Making decisions for dla

woodbon

Hello
Has the world gone mad or is just me? Non medically trained assessor for DLA????? . I DO NOT BELIEVE IT !!! In the words Victor Meldrew. These people go around deciding who is disabled and who is able, how on earth do they reach this decision. It takes years and years of study to become a doctor, but they can make semi-medical decisions with, what, a few days training? That can't be right. AH I've just discovered a new career path for me. I am going to be a brain surgeon, next week.
Love Sue

tanith

woodbon wrote:

Hello
Has the world gone mad or is just me? Non medically trained assessor for DLA????? . I DO NOT BELIEVE IT !!! In the words Victor Meldrew. These people go around deciding who is disabled and who is able, how on earth do they reach this decision. It takes years and years of study to become a doctor, but they can make semi-medical decisions with, what, a few days training? That can't be right. AH I've just discovered a new career path for me. I am going to be a brain surgeon, next week.
Love Sue

Sue as DLA is awarded for how your illness affects your daily life rather than the illness itself I guess its cheaper and possible for a non medical person to assess how badly it affects you on a daily basis . They are merely scoring you on what you can or can't do because of the illness not how ill you are... if that makes sense...

handsy

hi i'm john i've got RA. recently had to leave work due to illness. applied for employment support allowance , went and had a medical with a nuetral doctor as he kept on repeating for most of the examination got my assement back and i have scored 0 out of the 15 pts needed to get this benefit i could not understand phoned them up they told me the computers had malfunctioned and that hundreds of people had 0 results this just amazed me got some advice from the gang here got intouch with welfare rights and hopefully they can sort it out

its just bloody amazing isn't it

frogmorton

:!:
What a system we have!
Toni x

lindalegs

woodbon wrote:

Hello
Has the world gone mad or is just me? Non medically trained assessor for DLA??............. AH I've just discovered a new career path for me. I am going to be a brain surgeon, next week.
Love Sue

If you're going to be a brain surgeon Sue, I'm off to be an pilot



Luv Legs

c4thyg

Seeing threads like this is why I haven't looked into DLA or employment benefit (whatever it's called now). Stress is a major trigger for most of my conditions and I just don't see the point in stressing myself out to find that I'm not considered bad enough anyway. I actually want to work and I know I'm able to in the right job. Unfortunately my last employer sacked me 2 weeks ago for not being able to prove I was reliable!! No medical advice, nothing! Just sacked. I was on probation so they haven't broken any laws. The thing that gets me is that when we all thought I had leukaemia everyone was sympathetic. When I was diagnosed with a rare blood condition that has the same symptoms no one cared anymore because who has ever heard of 'immune thrombocytopenia purpura'?!! Occ health didn't have a clue and if I'd followed their advice I might be dead!! I just don't have faith in these assessments. Does anyone have a good story about them?

joyful164

handsy wrote:

hi i'm john i've got RA. recently had to leave work due to illness. applied for employment support allowance , went and had a medical with a nuetral doctor as he kept on repeating for most of the examination got my assement back and i have scored 0 out of the 15 pts needed to get this benefit i could not understand phoned them up they told me the computers had malfunctioned and that hundreds of people had 0 results this just amazed me got some advice from the gang here got intouch with welfare rights and hopefully they can sort it out

its just bloody amazing isn't it

Hi Handsy

My OH had just the same problem about five years ago after his heart attack. He had to go somewhere about 30 miles away. He had been instructed not to drive, but he did otherwise it would have taken him 3 bus changes.
He had the assessment. Can you touch your nose, your toes, Can you walk 100 yards. OK. They gave him the same score as yourself. Because of his heart condition, which has settle down now he finds it very stressful to drive too far and by 2 00 he is really tired. He was self - employed and he had to consider just taking contract work within a 30 mile radius, or he would have to stay B&B. Did these medics take any of these incidentals into consideration? Not on your nellie and the fact that walking 100 yards up a hill made him gasp for air, Not bothered.
He didn't qualify for any benefits during the last 4 years that I was working and my idea of retiring at 60 because I was eligible all went by the board and I think that is why my arthritis came on so quickly. IT was the stress.
joyful

livinglegend

woodbon wrote:

Hello
Has the world gone mad or is just me? Non medically trained assessor for DLA????? . I DO NOT BELIEVE IT !!! In the words Victor Meldrew. These people go around deciding who is disabled and who is able, how on earth do they reach this decision. It takes years and years of study to become a doctor, but they can make semi-medical decisions with, what, a few days training? That can't be right. AH I've just discovered a new career path for me. I am going to be a brain surgeon, next week.
Love Sue

The first thing that people have to remember is that Adjudication Officers are benefit decision makers, not doctors. They are not there to diagnose, but to assess needs (from the application form and doctor's/consultant's letters) including how much financial assistance the claimant should get. They don't need to be able to diagnose any of the many diseases and how they affect individuals, that's what GPs are for.

The first thing they (should) do is reach for The Disability Handbook which lists 31 sections of medical conditions and likely needs of the claimant. Musculo-Skeletal and Disorders has 20 sub-sections alone.

The Disability Handbook is online at: http://www.benefitsnow.co.uk/handbook/disabilityhandbook2.asp Everyone applying should read the relevant sections on their likely needs.

The 1991 introduction, (it's been in use for 18 years), states:
1.1.3 This is not a medical textbook. Adjudication Officers are not medically qualified. Most people involved with the care of people with disabilities have no medical training or background. For these people, a medical textbook would be of no help to their understanding of the care and mobility needs of the people they are dealing with.

1.3.1 The handbook is intended primarily to help Adjudicating Authorities to assess the medical evidence that is presented to them when a claim is made. It is aimed particularly at the Adjudication Officers who decide claims and reviews but it will be available for use by anyone else who wishes to refer to it.


If, after looking at the Handbook, you understand what the assessor is looking for on your form and complete the form honestly, (lies are surprisingly easy to spot), then getting the correct benefit for you should be likely.

Joseph 8)