D L A

jordan7j
jordan7j Bots Posts: 346
edited 16. Aug 2009, 15:57 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi everyone, hope all are good!!! :D I have just returned from a weeks holiday to a letter from DLA refusing me. My gp never got around to sending in her form, this was from April, so they used old info from my physio, who i have not seen since march, and when i was not on various meds that i use now. Will appeal, as finding it harder and harder to get around, i am s till working, but finding it hard, working with babies, so very hard anyway. Anyone have any suggestions or ideas as what to say on my appeal, will be grateful :cry: Thanks Jay

Comments

  • magicdragon
    magicdragon Member Posts: 75
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I'm so sorry your having all this trouble :( it seems so unfair having to battle this when where in so much pain.

    I've just had to go through this myself as they only used my income support medical and things had got worse since then.

    I can tell you what my dad told me hes ex Citizens Advice Buearu and specailised in benifits and Dla he and also my Doctor said the form they give the doctor is pretty much what they give us which doesnt inform them greatly about us from the doctors prespective. He said you can ask for your doctor to write a letter explaining your issues which is much better but most will only do this privately so it can cost between £10 and £15 pound he said it was 'worth its weigh in gold' i didn't get time to do mine but if i had a simular problem i would go down this route.

    Also said about doing a pain diary focusing on what you find difficult, what you cant do.

    Also he said that dla is the one benifit you can give in curcumstancal evidence so with me i had a letter from my neighbour who helped me with shopping, a letter from a friend that helped me with cleaning etc basically anyone who sees you struggle ask them to write it down.

    And the main bit of advice i can think of is if you can go to your citizens advice buearu or Dial they can help take some of the weight of

    Huge hugs and hope it get sorted soon
  • madness1985
    madness1985 Member Posts: 293
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hiya hun,

    get your appeal in ASAP u onli have 4 weeks from date on your letter to appeal. Dnt b disheartned it tu me 13 weeks to get a dissistion, there is a high refusal rate compared to success rate you just have to appeal in a higher majority are successful in there appeal! Im currently going through an appeal atm, as they gave me a rate my gp wasnt happy wiv n nor was i!

    With regard to your appeal you need to explain why its worse and really emphasise why your in pain n where n why u need help and also nefink u need help with. If anyone supports you can ask them to write somthing to include.

    e.g i crt cut my foot up as no strength in my wrist to press dwn ect n i explained that my career (sp) has to cut my food up due to pain in my wrists which is extreamly painful. You dnt to use key words like extream, extinuatingly painful ect to get your point across but rember to be honest! Even lil things you crnt do include. I f your going for mobility you have to say that you need help walking crnt walk far ect.

    I was told by my support worker (my mum passed away n i got very depressed then i got arthitus so my gp got me one to support me emotinally) that you MUST base it as if your bad days are all the time.

    I hope that makes sence :)

    if i can be of nehelp let me know
  • madness1985
    madness1985 Member Posts: 293
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hiya pixyandfaries,

    What sla? I too was having a bad time when i applied n as i hadnt walked further than my bathroom and have no idea on how far things are i got turned down for mobility which my appeal is based on!

    I even wrote about how my partner has to get up in the night to help me turn (i just crnt do it). I was told that you have to tell it like the person has no ideas on the pain ur in, plus i found out they use certain lists on ur problem to see wat level u r n they luk for buzz words

    take care n gd luk xx
  • eckstardeluxe
    eckstardeluxe Member Posts: 1,192
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Appeal. I phoned them asking them to reconsider and they gave me 28 day to send further info. I gathered the following within 2 days of my call and it was sent back 1st class recorded the same day.

    I was turned down at first after they wrote to a Dr who had never met me and left Section 6 blank.

    I wrote a letter from myself, explaining how my disability arose, my medication, my symptoms and my care and mobility needs.

    My husband wrote a letter explaining why I am so dependent on him and what he has to do for me.

    I went back to the Dr, she was disgusted and wrote a full page letter apologising for the misunderstanding to the DWP and stated why she felt I was a deserving candidate.

    I enclosed all my letters from the clinics, I was scheduled to be seen at or had been seen at, quite alot. I had also been seen for PTSD and received counselling AND Hypnotherapy for over a year on the NHS 9 months prior to my illness, my PSTD was related to my treatment in childhood which we only discovered in January this year caused the arthritis I now have. A care worker said to include this info as both are linked and possible I could have a relapse having found out the arthur was due to medical negligence. They said it all counts.

    2 weeks later I got a reply. I thought I had a fight on my hands and was reluctant to open it. I got it, very shocked, keep fighting.

    And to add, my Dr was so annoyed she refused point blank to charge me for her letter.
  • jordan7j
    jordan7j Bots Posts: 346
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks everyone for help and support,will start on appeal tomorrow. Hoping that by now my gp form will have turned up too. My next rheumy app is not until 4th sep, so too long to leave it to get support from them. Will explain about meds and difficulties in mobility etc., Let you all know how it goes Love Jay :):)