General Chat

Well, I'd have thought that was obvious Chris, you need more help to hop than you do to crawl. (and I'm not mocking the disabled - being such myself... I'm mocking the system/beauracrats)

I had an elderly neighbour a few years ago and due to diabetes she had an amputation of her leg above the knee.

She had full attendence allowance - later unfortunately she had the other leg amputated. Someone came out to her home to assess her after second amputation and reduced the allowance as she did not need it!!!!!!!! I went spare - they had no family and I advised them to get hold of their GP and to appeal - they got it back. I could never work out the logic of that you needed less assistance if you were a double amputee than if you still had one leg!

Thought this might help:

"The mobility component - This is available to people who meet one or more of the mobility conditions listed below. There are 2 rates:

Lower:
- For people aged 5 or over
- AND who are able to walk but need someone with them to provide guidance or supervision for most of the time when they are outdoors.

Higher:
- For people aged 3 or over
- AND who are unable or virtually unable to walk due to a physical disability
- OR have no legs or feet, either from birth or through amputation, at or above the ankle
- OR are assessed to be both 100% disabled because of loss of eyesight and not less than 80% disabled because of deafness and need someone with them outdoors
- OR are severely mentally impaired, with severe behavioural problems and qualify for the highest rate of the care component
- OR by making the effort required to walk would endanger their life or cause deterioration in their health.

**Artificial aids - If you can use an artificial aid such as a walking stick or an artificial limb, then your ability to walk using that aid is assessed. This does not apply if you have no legs or feet.

------

The care component - This is available to people who meet one or more of the care conditions.

The 3 rates, and the conditions which apply to them, are:

Lowest:
- for people who need attention with bodily functions for a significant portion of the day
- OR if aged 16 or over, are unable to prepare a cooked main meal.

Middle:
- for people who need frequent attention with bodily functions throughout the day
- OR need continual supervision throughout the day to avoid substantial danger to themselves or others
- OR need prolonged or repeated attention at night in connection with bodily functions
- OR need someone to be awake during the night for a prolonged period or at frequent intervals in order to avoid substantial danger to themselves or others
- OR regularly use a kidney machine at home or in a self-care unit at least twice a week, and this means they need attendance or supervision by another person. If renal dialysis is provided for them as a hospital outpatient under the NHS scheme, and with assistance from hospital staff, this will not normally entitle them to receive DLA [Legislation (28)].

Highest:
for people who satisfy both a day-time and a night-time condition which apply to the middle rate.

Good luck with this Dawnie, I would definitely appeal based on what I've read from you. The reasons they gave you are reasons that qualify you for assistance anyway but they obviously don't give the full picture. The CAB will definitely sort you out and may even be able to call and get your appeal length extended because of christmas. Be sure to take everything with you when you go to see the CAB.

As people have said it's the forms that trip you up, it can be so depressing to say all the things we can't do but we have to... the glass can't even be half empty it has to be almost gone in my opinion. Just another thought, does your doctor know how bad you are? Have you talked about it with them? Also, you could always volunteer to have one of their medical people visit you.

The thing that makes me most annoyed is these people who have nothing wrong with them but get the full amounts when the genuine cases have to fight tooth and nail to get anything.

Good luck.

You must say how you are when you feel at your worst - it is your worst days you need help not the better days.

Teressa is right - it's all down to how you fill in the forms. You have to think of your very bad days and fill in the forms as to how you feel then.

The DLA sent a doctor to examine me - and it wasnt until I appealed and requested copies of all correspondence that I saw his letter, which said he considered my condition was as I described it and that I wasnt able to work etc. I guess once the DLA knew I had such evidence, they couldnt very well refuse my appeal.

I once heard the the DLA work by quotas - ie, they are allowed to pass so many applicants in a week/month and if your form hits a desk too late, it's refused without them even looking at it!

It has also been suggested that if you do have to have a medical examination, stop taking your meds 3-4 days before - so that you are at your worse.

It's very easy to slip into the habit of making light of your own condition - not a good idea when it comes to getting benefits.

QUOTE: dont get mobility cos I can walk even though it is slowly in an adequate manner and people are only with me for guidance and assurance.


Thats where you went wrong, if you worded it like that to them.
You need a stick to be able to walk at all, you need to stop and rest every 30 yards or so....thats what got me mine...try again hun, the trick is not to say 'I can walk but.....' but to say 'I can't walk without......'

My OH gets it because I have to be with him for support and guidance in less familiar places, and he has to stop and rest every 20 yards or so.

Think about the wording hun, make it as negative as possible. I know when there is something wrong we tend to try to think positively, and quite right, or we wouldn't get through each day, but when it comes to DLA the glass MUST be half empty.

also
did you know they can fill the form in
for you over the phone,send to you for signing
andfan y payment backdated to day
claim made
nhave pm'd you

I am waiting for a decision on Caroline's application! I really feel for you and as others have said appeal.

BTW Billy's Mum is the expert on this, I know she doesn't post but contact her via Whirley if you want to.

Good luck

Sue xx

I was told by a Disability Advocat to always appeal - and ask for copies of all their correspondence with doctors and specialists. That certainly worked for me.

appeal, appeal, appeal please do it, get someone from CAB to go with you, my hubby did and got the high rate dissability on appeal.
Also get a doctors letter for them, tell your GP that the refused high rate first time, tell doctor you need a better letter saying just how bad you are.

Betty

Ok have just been on the Nuneaton CAB website and different phone number but still closed for christmas but back a day earlier have written all dates and times down so I dont forget to call them.

Taff the number on there for home visit was the same one for Bedworth CAB which is who I rang first, so will strat my fight at begining of january.

Good girl - fight the good fight!!!! Merry Christmas

you can re-appeal Dawn, because of the time of year!!!

Ok ladies have taken your advice and found where my local CAB is and called them, they are closed until January, I have a month from the 17th December to appeal so am just off to look at their local website and will get in touch when they reopen on the 3rd january, hubby is still off then so he can look after the children while I get over there

Dawnie, you MUST appeal, I know its a pain in the a** but I,ve done it , and waited to have a lot of money paid back, and got it,(how do you think I can run the co
st of this p.c?)
Get hold of you citisans Advice beaureu ASAP!
xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Do please use CAB to help you fill in the form I know lots of people that have had their claim upheld after CAB filled in the form.

Never give up. Good luck.

Linda x

Wouldnt mind so much if they had been out to see me but they havent and neither have my dr or consultant so none of them know how I cope day to day,

Good luck Dawn, have another go at them - what have you got to lose? except your patience of course. Shame they don't get a few disabled people on their committees who would understand how you feel.
Lizx

It seems to me that they rely on people not appealing Dawnie, you go ahead and tell them.....its just not fair.....x