unannounced visit from DLA REP

mediaman

Gillianh2 wrote: »

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.

Her award initially stated for life, then it was changed to "indefinite" a few years ago, She is getting a visit from DLA doctor today.

[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

DLA differs greatly from most benefits in so much as it can be paid in work or out of work is not means tested or taxed and does not count as income,there are no plans within the current welfare reform act to make any changes to DLA,as for moving dla claimants to another benefit,i fail to see which???
Please dont believe evrything you read in the daily mail !
I`d also like to know how or why someone who is sick should be moved from the relevnat benefit(I/B) to jsa,if they are clearly unable to work or seek work due to an illness/condition?

[Deleted User]

Loopy_Girl wrote: »

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

you said that having read the dwp website that your understanding was that dla would be part of the reforms.

peter999

mediaman wrote: »

My wife (49yrs) received an unannounced visit from Social Services (2 weeks ago9:45am) to review her DLA.
Is this the norm now? She always got help from citizens advice in filling in the forms but this lady who arrived filled them in there and then.

Next time, tell them it is not convenient, you don't take unnannounced visitors & ask them to arrange an appointment.
..
peter999

Ani-Mate_67

You say that your wife originally had the award for life and that now it has changed to indefinite. This is one and the same thing. Awards are either indefinite or for a fixed period. When DLA first came in in 1992 the term 'Life Award' was used for indefinite awards but has no legal basis and caused problems when a change of circumstances happened as claimants quite rightly said "but my award is for life". As for the visit - if your wife has an indefinite award then the DWP can not look at it again without reason (spot checks of an indefinite award are illegal). If someone turned up unannounced (which is not DWP procedure for DLA) then either it was nothing to do with the DWP, the letter went missing in the post or someone has reported your wife for benefit fraud. If it was fraud then the Fraud Officer would have identified themselves. If the visitor had sent a letter to your wife saying that they were going to visit and the letter was lost in the post then the visitor would surely have started their visit with some reference to the prearranged visit. Some DLA offices do have visiting officers who fill in claim forms for claimants but that is always at the claimant's request. As for the subsequent 'phone call - that was common practice in the office I worked in (Sutton, Surrey). Our admin staff were always told to make 'phone calls rather than write. The simplest way to find out why the visit was made is to ring the DWP (the number will be on the top of the letter informing you of the doctor's visit) and ask. If the visitor was from the DWP it will show on their computer system. One other point you mentioned - your wife's walking ability is judged on time and distance before she has to stop so changing from a stick to crutches isn't a relevant change of circumstances unless it is also accompanied by a reduction in speed or distance (some people can actually walk better when they get a 'stronger' walking aid - so I wouldn't labour that point if I were you). Hope this helps.