/DLA? yours frustrated!

clarelouise1

I have had RA for over a year which is very active and I'm going on anti-tnf treatments after dmards failed. I have been applying for DLA since last October, been refused and am appealing. I have letter from my consultant backing me, letters from family, from work, the CAB think I should have high mobility, I hve had to reduce my working hours but still the decision maker hasn't changed their mind. Can anyone else help? I'm at a loss. A hearing in person is going to take a year so I have opted for a paper hearing even though I know there is more success in person but simply cannot wait that long for help. I'm frsutrated and at the end of my tether and hope the Tribunal will see sense. Has anyone else had a similar experience with the DLA? xx

dreamdaisy

Many have, there are threads all over the place about it. They are so much more strict nowadays, I think, the money just isn't there now. Hang on and keep fighting, because if you do win any claim should be back-dated - hence the world cruise you've always wanted! DD

abbie41

Thats a long time to wait! Why do they give it so easily to some people and not to others who really need it. so annoying! Could you get help from you GP or specialist - get them to wirte a letter?

I hope it gets sorted for you hun x

clarelouise1

abbie41 wrote:

Thats a long time to wait! Why do they give it so easily to some people and not to others who really need it. so annoying! Could you get help from you GP or specialist - get them to wirte a letter?

I hope it gets sorted for you hun x

Thanks to both you you :0( The doctor and consultant rheumatologist have wrote supporting letters recently but the decision maker is stubborn as a mule so its going to appeal. It seems wrong doesn't it, hard enough to live with arthur without having this stress to keep fighting xx

dreamdaisy

It is an additional hurdle you shouldn't have to face, I agree, and the fact that you are not alone in this is neither here nor there. I suppose restraints have to be exercised - honest people, who don't know how to 'work' the system are always going to lose out. You have all the supporting evidence, keep it all in a file and start a diary that logs your difficulties, stressing from time to time what difference the DLA could make. You never know, it might pay off! DD

bubbles

Clare, it is a horrid situation to be in. Although I am in receipt of DLA, I am appealing for the care component to be increased, due to my care needs and range of medical problems.
I have had a year long battle, with so many letters to and fro. They still base their decision from 2008 and as has been pointed out, things change in two years.
They make you laugh really, "please inform us if your condition changes, or your care needs increase, or decrease". So, we inform them and it makes not a shred of difference.

You just have to keep at them. I know the appeal panel hearings take an eternity, that is due to them being an independent panel and they cover every appeal, from housing benefit, council tax relief, to disability payments etc. Hence the years wait.

I have asked for the first tier review panel to re-assess my case, as they often contradict themselves and you have to keep an eye on what the decision makers say on their report. A few months back I was in danger, both to myself and others, from falls etc, now, suddenly I am not in danger. I was not aware a miracle had happened in 8 weeks.

Whatever point scoring system they use is beyond me and beyond my Drs and Consultants, who have written repeated lengthy reports . They are both fuming, as the DLA seem to totally ignore anything that they have said.

Just keep at them, it is the only way.
Yes, it is completely wrong that those of us who are ill and disabled are forced to jump through hoops, to try and win our case, when others, who know all the tricks in the book, are handed it on a plate.

I guess it is more favourable to appear in person at the tribunal hearing, rather than have a paper hearing. Perhaps it might be worth contacting your welfare rights office and or carers organistion, or CAB, they are all very good and supportive. The welfare rights will represent you at a hearing and will come and see you to discuss things.

I hope it goes in your favour, before the appeal. I don't know what else to suggest, I have been down every avenue and am waiting to hear from them, within their usual 11 week time frame.

XX Bubbles

carola

Hi Clare

Sorry to hear about your uphill battle.

Perhaps contacting your local MP will hurry things along somewhat? I have heard a few people do this with some success.

It is worth a try.

Good luck, don't give up and don't let the b * st*rds grind you down
Carol

vdaniel

clarelouise1 wrote:

I have had RA for over a year which is very active and I'm going on anti-tnf treatments after dmards failed. I have been applying for DLA since last October, been refused and am appealing. I have letter from my consultant backing me, letters from family, from work, the CAB think I should have high mobility, I hve had to reduce my working hours but still the decision maker hasn't changed their mind. Can anyone else help? I'm at a loss. A hearing in person is going to take a year so I have opted for a paper hearing even though I know there is more success in person but simply cannot wait that long for help. I'm frsutrated and at the end of my tether and hope the Tribunal will see sense. Has anyone else had a similar experience with the DLA? xx

:x I know how you must feel. I was diagnosed with RA in Jan 2008.
I was granted DVA and received a brand new car because I could only walk a couple of steps without feeling a lot of pain. I stupidly completed a renewal form truthfully this year :oops: . I had been working with bearable pain for the last few months so I told them this. Well, after the last bank holiday I received a letter from the mobility to say they were coming to collect the car in two weeks, because I could walk with no difficulty. :shock: Can you imagine my horror. Especially as a week before I received the letter my RA came back with a vengence. After pleading both to the DVA (completing a change of circumstance form ) & mobility (with no sympathy. They collected the car today but did say that I could always reply again when I received mobility. They sy it will take up to 11wks. What do I do until then. I'm off sick at the moment but do I just sit in & get depresse as before?
:idea: I'll try my MP as suggestedby others . Thats what you get for struggling back to work.

clarelouise1

vdaniel wrote:

clarelouise1 wrote:

I have had RA for over a year which is very active and I'm going on anti-tnf treatments after dmards failed. I have been applying for DLA since last October, been refused and am appealing. I have letter from my consultant backing me, letters from family, from work, the CAB think I should have high mobility, I hve had to reduce my working hours but still the decision maker hasn't changed their mind. Can anyone else help? I'm at a loss. A hearing in person is going to take a year so I have opted for a paper hearing even though I know there is more success in person but simply cannot wait that long for help. I'm frsutrated and at the end of my tether and hope the Tribunal will see sense. Has anyone else had a similar experience with the DLA? xx

:x I know how you must feel. I was diagnosed with RA in Jan 2008.
I was granted DVA and received a brand new car because I could only walk a couple of steps without feeling a lot of pain. I stupidly completed a renewal form truthfully this year :oops: . I had been working with bearable pain for the last few months so I told them this. Well, after the last bank holiday I received a letter from the mobility to say they were coming to collect the car in two weeks, because I could walk with no difficulty. :shock: Can you imagine my horror. Especially as a week before I received the letter my RA came back with a vengence. After pleading both to the DVA (completing a change of circumstance form ) & mobility (with no sympathy. They collected the car today but did say that I could always reply again when I received mobility. They sy it will take up to 11wks. What do I do until then. I'm off sick at the moment but do I just sit in & get depresse as before?
:idea: I'll try my MP as suggestedby others . Thats what you get for struggling back to work.

Thanks for all your advice and support. Awful that they treat us all like fraudsters along with our doctors and our consultants when you are just trying to get some help to manage a very difficult condition. I just hope and pray that the appeal panel have some common sense as the DWP keep making contradicting statements which is really frustrating grrr - I like to see them live with it for a single day and see how they feel then! I think I will try my MP as that is one route I haven't been down as yet and if it helps to speed things up then its certainly worth a try. Good luck with getting your mobility back - let us know how you get on. xxx

bubbles

Thanks for all your advice and support. Awful that they treat us all like fraudsters along with our doctors and our consultants when you are just trying to get some help to manage a very difficult condition. I just hope and pray that the appeal panel have some common sense as the DWP keep making contradicting statements which is really frustrating grrr - I like to see them live with it for a single day and see how they feel then! I think I will try my MP as that is one route I haven't been down as yet and if it helps to speed things up then its certainly worth a try. Good luck with getting your mobility back - let us know how you get on. xxx

---

No worries, you are amongst a lot of people here, that have and continue to struggle with the DLA. They do change their minds and statements. I had a letter in 2008 to say that my mobility was indefinate, then it suddenly went to three years, so, which one is right? Then they forget to mention that I cannot prepare a meal from scratch. Another one that confused me "you need care for a significant amount of time throughout the day, but not frequently" Uh, what is that supposed to mean. Bonkers. :?: :shock:

speedalong

Hi, it is a horrid system, good luck with your appeal.

Speedy

lavenderlady

its one of the most frustrating benefits to get awarded, I was always told to tell them when you was at your worse , plus keep copys of eveything so you can refer to them if needed to re claim, when I was first awarded low care i was fine with that it was indefinate, and tax credits go up a little for you as well, so left it. but the past few years I have had major health problems but my DRs all said have you claimed for DLA when told i was getting low rate they all said no you need to reclaim, which I did not thinking i would get it awarded higher and indefinatly, so was very surprised,
just tell them the truth as you are at your worse and get your DRs and any other person connected to your health problems to back you up, I know my health is only going to get worse but do feel lucky that I did not have the worry over claiming DLA, maybe one of the lucky ones , the stress I'm sure will only add to your health problems and maybe you should mention you suffer more when stressed after all its the truth,

silverbreak

speedalong wrote:

Hi, it is a horrid system, good luck with your appeal.

Speedy

Hi yes good luck with appeal. My Dr told me he was quite happy to fill out paperwork for incapacity benefit (which no longer exists and I'm self employed anyway) but when I enquired re DLA support told me that pain is more a state of mind than anything else and in any case I was too young to get a blue badge.
Random fact:- in our council area we have 12000 blue badge holders but only 2500 registered disabled persons?

dreamdaisy

Parents with disabled children can claim for a BB, non-drivers can claim so that those that ferry them around are able to park in bays, fraudsters can claim, the list is endless and not age restricted. DD