DLA/ additional benefits/support

tjenny54321

I would like to highlight something I often think about regarding people with disabilities having realised how many doors opened for me when I managed to get my DLA award increased. I can now afford to pay for an additional hour of home help service which I couldn't afford before. It also gives access to free bus and cheap rail travel. It upsets me because I also know someone with Crohn's Disease and really struggles to cope during a flare up. I feel he his life would be an awful lot better if he had the extra income to cope with the extra laundry during flare ups. Does anyone know if you need to be on Disability benefits to get a RADAR key? Its used to gain access to toilets which are locked to prevent vandalism.
Would like to urge people to keep fighting to get the level of support they require. They way I saw it was that as I was on the lowest DLA possible I told them I would keep applying and appealing and reappealing until they changed the decision and if they still didn't I was quite happy to do a protest somewhere. I had nothing to lose. I know it is extremely tiring but please do keep fighting if you know you are genuinely struggling to cope.

dorcas

Hi tjenny,
Your post is an inspiration to all! shows what determination ..and...down right persistence can do..

I have been on the low care rate DLA for 5yrs and have been thinking about asking for a review as things have changed a lot for me since then, so your message has come at the right time!

Don't know the answer to the Radar key question, sorry, but sure to be someone else who does. Dorcas x

annebr

Hi Penny,

I have OA and fai of both hips and don't receive a penny in help or benefits. I was told that as I was self employed had some savings, married and my husband works I wasn't entitled. Even though I haven't worked since January I am still paying tax!!

I applied for DLA and was told that I couldn't get it as I wouldn't be eligible in March 2010, they obviously know of some miracle cure. I could really get on my soap box about this.

Was told that I need another op on my left hip sooner rather than later but will have to postpone it for as long as I can. As I need to get back to work and get some money behind me again. Hope to return to work in New Year.

But, I do have the Radar key. Out of the blue I received a book of every Radar toiled in the UK. At first I tought someone was winding me up. I phoned them and they told me that my details had been passed on to them as I had arthritis. I got they key and all you have to do is pay £3.50. Not sure how or why they got my name?

I have also been undergoing tests to see if I have an IBD such as Chron's. So far mixed results some of the tests indicate yes but the invasive tests have shown nothing sinister. I have now come to the decision that I don't want to be poked or prodded anymore and I am going to livve with it.

Sorry if I have rambled on a bit.

Anne

harleyd14

hi there tjenny
if you go on
http://radar-shop.org.uk
you will find info and as previously stated £3.50 is payable then you get a key.
hope this helps
all the best Sally.x

donboon

annebr wrote:

Hi Penny,

I was told that as I was self employed had some savings, married and my husband works I wasn't entitled.
I applied for DLA and was told that I couldn't get it as I wouldn't be eligible in March 2010, they obviously know of some miracle cure.

Anne

You've been misled I'm afraid. Your savings, marital status, income and/or your husbands don't affect your entitlement to DLA and any award is unaffected by tax. Provided you are awarded DLA before the age of 65 (even by a week) you can continue to claim afterwards so long as you meet the requirements.
If it's been over a month since the DWP's decicision then you'll have to make a fresh claim. If it gets rejected again take it to the appeal but preferably get an advocate to help.

livinglegend

annebr wrote:

I applied for DLA and was told that I couldn't get it as I wouldn't be eligible in March 2010, they obviously know of some miracle cure. Anne

Could be because of the following DLA rule:
A person must have had the walking difficulties for at least three months before s/he gets an award. A person can claim as soon as help is needed but wait three months before getting benefit or can wait the three months first and then claim the benefit.

I suppose that it stops people claiming for just a couple of weeks, then dropping the claim. Short term admin costs a lot of money.


Joseph 8)

donboon

livinglegend wrote:

annebr wrote:

I applied for DLA and was told that I couldn't get it as I wouldn't be eligible in March 2010, they obviously know of some miracle cure. Anne

Could be because of the following DLA rule:
A person must have had the walking difficulties for at least three months before s/he gets an award. A person can claim as soon as help is needed but wait three months before getting benefit or can wait the three months first and then claim the benefit.

Joseph 8)

As you say the condition has to have existed at least three months before the claim but I suspect they most likely don't have evidence that the condition will exist six months from the claim which is another of their rules.

annebr

Sorry, I misled you all. I wasn't entitled to ESA or any type of sick pay. As DLA is not menas tested I applied and rejected as I would be cured by the 07/03/10.

I have appealed this decision as I was first diagnosed over two years ago and it's not getting any better. Plus I know I have quite a few ops in front of me.

Have been told that the appeal will take 11 weeks. To be honest not holding out much hope.

Anne

kathbee

Hi Anne

Sorry to be sounding nosy but how
can you be cured for a certain date in March 2010
and how would the DWP know that exact date. :?: :?:

It seems really odd to me.

Is it do with you having maybe another hip op by then
and its their way of saying that all will be ok. Unbelievable .

I do know of someone who after both knees replaced was told
by the DWP that he was now ok and had no need for help with
anything. They sure know a lot more than the docs and
consultants dont they these penpushers.

Kath

annebr

Hi Kath,

You are not being nosy. The date they have given me to be 'cured' appears to be six months from the date I originally applied for DLA.

They don't appear to be treating the OA (and FAI) as an ongoing condition. I have sent a letter as part of the appeal explaining teh conditions I have. But, who knows how the system and their minds work.

Anne