DLA and all that!

joyful164

I was awarded DLA in 2008 when I wasn't as bad as I am now. With 3 more forms of arthritis now than I had at the very beginning, my renewal for DLA has been turned down for the mobility component. I am gutted. The seem to have changed the goad posts. I shall get the care component of £18 per week, but basically I shall be £200 a month worse off and just as I am getting to the point of needing a scooter for getting around.

Have said all this to them, have followed the advice of Welfare Rights, but all I get is a letter back saying that I am not allowed to contact them again unless I do not get a reply in 11 weeks to my appeal. They seem to treat you as if you are an inferior 8 year old. (a moran) I saw my GP and he has told me to write "Because my circumstances have changed" because I am having to have my medication increased because my symptoms have come back"
If they need confirmation of this, then they write to my consultant or gp themselves.

:x :x :x joyful

eckstardeluxe

That is awful news Joy, it just absolutely boggles the mind.

I just found out someone I know has indefinite high rate mobility because they have a certain condition where as I must apply again every year. I cannot walk up or down stairs, yet this person can, takes no medication and overtook me yesterday on our way out somewhere at about 10 times the speed of me whilst I was limping away.

I don't understand this. It seems certain conditions get immediate awards even if the person has mild forms of it.

luckybug

I know someone who through taking drugs, (self induced) now takes fits, and only very very occassionally, but he receives almost £300 a week in DLA and Income Support and Incapacity benefits, he spends 15 hours a day in bars around Blackpool and Manchester, and drinks it, the system stinks.

debbierose

sorry to add to the mix I hate posting negitive posts however I must say I was on holiday and met a MOO who worked at the DLA offices in Blackpool her best friend had run off with her husband I got all the details she told me quite blatenly that depending on her mood that day was the deciding facter on wether the claim was process quickly or not and to what department it was moved on to.

I was tempted to push her in the pool the silly moo. but as she knew my name at that point I though best keep my hands to myself.

however The Lady I spoke too about my claim was really lovely and helpfull.

topgirl

:shock: ......just goes to show....a lot depends on the decision maker.....wrong isnt it.....
Im so sorry Joy......
How can they say you cant get mobility when you feel that you may soon need a scooter??????

eckstardeluxe

debbierose wrote:

sorry to add to the mix I hate posting negitive posts however I must say I was on holiday and met a MOO who worked at the DLA offices in Blackpool her best friend had run off with her husband I got all the details she told me quite blatenly that depending on her mood that day was the deciding facter on wether the claim was process quickly or not and to what department it was moved on to.

I was tempted to push her in the pool the silly moo. but as she knew my name at that point I though best keep my hands to myself.

however The Lady I spoke too about my claim was really lovely and helpfull.

That is just :shock:

Civil Servants have to sign the Official Secrets Act. We can give advice to friends but it must be the same as we would give professionally and no official info. Additionally Civil Servants are supposed to adhere to a very strict code in that they make NO personal judgments whatsoever, and never let their opinions or moods affect their decisions or actions re claims.

I could find out lots of info or take action, but I take my position extremely seriously (as do almost all of us) and can honestly say I have never ever even been tempted to do this. I am disgusted at these individuals who are not fit for purpose and dealing with people's lives. Their decisions could be catastrophic.

I'd have got her name and reported her to the helpline that deals with issues re Staff. I do not have it as no access to files but could get it for you when I go back if you wanted.

These people make those who work hard and fight for their callers and claimants look bad. I am so angry about that. Just to add, that would be considered gross misconduct and instant dismissal what you have mentioned.

woodbon

Hi,
Its awful that a person working with sensitive confidential information should discuss it at all outside of the office, to entertain her friends and show off. One wonders if she really did have the job she said she had. I would have hoped that sort of talk would be breaking the offical secrets act and so be liable to prosicution if found out. Its not just the fact that she alledges that she makes decissions on a whim, its also that shes discussing such intimate and private information in a public place. I know that some people don't take their work seriously but to be talking like that is the sort of thing people who claim benifits dread happening. I only hope that shes was lying and trying to show off, but a feeling inside tells me that is to much to hope for. OK my rant is over.
:? Love Sue

frogmorton

woodbon wrote:

Hi,
Its awful that a person working with sensitive confidential information should discuss it at all outside of the office, to entertain her friends and show off. One wonders if she really did have the job she said she had. I would have hoped that sort of talk would be breaking the offical secrets act and so be liable to prosicution if found out. Its not just the fact that she alledges that she makes decissions on a whim, its also that shes discussing such intimate and private information in a public place. I know that some people don't take their work seriously but to be talking like that is the sort of thing people who claim benifits dread happening. I only hope that shes was lying and trying to show off, but a feeling inside tells me that is to much to hope for. OK my rant is over.
:? Love Sue

Yeah! What about confidentiality?
Unbeleivable :shock:
Toni x
Ps does anyone think they are turning people down because of that green paper malarky - you know so there are less on it?

angel1

you really should have pushed her in !!!!!!!!!!! [/quote]


When I read Debbie`s post earlier, I immediately thought "Jan would have pushed her in"!.......Ange.

joyful164

debbierose wrote:

sorry to add to the mix I hate posting negitive posts however I must say I was on holiday and met a MOO who worked at the DLA offices in Blackpool her best friend had run off with her husband I got all the details she told me quite blatenly that depending on her mood that day was the deciding facter on wether the claim was process quickly or not and to what department it was moved on to.

I was tempted to push her in the pool the silly moo. but as she knew my name at that point I though best keep my hands to myself.

however The Lady I spoke too about my claim was really lovely and helpfull.

You have absolutely, positively, unreservedly hit the nail on the head. That was the message I got when I rang up and spoke to someone about it. My husband also spoke to someone before me. That generated two lots of letters with return envelopes with two different reference numbers on. Now what do you call that.

joy

joyful164

Apart from three more different letters in the post during the week with more reference numbers on, what did I receive in the post today.
Another claim form to complete and you know how long they are.
I rang up about them and asked them to tell me where my original form was. Reply was "probably in the central store now awaiting deposit". "where?" i asked. "Can't you refer to that one?". 21st July I received my first form, completed it straight away to send off before my hols on the 23rd.
I've already said that the decision was awaiting me 2 weeks later.
So, did they bother to read the form. I bet you no. They just read that I could walk 100 yards slowly. The fact that my joints seize up after that and my muscles are so sore together with a bad hip. And ow been told that I have definitely got OA in my knees and hip.
My OH is going to fill the next form in. All that writing is painful.
It is just another stressmaker. I think they are hoping this will go on until the 1. Jan 04 when it will be too late for me to claim DLA.

joyful

eckstardeluxe

woodbon wrote:

Hi,
Its awful that a person working with sensitive confidential information should discuss it at all outside of the office, to entertain her friends and show off. One wonders if she really did have the job she said she had. I would have hoped that sort of talk would be breaking the offical secrets act and so be liable to prosicution if found out. Its not just the fact that she alledges that she makes decissions on a whim, its also that shes discussing such intimate and private information in a public place. I know that some people don't take their work seriously but to be talking like that is the sort of thing people who claim benifits dread happening. I only hope that shes was lying and trying to show off, but a feeling inside tells me that is to much to hope for. OK my rant is over.
:? Love Sue

It is serious Sue. I know from experience from having witnessed on very rare occasions what happens to people who have looked at files of people they know or altered them, or discussed confidential matters outwith the work place.

I am with HMRC so stricter code than DWP. The minute someone trys to access that stuff, it flags immediately that the postcode is linked (don't know how they manage it) and that person is frogmarched out the door, not allowed back into the building to even say goodbye or collect their belongings. HMRC take matters like the above extremely seriously and seek to prosecute in all cases involving staff with no exceptions. I'm sure the DWP would be extremely angered by what this person has done and they are very lucky indeed to still have a job. Blackpool is indeed the HQ re DLA so it is highly likely this individual was telling the truth and IMO sorry folks, should be hung out to dry. No sympathy whatsoever.

psyart

Hi

i went to the citizan advice center and spoke to someone there about the forms. they made me an appointment with someone who deals with the forms all the time and helped me fill it in. it took about 2 hours but they did all the work on it. my OT in the hospital also gave me a form to help me understand what to say in the form. BUT i sent the form off in June, i had 1 letter to say that they were writing to my consoultent(cant spell) at the hospital, that was in July and then last week i got a letter saying that they had still not made a decision but will inform me when they have!!!!!! how does it take so long? the OT told me that they are not trained people but how do they make a decision??

Louise

eckstardeluxe

psyart wrote:

Hi

i went to the citizan advice center and spoke to someone there about the forms. they made me an appointment with someone who deals with the forms all the time and helped me fill it in. it took about 2 hours but they did all the work on it. my OT in the hospital also gave me a form to help me understand what to say in the form. BUT i sent the form off in June, i had 1 letter to say that they were writing to my consoultent(cant spell) at the hospital, that was in July and then last week i got a letter saying that they had still not made a decision but will inform me when they have!!!!!! how does it take so long? the OT told me that they are not trained people but how do they make a decision??

Louise

Don't worry Louise, that ia a standard letter they send when they don't have all the info from the respondents yet. They are just letting you know so you will be less likely to call and progress chase, thus making their phone line busier.