unannounced visit from DLA REP

Loopy_Girl

woodbine wrote: »

there will be NO changes to DLA in october,in fact there are no planned chANges at all to DLA

From my understanding the whole benefits system is getting 'tightened up'. Lone parents are to be strongly encouraged to come off IS and get back to work when youngest is 12, people claiming JSA are to see it as short term and claims for IB are to be looked at and if people can claim JSA rather than IB then they will be encouraged to do so. I fail to see why DLA should be exempt from these procedures. I think it will be harder (if that is possible!!) for people to get DLA and I think that certain claimaints will be moved from DLA to another benefit. As I say, that is my understanding from reading media reports and the DWP websites.:o

Loopy_Girl

woodbine wrote: »

THERE appears to be alot of confusion on this thread,im still abit worried about the original post,i contribute to a number of benefit boards and have never heard of a "surprise" visit re:DLA,in fact the only time they visit is if they do a home medical visit,and thats only after you not being able to go to them for the medical,and even then you need a letter from your gp,so as i say i`m more than surprised to read about an unannounced home visit.
Lets face it even the dwp compliance teams send you a written invitation to attend :eek:

I agree. All communication my Dad has received has been via letter. They have never even phoned him to check something, they would send a piddling letter out!!!

lil_me

These 'spot checks' have been done for quite some time, seem to be getting more common now, I think they are a great idea personally. Like you have said OP your wife has nothing to worry about when it comes to her claim but many are caught out every year with these checks.

[Deleted User]

Loopy_Girl wrote: »

From my understanding the whole benefits system is getting 'tightened up'. Lone parents are to be strongly encouraged to come off IS and get back to work when youngest is 12, people claiming JSA are to see it as short term and claims for IB are to be looked at and if people can claim JSA rather than IB then they will be encouraged to do so. I fail to see why DLA should be exempt from these procedures. I think it will be harder (if that is possible!!) for people to get DLA and I think that certain claimaints will be moved from DLA to another benefit. As I say, that is my understanding from reading media reports and the DWP websites.:o

what too many people tend to forget is that you can(and many do)claim DLA when working,it is NOT an out of work benefit as such,and i cannot repeat often enough that there are NO plans to reform DLA under the current benefits review legislation.
What seems to be happening is that the success of appeals has fallen from about 70% to 50%,this is mainly because people are getting more help with their applications and those that fail often now do so for very good reasons

healy

Loopy_Girl wrote: »

From my understanding the whole benefits system is getting 'tightened up'. Lone parents are to be strongly encouraged to come off IS and get back to work when youngest is 12, people claiming JSA are to see it as short term and claims for IB are to be looked at and if people can claim JSA rather than IB then they will be encouraged to do so. I fail to see why DLA should be exempt from these procedures. I think it will be harder (if that is possible!!) for people to get DLA and I think that certain claimaints will be moved from DLA to another benefit. As I say, that is my understanding from reading media reports and the DWP websites.:o

There are no changes in the law with regard to DLA. There is not another benefit that people could be moved to from DLA.

TangledMemories_2

woodbine wrote: »

what too many people tend to forget is that you can(and many do)claim DLA when working,it is NOT an out of work benefit as such,and i cannot repeat often enough that there are NO plans to reform DLA under the current benefits review legislation.
What seems to be happening is that the success of appeals has fallen from about 70% to 50%,this is mainly because people are getting more help with their applications and those that fail often now do so for very good reasons

This is true. My OH has just been "awarded" higher rate mobility and medium rate care DLA and he works. He goes to work because he loves his job - Ok, so he can't work on the spanners anymore but he's still contributing to society. The fact he's 29 and has to walk with crutches and can't cook meals for himself is nothing to do with it.
Doesn't stop us feeling almost guilty about the DLA seeing as we're both working. But just because you have a disability doesn't mean you stop being a human being and you can't work to keep your mind active.

Loopy_Girl

woodbine wrote: »

what too many people tend to forget is that you can(and many do)claim DLA when working,it is NOT an out of work benefit as such,and i cannot repeat often enough that there are NO plans to reform DLA under the current benefits review legislation.
What seems to be happening is that the success of appeals has fallen from about 70% to 50%,this is mainly because people are getting more help with their applications and those that fail often now do so for very good reasons

I didn't say reform..if you read my post carefully I have never said that DLA will be reformed.

Loopy_Girl

healy wrote: »

There are no changes in the law with regard to DLA. There is not another benefit that people could be moved to from DLA.

Didn't say there was changes in the law. And if it was decided that DLA was no longer appropriate then there are benefits that could be claimed. IS and/or IB just for example.

healy

Loopy_Girl wrote: »

Didn't say there was changes in the law. And if it was decided that DLA was no longer appropriate then there are benefits that could be claimed. IS and/or IB just for example.

That was the impression you gave, you said that you failed to see why DLA should be exempt from these procedures, the new benefit ESA, has nothing at all to do with DLA. DLA is not replaced by IB/IS if a DLA claim fails. They are completely seperate benefits, DLA is paid to help people with mobility problems and care needs and IB is paid to people who are incapable of work.

Gillianh2

OP
Was your wifes DLA due for renewal? do you have any input from Social Services at all? I ask only because an elderly Aunt had the same thing her Attendance Allowance was due for renewal and someone from Social Services came and completed her forms for her.