Advice please!

sassysore

Hi everyone. Hope you are all feeling as well as Arthur wilkl allow!
I have a slight problem at the moment and the worry is driving me nuts.
I am on DLA high rate mobility and low rate care. Have been faor over a year. I appealed last time against the low rate care and it has gone to tribunal. The tribunal met last week and decided they wanted my medical records again. I have no probs with this.BUT, the letter say that they feel that the high rate mobility may be unjustified and that I have to attend in person in about 6 weeks. I am absolutely terrified that my car will be taken away. Without it, I am stuck. I cant walk to the bus stop, never mind get onto the actual bus! It is taking over completely and I feel physically sick with the worry. Any suggestions?
I know I dont post much, but thought of you all immediately. Hope you can help.
To save you all looking back, I have OA in hips and knees and well as faciatis (sp?) in heels and tendonitis in calves. I also suffer from Labrynthitis (dizziness) and severe depression. I have also been told that I have the start of OA in my T10 vertibrea and am starting to have problems with my elbows.

nearlybionic

Hi
I am sorry that you are having such as stressful time. I do not know that much about DLA, as I am still waiting for my claim to be decided. Can you take someone with you for support? Or talk to your gp about how anxious this situation is making you feel. It must be very hard to deal with the worry on top of depression.
The helpline team here may be able to give better information re DLA but I am sure the lovely people here will be supportiveTake care. x

sassysore

Thanks, my husband is going with me, and I am making an appointment to see my dr. Main reason is, I dont want them telling the tribunal that I can walk when I cant!

airwave

sassysore wrote:

Thanks, my husband is going with me, and I am making an appointment to see my dr. Main reason is, I dont want them telling the tribunal that I can walk when I cant!

Hi,
The decisions can, at times, seem rather subjective, I feel we ought to be represented by someone of at least an equal professional standing as the people on the panel. If we were to be represented then a lot of the decisions would be for the benefit of all concerned and not leave those in need, stranded and stressed, at a difficult time in their lives.

Sensible? Well you won't see it from this government!

Its a grin, honest! 8)

tamnwill

Poor you, get someone to go with you for support and express yourself openly, cry, whatever you feel, don't hold back.
Try and think of it like, it's also for them to prove you haven't the need for the higher claim.
Speak with your GP and ask if he is willing to support you in letter form stating this procedure causes you great stress which in turn unfortunately exacerbates your condition. Highlight that without independent transport you would be unable to shop for food and sundries or attend appointments and so would become further isolated and therefore if removed would have catastrophic consequences to your emotional and physical wellbeing.
Unfortunately, as with all things official these days, it can seem as though we are not looked upon as human beings but unfortunately that's just procedure in a cold IT data system world........ HOWEVER, you 'will' be meeting with a human being, so just tell it like it is............. I have every faith you will still qualify )

jeannie2

Hello Sassy,
Just as if you need this additional stress. Have you got time to go to the CAB? they're usually very good.

I have decided that next time I run in to this sort of thing I'm going to ask for permission to speak and then tell them that they can have everything I own or could own in exchange for their feet, their hands and their ability to live instead of exist. It'll happen one day soon - I'll let you know the reaction.

Good luck with your claims and try not to worry .. yers'll make yerself ill! I know, I know ... it's hard.
Hugs
Jeannie S

colinone

Hi sassysore
The best advice i can give you is go and talk to the CAB they are great and so supportive.
Colin

woodbon

Hi,
Gosh, what nasty B.........s they are! I'm so sorry that you've got this worrying you. I have'nt applied, although I have thought about it and been told by the jobcentre disability advisor, to apply. She said the CAB, (Citizens Advice) are very good at helping people, maybe you shuold contact them. Hope all goes well for you. Love Sue

lindalegs

Hi SSSS

Is the letter you have from the tribunal a standard one? Could the use of the word 'unjustified' be because you have to justify it at the tribunal because it's just due for a review? I can't understand why they should suddenly think high rate DLA can be unjustied after only a year unless there was a time limit on it. :?

You would have had to go to the tribunal in person anyway so that they can see you and question you and get to know your continued needs through your mouth - and that's also why they've requested your medical records as they'll need evidence from the 'professionals'.

I would think that you're possibly worrying unnecessarily (although that's easy for me to say sitting on the sidelines, I know :roll: )

I hope all goes well but please keep us posted.

Luv Legs

sassysore

Made an appointment with my dr on Friday evening. Will take the letter with me.

eckstardeluxe

Hi, I'm sorry you are in this position. I recently sought advice from a local charity after my DLA claim was turned down, they said I didn't put everything on the form and now it is being reconsidered. When I said I can't be dealing with long appeals and tribunals the guy there said, it's actually good to go to tribunal if required because they only access your medical notes properly for that and that's when they see everthing is actually there to back up your claim. I have end stage OA of the spine with sciatica due to spinal stenosis and bulging discs. The charity could not believe that considering the amount of evidence in my notes they turned me down. My Dr wrote another report apologising that the first one was given to a Dr who left section 6 blank. The charity also wrote me a letter, in it I've mentioned severeal times to pull my notes. Hopefully you will get a good result, I've read some pretty good responses to tribunals where the person said it meant they were able to talk in length about how their illness affects them.

Good luck

Alex