DLA TIP3
09angel11
Member Posts: 87
Tip 3
Imagine it.
You’ve made a claim for DLA and a doctor has come to do a
medical. Halfway through he says ‘I just need to have a quick look
around to see what aids or adaptations you might need’ and
disappears up the stairs.
What is he really doing?
In fact, the doctor is doing two things.
The first is answering a question in the medical report which asks the
doctor to ‘Describe any features of the current accommodation that
cause increased problems for the customer e.g. upstairs toilet, steep
steps.’
The second is, in accordance with his training, checking to see if you
are ‘genuinely living the life of a disabled person’.
He will be hunting for: things which he considers do – or don’t - fit
in with your claimed level of disability, which he can include as
evidence in his report. Unfortunately, this seems to turn some doctors
into amateur detectives: they discover ‘clues’ which they consider
significant and write them up in their report without giving you the
opportunity to give any evidence about them first..
For example, do you have an inhaler on a high shelf and covered in dust,
looking as if it hasn’t been used, rather than in easy reach of where
you’re sitting?
Does the walking stick in the hall have an unmarked and unworn
rubber ferrule on the bottom?
Of course, there may be very good explanations for these things: the
inhaler is a spare one, you keep the one you use in your pocket at all
times and the rubber on your walking stick is new because the old one
wore out.
However, the amateur detective doctor may write these things in their report
without ever asking you about them and the decision maker will accept his
evidence without question. Both of these incorrect assumptions have led to
Benefits and Work members having their claims turned down, requiring them
to go to tribunal before they were awarded the benefits to which they were
entitled.
So, one thing you can do to prepare for a doctor’s visit is take a look
around and put right anything that might be misinterpreted. For
example, remove the dusty inhaler, or put it where you can reach it.
Another thing you can do is explain to the doctor, before he even
notices, the reason for the new rubber on your walking stick.
If the doctor does say they wish to look round your home, it’s worth
asking them what they are looking for and requesting that they tell
you about anything they see which they consider significant.
You could, of course, refuse them permission to look around your
house. But the doctor will make a note of this and adverse
conclusions may be drawn by a decision maker or tribunal as a result.
So, being prepared is probably the best strategy.
Monica :!:
Imagine it.
You’ve made a claim for DLA and a doctor has come to do a
medical. Halfway through he says ‘I just need to have a quick look
around to see what aids or adaptations you might need’ and
disappears up the stairs.
What is he really doing?
In fact, the doctor is doing two things.
The first is answering a question in the medical report which asks the
doctor to ‘Describe any features of the current accommodation that
cause increased problems for the customer e.g. upstairs toilet, steep
steps.’
The second is, in accordance with his training, checking to see if you
are ‘genuinely living the life of a disabled person’.
He will be hunting for: things which he considers do – or don’t - fit
in with your claimed level of disability, which he can include as
evidence in his report. Unfortunately, this seems to turn some doctors
into amateur detectives: they discover ‘clues’ which they consider
significant and write them up in their report without giving you the
opportunity to give any evidence about them first..
For example, do you have an inhaler on a high shelf and covered in dust,
looking as if it hasn’t been used, rather than in easy reach of where
you’re sitting?
Does the walking stick in the hall have an unmarked and unworn
rubber ferrule on the bottom?
Of course, there may be very good explanations for these things: the
inhaler is a spare one, you keep the one you use in your pocket at all
times and the rubber on your walking stick is new because the old one
wore out.
However, the amateur detective doctor may write these things in their report
without ever asking you about them and the decision maker will accept his
evidence without question. Both of these incorrect assumptions have led to
Benefits and Work members having their claims turned down, requiring them
to go to tribunal before they were awarded the benefits to which they were
entitled.
So, one thing you can do to prepare for a doctor’s visit is take a look
around and put right anything that might be misinterpreted. For
example, remove the dusty inhaler, or put it where you can reach it.
Another thing you can do is explain to the doctor, before he even
notices, the reason for the new rubber on your walking stick.
If the doctor does say they wish to look round your home, it’s worth
asking them what they are looking for and requesting that they tell
you about anything they see which they consider significant.
You could, of course, refuse them permission to look around your
house. But the doctor will make a note of this and adverse
conclusions may be drawn by a decision maker or tribunal as a result.
So, being prepared is probably the best strategy.
Monica :!:
0
Comments
-
If any forum user would like to read the information provided by the benefits and work website please visit their site.
copying large amounts of text from another source is unlawful - we have created house rules to help us all to use the forum - rule 5 says
Please be careful when you copy and paste text, that does not belong to you, into your posts. Quoting a few lines with an attribution is acceptable and know as 'fair use'. If you copy large pieces of text without permission, you (and Arthritis Care) may be liable to legal action from the content owner. We recommend you create a link to any major content to which you wish to refer.
Thanks
Moderator
YEH0 -
Hi Monica
I have noted the mods comments and they were right to make them and quite justified too.
However
I for one think it was very very useful and explained a lot.
I have to say I was more likely to have read this than to follow a link - uless I was jus about applyinmg/ appealing. The info will saty in my memory till I or someone I know needs it and then i will find it.
So thank you very much - even if it was a bit naughty
Love
Toni xx0 -
Moderator wrote:If any forum user would like to read the information provided by the benefits and work website please visit their site.
copying large amounts of text from another source is unlawful - we have created house rules to help us all to use the forum - rule 5 says
Please be careful when you copy and paste text, that does not belong to you, into your posts. Quoting a few lines with an attribution is acceptable and know as 'fair use'. If you copy large pieces of text without permission, you (and Arthritis Care) may be liable to legal action from the content owner. We recommend you create a link to any major content to which you wish to refer.
Thanks
Moderator
YEH
This information is quite legal to use, i have been informed i can post it on the site, but thanks moderator.
Monica0
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