DLA been refused please please help me

[helena2207]

hello everyone,

i am new here just joined. I have applied for DLA and have been refused. I have Rheumatic in my arms and legs, Gynaecological problems, suffer from panic attacks, anxiety and agoraphobia. I am a single parent have always worked until four years ago when my health got worse. I've had two premature births, lost two unborn children, had 3 operations in four years. I thought i just put down a bit of my health problem, just to give you guys some ideas of my dilemma.

I put in my form all my problems and that I cannot or don't go out because I am virtually unable to walk without having severe pains, and wrote down about most of my care need and that i need help with cooking, bathing getting dress and undress, preparing a meal and so on, but still I have been refused.

The DWP have re-consider my claim and I need to write a re-consideration letter. can someone anyone please help me to speak the language of the DWP, what on earth I am suppose to write, i've never claim DLA before, it was suggested to me by my adviser at the Job Centre because of my health problem. please guys I haven't got a clue, i did get a lady from DIAL to fill in the form for me, but still no success, i've had to cancel an appointment i had with DIAL because of being ill and i couldn't get out.

please can someone help me with the following


Help with getting around out doors,
preparing a cooked meal
Day time
Night time
getting dress and undress
bathing, washing, shower
eat and drink
move about indoors

I am not asking for anyone to fill the form for me, but i just need some light at the end of this tunnel, some ideas of what the DWP expect to see, what would meet with their criteria. i have been fighting since June 08, I am going crazy. I am on my own just my 14 years old son, who i cannot put this burden on his young shoulders. my

[sara3]

I don't know all the rules for this but I'll tell you what I know.

DLA is made of 2 components, mobility and care.

mobility has different rates, obviously depending on how far you can walk before you have pain.

the care component rates depend on whether you need help by day or night, or both. you don't actually need to be receiving this care.

basically, you just have to tell it how it is. I can't tell you what answers to give to get it, as it is supposed to relate directly to your condition. maybe the CAB can advise you further.

do the re-con letter and if it doesn't go your way you can always appeal. and don't forget there are other benefits you may be entitled to.

best of luck :o)

[clawrence251]

I have just applied for DLA myself and due to my health problems my husband contacted the Citizens Advice Bureau. They got the form, came around to my house and completed it all for me. If you contact your local CAB they may be able to help you. The man who came to see me could not have been more helpful so they are definitely worth a try. They fill in hundreds of these forms every year so know exactly what to say.

Good luck.

[bednobs]

or your locality may have a welfare rights place - it'll be in the phonebook.
Ok, so now i will try and help. Its difficult to know what to say because i cant see you but when you fill in the form think of how things are on your worst day.
Help with getting round outdoors - do you need help? does anyone help you to walk if for example you had to get from your front door to your car?
preparing a meal - can you do it? If not, why not/? is picking up pans hard? can you open tins, can you bend down to the oven?
nighttime - do you need help? does your son help you at nght?? if the covers fell off would you be able to get them on again? do you need the physical assisstance of your son to get to the loo?

If you are managing to get dressed and undressed without a carer or your son dosent help, or washing/dressing or lifting up fork to your mouth etc thn this is probably why youve been turned down.
Hwever, never fear. I truley believe that dla have a policy of turning EVERYONE down first time, in order to sort those who really need it from those who just feel like extra money. If you appeal it could have a different outcome.
Btw its worth remembering its not what illnesses you have that make a difference, but how they affect your life

[bigmamma]

A has already been mentioned , you will need help to fill this complicated form in , and your best people to do this help are the CAB who should have a Benefits Advisor . You would be wise to enclose a doctors note too stating your condition . x

[sandbach99]

This is one of the hardest benefits to get awarded when you are really ill, but all scroungers seem to get it with ease.

You have been ill for 4 years over this time you will have adapted your lifestyle to help you cope with your disabilities.

Preparing a meal, not buying food in the first place, can you peel a potato with ease? I doubt it, what do you do? eat more jacket or peel on potatoes, frozen chips etc? if so say so, I can no longer stand long enough or have the ability in my hands to prepare vegetables. I cannot carry a pan containing water and veg to the cooker because I am unable to be sure I will be able to hold it..
Getting dressed, I no longer buy clothes with a zip or small buttons as I can not fasten them, I now wear front fastening bras, elasticated skirts trousers etc. {remember if you have to go to an appeal, don't get help to look good.]
I no longer use a bath I can only shower by sitting on a stool, I now have a mobile hairdresser.

Think hard and if possible put them on paper all the adaptions you have made to your life, by all means get help from CAB be prepared to show what you cannot do.

If your son does things say so.
Good luck, hope things get easier for you.

[helliebobs]

Arrgh, I work for a charity who help people on sickness benefits get back into work and I've just done some training on DLA today.
I know of clients who have applied 3 or 4 times before they've been allowed this. Get help filling the form out - my trainer today, who was a benefits expert for the CAB said they always book 2 x 45 min slots in order to fill this form out thoroughly.
keep trying. Are you in receipt of any other benefits?

[daffy654]

I was refused DLA on my first application despite the fact I have emphysema and a condition that causes agonising pain in my chest wall. I appealed and the DLA sent a doctor to examine me,he said that I had grossly understated my condition on the form and I was awarded the highest mobility component but the lowest care component.I think when filling in forms we all want to not appear to be hyphochondriacs so we tend to put down best case scenarios,when we should actually be putting worst case.If you appeal you should get some sort of medical examination to back up your claim,whether it is from your own consultant or a DLA appointed one.

[tombrandy]

You are contradicting yourself, you cant go out because of agoraphobia? yet you went to the local Job centre. I am not saying that you should not have DLA or IVB but think very carefully before you write anything down but you must appeal,

[helena2207]

Hi Tombrandy,

Yes you are correct I suffer with agoraphobia and went to the Job Centre, I was driven there door to door, because if I didn't show my face they would have stop my benefit, it's called survival, I am a single parent on benefit, I have to put my child first, it wasn't until the Job Centre saw evident of my health that they stopped calling me for the back to work Scheme , please give me your email address so I can send you proof from my doctor, I've suffer with panic attacks and agoraphobia for years but it got worse in the recent years 4 years ago to be exact, I've been on Diazepam since 1986 but the doctor has changed that for other tranquilizers as they are not allow to use Diazepam anymore I have also taken Beta Blocker because for constant heart palpitations and of course my other problems Gynae and Rheumatics, which my arms get bandaged up for three months in the winter season. Please do not get the idea I am after money, that's the least of my problem I am after the Job Centre to leave me alone with my illness instead of hassling me to get back to work, it was actually the Job Centre that suggested DLA, I've been off work since 2004 and I've never heard or claim DLA until the Job Centre told me about it in June 2008.

anyway I have to answer all the other posts and thanks for your reply, everyone is entitle to their opinion and I appreciate you have yours, with all the fraudster going on one can have wild imagination, i can tell you a few stories about benefits fraud, i doubt you will want to know, it makes my blood boil. I've worked for some odd 29 years and some people never worked or even are Uk resident to put it mildly they get all the benefits under the sun. I am a true Brit.

regards



helena

[helena2207]

Hello Guys,

I would love to answer each and everyone of you individually, which I prefer, but I am not very well at the moment, I've been having constant migraines throughout the day and night.

I sincerely thanks each and everyone of you very much for your posts, it is very much appreciated and the tips you've all given me are valuable, I am wrecking my brain with this DLA business, part of me want to give up because i just don't have the strength and part of me want to fight, I will give it my best and get the necessary help from CAB, Welfare Rights Office etc, but if i don't succeed I shall give up, life is too short.

Many thanks again



Best Regards


Helena

[helena2207]

Hi Ronni,

Many thanks for your reply, much appreciated, I am seeking help from a Welfare Rights Officer, I have already been to the CAB and DIAL, it was a lady from DIAL who filled in my DLA form, but i've still got refused, I've told her all my health problems she just write them down, I suppose perhaps because I've told her about my illness instead of the difficulty, I suffer everyday, that's the problem many of us do not know what the DLA's criteria of filling the forms are. I've even ask the DLA to give me a lie detector test, but they've refused. The only help i have at the moment is from the claimant themselves, this forum has been brilliant so far and i am grateful to you all, i am actually grasping how the dla form should be filled.

many thanks



regards


helena

[Brigadoon]

There are a number of internet sites which give examples of how to complete DLA forms so do have a look when you feel able. There are some which give suggested answers which are concise but explicit. If you get a NO, do try your MP - my daughter did and she got her decision changed very quickly. Good luck.