DLA Arthritisans Diabetic Neuropathy

susanjanemoon

Hi I have severe Arthritis in both knees, and right ankle. I also have Diabetic Neuropathy in both feet, both hands and one side of my face. Both conditions are getting worse. My G P advised me to put in for a Blue Badge, which I duely received. I am considering applying for DLA, I used to work 4 days a week but because of pain I have had to cut down to 2 shifts per week. Any pointers for when Im form filling.....Any help much appreciated. Any other members with same condition who have previously applied

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susanjanemoon wrote:

Hi I have severe Arthritis in both knees, and right ankle. I also have Diabetic Neuropathy in both feet, both hands and one side of my face. Both conditions are getting worse. My G P advised me to put in for a Blue Badge, which I duely received. I am considering applying for DLA, I used to work 4 days a week but because of pain I have had to cut down to 2 shifts per week. Any pointers for when Im form filling.....Any help much appreciated. Any other members with same condition who have previously applied

Re DLA form filling get some help from somewhere like CAB or an independent welfare advice centre. They are experienced in completing these forms and will help in other areas as well. I needed the help and advice of local CAB and am grateful for it.

susanjanemoon

Hi Thanks will make an appointment to see Citizens Advice. Susan

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susanjanemoon wrote:

Hi I have severe Arthritis in both knees, and right ankle. I also have Diabetic Neuropathy in both feet, both hands and one side of my face. Both conditions are getting worse. My G P advised me to put in for a Blue Badge, which I duely received. I am considering applying for DLA, I used to work 4 days a week but because of pain I have had to cut down to 2 shifts per week. Any pointers for when Im form filling.....Any help much appreciated. Any other members with same condition who have previously applied

Re DLA form filling get some help from somewhere like CAB or an independent welfare advice centre. They are experienced in completing these forms and will help in other areas as well. I needed the help and advice of local CAB and am grateful for it.

c4thyg

Don't forget to describe your worst days and not how you are feeling at the time.

I did my forms on my own and was surprised when my health visitor offered to look over it before sending it off. It's surprising the people who can help. She had filled out lots of these forms for parents claiming on behalf of their children. I never even thought to ask her!

Oh, and if you can't answer a question easily, like how far you can walk as that varies a lot for arthritis suffers, don't be afraid to leave it blank and fill in the details below. You don't have to give a number, I didn't for lots of questions and was awarded DLA first time. So long as you emphasise that it varies from day to day they don't mind. These forms can't be suitable for every condition and they are aware of that.

Good luck.

lizzie7ne

Hi

Make sure you either get help with the forms from the CAB or your O.T. Its a huge bulky set of forms. I was going to fill it in myself
but my O.T. helped me and I was successfull in getting it. If I had completed it myself I dont think I would have got it.

The CAB or an O.T will help you with the questions. For example my O T asked me the questions when we were filling in the form. In the bit about Do you need help with personal care i.e. washing getting dried etc, I probably would have put occassionally. However my O T said to me well you use a board over the bath to sit on to shower so you need help all the time. Also he said to me how do you wash your feet and I said the only way was to sit on my bath board and point the shower hose at my feet, he said well an able bodied person could reach over and wash the feet with a sponge, so that means you need , whereas because I had adapted to the situation I thought I could manage it ok. . He asked me how I got dried and I said well its difficult but I manage my putting on a terry towelling dressing gown and he explained well if you were able bodied you would not need to do this The message of all this is that most of us with arthritis actually adapt to the situation so we can do things, but you have to think along the lines of if we hadnt adapted or had equipment to help us we would not be able to do things and you need to think along these lines. The CAB or an OT will explain all this to you. My OT also wrote a supporting statement on the form, however the DLA still contacted him for a further report. You also should think of how you feel and how it affects your mobility and ability to do the tasks an able bodied person could do on your worst day rather than when you are at your best

Good luck

lizzie