Help Please! - Dla

missk249

I applied for dla a few months ago, and have at last recieved a decision turning me down for both components.

I have asked for a reassssment of the claim, and they have now asked me to send in anymore evidence I may have.

I have much more difficulty walking now than I did in July, and also now require more care/help.

To explain in the shortest way possible, I have problems with my back leg and hip which I have had problems with for over 6 years, but it has not ever been as bad as this in the past. I am seeing a physiotherapist and use 2 elbow crutches and take 3 types of painkillers for this. - and also depression, which I am seeing a psychiatrist for (have been seeing her for over a year) and I am awaiting an appoitment with a psychologist. I take ani-depressants regularly as prescribed, but have problems with emotional issues and aggressiveness.

The DLA people have used evience from my doctors report, and they also sent a doctor to visit me at home.

I really dont know what else I can tell them that I already have, but they require more information...... What do I do?

I have considered writing down every need that I have, and how I get in and out of bed, go to the toilet, get out of a chair, shower and how I cannot cook or prepare a meal as I suffer from so much pain and the fact that I cannot concentrate and I am also very sleepy and fall asleep regularly because of my medication. ( I also take medication for asthma, allergies and eczema as well)

I need help to take my tablets too as I have previously taken overdoses due to my depression and my medication has to be kept away so as I do not put myself at risk. I need medication 5 times a day and once at night, and need help to get out of bed and back to toilet throughout the night as I cannot sleep for long periods because the pain increases and have to move to a different position frequently and need help to do this also.

Sorry for the long story, but I hope that some of you may be able to help with what other evidence I can send as I really cannot think of what to do.

Thanks in advance.

Scooby x

dmg24

Hi Scooby,

Have you seen a welfare rights advisor? It sounds like you could do with the assistance of someone with experience in this area. CAB should be able to help you with this. Alternatively, do you have a CPN? x

missk249

Not seen a welfare rights officer, thats what I was actually meant to add in to my question above... How do I get one. - Will contact cab about this, and hopefully get somewhere.

I dont have a CPN? only the psychiatric doctor who I see once a month, who mostly talks about medication. she is the one who has referred me to psychology.

BREX

Hi ...usually they do not change their decision on reassessment...your best bet is to go to appeal...ask them to send you form GL54 and get this filled in as soon as possible and returned.
Also ask for a statement of reasons...this will explain a bit more about why they turned you down
Go to your local CAB and ask to see their welfare rights officer...take all your information and they will help you appeal

It is hard and frustrating ( I had two appeals before being accepted)
Dont know if Im allowed to post this but go to www.yourable.com they are an excellent website and help immensley with all disability issues

Debbie

ohreally

Be aware if you go to appeal then it is only your condition at the time of original claim that is looked at - any further deterioration is outwith the remit of the appeal tribunal.

Gale_10

Hello there,

I have been told that if you do a diary of say, five days, showing what your needs are and what help you need, that is really useful to the decision-maker and they take it very seriously.

Its good to get letters from people that help you, from your psychiatric doctor to confirm what you are saying.

When you do the diary put down what help you need, not whether or not you get it.

That will definitely help your case.

Gale

missk249

Thank you all, Have just spoken with a very helpful welfare rights officer at local council, who has said as above, get supportng letters, and do a diary.

They also said if it comes to appeal after this then they will support me by representing the claim, helping with the forms and so on.



Thank you all for your help so far and I will keep you updated as soon as I know anything, afterall, without all of your help and advice, I would be getting no where! Thank you all again x

Mrs_Supersaver_1

Hi ...usually they do not change their decision on reassessment...your best bet is to go to appeal...ask them to send you form GL54 and get this filled in as soon as possible and returned.
Also ask for a statement of reasons...this will explain a bit more about why they turned you down
Go to your local CAB and ask to see their welfare rights officer...take all your information and they will help you appeal


Hi
sorry to hear you are not well. Am very glad you have made contact with a welfare rights officer.

Has it been explained to you, that you only have 30 days to inform Dwp that you want to appeal their decision. The form you require is a GL24 which can be downloaded from Dwp website. Form GL54 is incorrect.

You do not need to worry about collecting all your supporting medical evidence now. The priorty is to return the form within the timeframe, just stating why you disagree (explain your reasons) with their decision and would like to appeal this decision. After this step, usually a more senior decison maker takes a look at the award. IF it can be changed at this stage in your favour Dwp will inform you. Should the decision remain the same your file will pass to Appeals tribunals.

Take it one step at a time, good luck and less us know how you get on, or have more questions. Also take a look at www.yourable.co.uk as it has very helpful benefit advice.

missk249

Thanks Mrs Supersaver1

I called the DLA about the appeal, and was told that once I have been reassessed and I am still not happy with the outcome, then I can then go to appeal.

Can I still go t appeal even though the reassessment is in motion at present?

Taffyscot

I filled in a DLA form for the old lady under me in our flats. She has great difficulty walking and sometimes she can't get back in bed and calls me in the middle of the night on the phone to help her back in. So like wee willie winkie I run through the flat in my nightie. Anyway to my great surprise we got the DLA on the first shot. The benefit person I talked to said to fill the form out as if every day was her worse possible day. Makes sense because things get worse not better with old age. I got attendance allowance actually for her she is too old for DLA. So write it as if your worse day is every day. Also stress about the disorientation that all those pain killers make you feel. My partner falls asleep too very easily with all the meds and he sometimes can not remember then if he has just taken his meds and fallen asleep or if he is due his meds. This is very very important and I think a very serious part of the component needed to assist you in every day living and why the DLA is there in the first place. Good luck with your claim and if you can get a social worker on your side you are half the way there. Taffy

missk249

Thanks fo all the words of support and advice I have been getting.

I know what you mean about the disorientation of the meds!! It is very hard to deal with.

The bit that got me angry and confused was....... I am on crutches, but was asked why I couldnt carry the ingredients through to my coffee table, get a bowl of water and a knife and chopping board, sit on my sofa and wash and peel the veg in my front room!!!!! I use the 2 crutches, so I dont know where I get the hands to carry a bowl or basin of water through the house, neer mind veg and knife and other ingredients!!! Not to mention the fact that I need help to sit and stand from a chair and toilet etc etc etc, so if I can hardly do that, how on earth can I be expected to carry all those things? Maybe in 10 or so journeys, but considering I am in severe pain as soon as I stand and have severe discomfort continuously, it would probably take a good few hours to just get the ingredients, never mind getting to the stage of cooking and serving!

I was also told to get my self a timer for once I had done all of the above, so that if i did fall asleep, then I would waken up on hearing the timer....... Yeah right, if you take your meds then fall asleep because of their effects, then I am sure a timer or alarm clock would waken me up, no problem at all!!! - it takes a lot for me to waken up without the meds on hearing an alarm clock, never mind with them!

It is really unbelievable some of the things they expect you to do. If they were try to live and cope with our illnesses I am sure they would have a change of heart very abruptly.


Sorry for the rant, but I cant sleep due to this pain and if I dont vent my anger by sharing my thoughts, then god only knows what I would be doing rght now.