personal independance payment/dla

rogerblack

nimblebequick wrote: »

Thank you for that info youngo.
I didn't realise I was able to appeal against the withdrawal of benefits but I think that ship has probably sailed.

Once you applied for PIP - you can never, ever get a DLA award under any circumstances past the effective date of the PIP decision.

Backdating DLA claims was rarely possible, unless in the most extreme circumstances - as you are given plenty of time to complete the form.

nimblebequick

rogerblack wrote: »

Once you applied for PIP - you can never, ever get a DLA award under any circumstances past the effective date of the PIP decision.

Backdating DLA claims was rarely possible, unless in the most extreme circumstances - as you are given plenty of time to complete the form.

Appealing was never an option really because it was entirely my fault that the form was returned late. However, mental health does prevent me from dealing with matters such as this properly, expecially when faced with the devastating circumstances of last year. The form is very long and very complicated when mental health renders me incapable. (It has taken many years for me to be able to admit this)
In hind sight (a wonderful but often fruitless thing) I should have let DWP know in advance that the form would be late, this way they may have allowed a grace period.
I understand that more than ample time is given to return the form and under normal circumstances this would have been enough time even for me.

Without going into too much detail I find it extremely difficult to deal with too much at once and at the time my mum was dying, slowly, we were moving house, I was in a great deal of pain due to my physical problems which only went to compound the mental health problems I was having at the time. I put the form to one side and didn't think about it again until it was too late.
Anyone else finding themselves in a situation like this should ask for help (something I am hopeless at doing) contact DWP and explain your circumstances. I guess communication is the key but all too often with mental health issues this is hard to do, so get someone involved that can do it for you.

I have learned a lesson the hard way and have suffered severe financial difficulties as a result, which in addition to dealing wih a tragic death has made my mental health very difficult to manage and caused problems for my family as well.
I write this not to seek approval or sympathy but as advice for anyone eles that may find themselves experiencing mental health problems, don't hide away as I have done, it only causes more problems.