Dla

[matthews_mum]

A few years ago I was awarded DLA for lower rate care because of my arthritis. It's a pernament award and I don't have to keep renewing. I'm thinking about asking for a reassessment for my mobility because I'm really struggling. A friend has higher rate Mobility and she doesn't struggle half as much as I do and isn't in so much pain. She says I should ask to be reassessed. I know I should've appealed the intitial decision but having had to put up with the arrogant, condescending pig of a doctor they sent round I just didn't have the energy to go through it all again. I'm worried that if I get all this going again they'll make my award a renewable one and I really don't want that hassle and paperwork every few years and am tempted just to ignore it. I know they can do a review at any time but...oh I don't know. Has anyone been in this situation that can give me any advice?

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum :blush:

[BONDY LAD]

dla, is very complicated, to get high rate mobility u have to be in a wheelchair, or cannot walk more than a few yards, what u heed to do is contact your local welfare rights officer and he/she would have a very good idea just by looking at u and obviously talking, i dont think it will affect you care component its really a separate issue, incidentally welfare rights officers fill in dla forms all the time as i say they will have a good idea whether its worth a go when they see you, treat them as "goodies"as they are there to help. some people who i know get high rate p/c otheres middle or low its just really "on the day" as to which panel looks at the forms and importantly whats included in these forms, as there is things you dont realise or think of to put and they are very important in decision making, well worth a visit to welfare rights, they will come to you if need be,,,, good luck, bondy

[MrsGrumpy]

Paula, try this site: http://www.bhas.org.uk/, has some very helpful guides. Good luck - it's a hellish form, so depressing.

[spider]

Sorry, misread the original post, don't have any knowledge of physical disability for mobility DLA

[Gill66]

I get the high rate of DLA, I don't need a wheelchair but I do struggle walking! it is based on other things aswell, like if you need help in the kitchen or getting in and out of the bath etc. some days are better than others for me but when you fill in the forms you should think of what your like on a bad day, because let's face it you never know from one day to the next.
Good Luck!
Gill

[matthews_mum]

Thanks guys :)

I get the high rate of DLA, I don't need a wheelchair but I do struggle walking! it is based on other things aswell, like if you need help in the kitchen or getting in and out of the bath etc. some days are better than others for me but when you fill in the forms you should think of what your like on a bad day, because let's face it you never know from one day to the next.
Good Luck!
Gill


Gill...that's what I was told when I applied but when it came to the doctor's visit he told me straight that he wasn't at all interested what I was like on a bad day, that all he wanted to see was what I was like that day when he visited. Of course it was a good day. Had he come 2 days earlier, the day he was supposed to, then he'd have seen just how bad it could get...and he could've helped me clean the porridge that I'd covered the carpet with when I lost my balance carrying it through from the kitchen. :blush:

I need to find out where to find the Welfare Rights people here and have a look at that link.

Thanks again guys :)

[loadsapixiedust]

It is well worth applying for a reassessment as your circumstances have changed from the time of original claim. I'd agree with getting an expert to help, the wording of your answers is crucial and the forms have recently changed completely so are likely to be very different to the ones you filled out before.

Unfortunaltely you do take the chance of any new award being time limited, they seem to be less keen on lifetime awards these days, but it will be worth it even if you do have to renew in a few years.

As already said if your condition varies day to day then answer as if it was on your worst day and be honest about how much your disability limits you.

You do not have to be in a wheelchair to qualify for the higher rate mobility and it is well worth pursuing as it opens the door to other things like a blue badge and Motability.

Best of luck! It is the most depressing of tasks :(

[BarryandCaron]

I've just re-applied for DS2, it took me ages to fill out the forms. It has been awarded indefinitely though.

Caron

[loadsapixiedust]

I've just re-applied for DS2, it took me ages to fill out the forms. It has been awarded indefinitely though.

Caron

:thumbs-up That's great Caron, I have DS's forms here almost complete, he's never had longer than his present 5 year award so hoping it will be for longer this time.

[Nordicpollan]

Having initally having our DS2 DLA turned down as they felt from the forms sent in he didn't have enough needs We appealed and they then sent a doctor to visit who almost fell off his chair when he met Stu and just couldn't understand why we had been turned down!! After several cups of tea and cake he tottled off and almost by return of post Stu was awarded higher rate DLA for life. This makes so much easier as its horrid having to fill out all those DLA forms every 3/5 years and having to say how grim things are :( .

I would ask for a reassesment and ask that also have a letter from your GP/Constultant ect to back up how things are when you are having a bad time, because as you say sods law means you will be having a good day on the day they visit.

Good Luck

Karen

[kool kat]

be careful not to lose it altogether tho

[Saratoska]

be careful not to lose it altogether tho

know what you mean I had to fill what will be the 4th form for our DS2 he gets the lower rate of the care part and the forms are so like writing a book it does put you off. have filled it in so fingers crossed

[signtalker]

Its an awful thing to have to go through. I have to renew DS's every 5 years or so(its due next year!) and i really hate the paperwork.

My DH is deaf, and got the award for high rate, they then took it off him altogether!!!, we appealed and got high rate back, on renewal a couple of years later he got medium rate, their reasoning behind this, was as he had been deaf for over 2 years he should of got used to having no hearing by then!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

I wish you luck
Jules

[JudyC]

Contact your local Welfare Rights at the Council. They should be able to advise you.

[essexmick]

hi

im on high rate mobility and you have to not be able to walk 200m on the flat, i can only walk less than half that and need to rest regular, now up hill is a different matter and thats just a matter of a few mtrs but they dont take tht into consideration at all

one thing tho you certainly do not need to be in a wheelchair to get the high rate mobility.

as well as opening the door for motability and a blue badge you also get free road tax on your own vehicle

[rpbert1]

You definetly do not need to be in a wheelchair.
Like others have stated , think what you are like when you are unwell, this was told to us by a welfare worker the doctor sent to our house. My DS who is 24 now has been unwell for 6 years now, one of the reasons was a consultant misdiagnosing him and treating him for something else for 3 years, we went for a private consultation, and was diagnosed as severe inflamatory arthritis, was in hospital for 3 weeks , and is really not much better, it affects all his joints , but especially his right leg is wasted away because of the swelling in his joints, and over the last 3 years has been trying to get the muscle built up, but it is a very slow process. He was put out of work about 4and a half years ago, he is in constant pain and has a really bad limp, one of the questions inthe form asked how far you can walk without pain, which was answered 1 step i.e about 2 feet.efsed to claim any money while he was off sick, then about 2 years ago on advice from the doctor claimed and got DLA, it is up for renewal now. he has got himself back into work since last September,had to talk to the doctor about this, as he was not happy signing him off the sick, with the help of one of the Dhss services and has been offered a full time post in the Civil Service.
Hoping they renew his claim, as he is taking Driving lessons, and this would go along way helping him with his independence, at the minute his DGF collects him and picks him up after work, but being able to do this himself would mean so much to him.
Hope you get yourself sorted out,and seek as much advice as you can prior to sending the forms in.

[Gill66]

I didn't have a doctor or anyone come out to me!
I just requested the forms, filled them in and sent them back. The forms were a bit of a nightmare to fill in, they did ask for my doctor's and consultant's names and when I had my last visits, all about my medication and day to day life.
I thought that when you got awarded it indefinitley they couldn't take it of you.
And as you have Arthritis, it's not going to get better (sorry to be blunt) so I'd say you have a very good case for an appeal for the higher rate.
Maybe as others have said go to your Welfare rights and ask for help with the forms.
Wishing you the best of luck!
Gill

[BONDY LAD]

people on here keep talking about,,,,high rate,, you need to clarify is it high rate,,,personal care or high rate,,,mobility,,,they are two diff things,,,,middle bond gets hi,,, mobility tho because of his mental health etc etc,,,,but what a job getting it,, in the end we had to face a panel of 3 people,,,,daunting,,,,not for me,,,,mrs,b was in bits,,in the end we won,,,up for renewal now tho(here we go again),,,fortuanately i deal with this forms all the time cos i work in mental health,,,again the big tip is fill them in correctly leave nothing out,, and answer,,,,,,,how often does this occur,, write either everyday,,, or the word that really bugs them,,,,,,varies, thats an important word,, as if u write,,,,once a week or 2 or 3 you will get well stitched up, whreas with,,,,,varies/every day they are stuck,, its a minefield and alot of people dont bother cos of the forms, do not be put off there is always people to help,,,millions go unclaimed cos of complxity of form,,,,,good luck,,,,,bondy