Dla

Christimay
Christimay Member Posts: 112
edited 30. Jul 2012, 11:32 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi all just looking for a bit of help i have just been to my second tribunal and it was stopped within minutes they said they need a visiting drs report cab is helping me as is Amy gp ot and rheumotologist have all the aids I need and am about to get a shower to assist for my personal care I'm so worried as this would make a great difference I could pay for a carer and also get some help with the kids this was two weeks ago haven't heard Anything yet it's just been over 2weeks anyone know what to expect any advice would be much appreciated thanks everyone xxxxxxxx

Comments

  • harleyquin
    harleyquin Member Posts: 66
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I can't believe you are going through all this :|
    I think it is disgraceful, and they are being particularly harsh these days ....maybe because of the new PIP they are bringing in.

    I had to go through a DLA tribunal myself, but they were nothing but kind and gave me not only lower rate mobility but middle rate care, which I hadn't applied for !!!

    I was totally honest with them and said I had been on holiday to Barbados too, but then that was where my knee pain began so I had to mention it ( at that time though I was mainly suffering from a balance disorder, then this all flared up too )

    I feel so sorry for you, wish I could offer advice, but it really does seem to be the luck of the draw right now and who you get on the day.
    It really sucks.

    Harley xx
  • earthspirit
    earthspirit Bots Posts: 278
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    i had the fight from hell and had a big big problem in getting a home visit from the atos doctors. however i contacted local MP then wrote direct to david cameron and very very quickly they arranged this home visit.

    the lady who came was very strict severe ultra formal with me & i could tell they had sent someone of the highest calibre. she spent just over 2hrs with me, put me through all manner of physcial tests. numerous of these were trick tests & after doing them she told me what they were and how she knew i was genuine & then actually gave me a laugh telling me how people use very intricate methods to try to cheat them. was like having someone from a james bond film with me!!!

    there was no indication of what my result would be and i was quite concerned as she spent quite a lot of time on what i could do as much as what i couldnt do.

    i dont know if it would have been that extreme if i hadnt written to government as obviously they didnt want to make a fck up.

    within days i was awarded full dla at higher rate for care and mobility backdated AND an apology

    everybody is scared of these doctors and i have no doubt many of them are useless cramming as many visits as possible into a date to make more money. if you struggle with walking or getting to their location and make the effort to go then they will treat this as you being able to walk and perhaps no award at all for mobility.

    good luck with your claims and i found welfare rights far more knowlegeable and helpful that cab
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,096
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Christimay

    I am so sorry yet another person is having to go through this :x Makes me sooo cross!

    Of course it would be a help - a tremendous help, but as usual they are in no rush to make their decision....

    If it's any consolation any award you do get will have to be backdated.

    Have you tried chasing them up yourself or via CAB?

    LOve and luck

    Toni xxx
  • Folara
    Folara Member Posts: 568
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    It's disgusting the way we are made to jump through hoops just to get the little help we need. None of us want to be the way we are. I would love to be fit and healthy and have a life and job but right at the mo that's impossible for me.

    Definitely get your MP involved. I did and when the ESA people chose to ignore him I emailed Chris Grayling MP, who is in charge of it all. With an hour I had a phone call and everything was being sorted.

    Get a letter from your doctor. Make sure he understands exactly what you need in the letter and don't settle for any less. You will have to pay for this so you may as well get exactly what you need.

    If there's anything else you need help with or just want some support we are all here for you.

    Fols x
  • pepperflo
    pepperflo Member Posts: 91
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Good luck to all who has to go to a tribunial, I had to go to one last year, and made to feel like a fraudster and a liar.
    I get the higher rate for mobility after I disputed their decision on that, and also disputed their decison on the care side, I wasn't looking for the higher rate on that but maybe the middle rate, one up from what I am getting now.
    They sent a doctor out to me, think she may have worked for the military, as she was that type, didn't smile or if she did felt like she was patronising me.
    Anyway ended up going to a tribunial in Bradford, sat there nervous as anything.
    They started and asking why I thought I should be eligable for a higher rate han the one I was getting, so I told them I felt my care needs had changed esp in the personal hygeine one, and the cooking one.
    They started going through a lot of papers and asking me if I had the same paper and for us to refer to it, I couldn't find it, they said well you should have it, and one of them came over and went through all my paperwork I'd had to take with me, t made me feel small, inadequate and made me look thick, I didn't have it and when it all came out they hadn't sent it to me.
    Basically they told me,to get a middle or higher rate care allowance you had to depend on soley on another person, basically not be able to do anything for yourself, and she meant nothing, and I could continue with the appeal and risk losing all my benefits or keep what I had lower rate Care side and high rate mobility, and drop the appeal. they cert had me cornered.
    I was scared and dropped the appeal, would never like to go through that ever again.
    I have just renewed my DLA as it is up in Nov this year, so just waiting for their decision