blind husband and 2 very young children. Therefore it's very relevant as I don't think 2 young children eat pizza every day. If no one in that house is Capable of cooking a meal then support services need put in place.

What I mean is, it's not what the OP asked. Nor is it what's required to get a care award of DLA. Receiving a care award and using it for care are 2 totally different things. It's really irrelevant who cooks for them, or whether they do eat pizza every night.

For example: someone can't hold a knife to prepare fresh veg should get an award, because they use ready prepared veg, whether that be frozen or those silly packs you get in supermarkets is irrelevant.