Received DLA finally - post here-don't start a new thread!

[Kattykins]

Many congrats - enjoy

[star gazer]

Congratulations Purplesheep enjoy the shopping x

[Purplesheep]

Thanks to both of you. Will be getting my first payment tomorrow, and can't wait to invest it in a one-touch automatic kettle!
Good luck to everyone still waiting for a decision!

[MandyG]

hi

I have been fighting for 2 years for my eldests DLA, had one failed appeal due to school report (same report that made us remove her from school to home school as we realised they were not listening to us or looking after her like she needed)

anyway - I re applied and have just had DLA money put into bank - not had the letter yet but the amount equates to low rate care or low rate mobility - not sure which one yet cause not had the letter

my question is - do I inform tax credits? My 5 yr old gets high rate care and high rate mobility and she gets extra for tax credits, but wasn't sure if low rate you had to inform them?

also - I think I might write and disagree with their decision. I feel she should get high rate care and low rate mobility - CAB also thought this. Do I risk it and say I want them to look at it again?

I know they have had a letter from the paediatrician/physio as the dla people phoned me last week to ask questions about Rachel's physio - I said it was twice a day - half hour ech time so that equates to one hour so would get the low rate care.

do you think they would look at it or am I risking the low rate that has been awarded? I do feel I have to give her extra looking after all day (not at night) due to the EDS risks of dislocations, avoiding rough play and possible injuries, as well as the bowel problems which has now had mental affects cause of the terrible handling of it whilst she was at school (they left Rcahel in soiled pants for half an hour - in her class, then transferred her to the reception desk, and they waited for me to come in and clean her up in the staff toilets)

there is also the pains as well and encouragement to continue normal things through the day and eating/drinking problems due to the constipation.

what do you think?

x

thank you

[star gazer]

Hi Mandy, its a difficult choice going to appeal,My son has been too ill to attend school for the past year and had a county provided tutor at home so that he could take some gcse exams this June, for us my son gets low rate care and mobility and we decided that low rate was better than no rate,however he has shown to be developing more health issues and will be boing to the heart hospital soon so I am now thinking of phoning the DWP to tell them of a change in his condition. I did phone the tax credits people to let them know, I can't see that it made a difference to the payment but it did say something on the renewal form. You have nothing to lose by phoning the tax credits people. And as far as appealing goes I know someone will jump in with some advice about reviewing your claim which I think has to be done within a time frame.There is also a lot of useful help on the benefits and work website.
all the best
star gazer

[cat]

Just to say i received LR DLA mobilty & care in appeal. Was hoping for HR mobility as i already have a blue badge, but this seems not to have happened

[star gazer]

Cat I probably should post this after your post on the refusing appealing thread, but it strikes as a contradition that dla is low rate mobility if you have a blue badge because the criteria for walking is the same! ie walking is very limited. I got nothing for care but hr mobility and already had a blue badge when I applied. worth asking for a review?
star gazer

[cat]

Hi Star Gazer,
This was the review - the dreaded tribunal
It makes no sense to me, as for the blue badge the assessment was on that alone for 1.5 hrs with an ot!
The tribunal was with 3 supposed knowledgeable people for an hour....*confused*

[laracomps]

Hey all,

I belong in here too now I guess. I'm in the same position as Cat where I own a blue badge but been given no mobility allowance at all. This too was at tribunal.

I have however been awarded low rate care. My original application was in march so this will be back dated to then.

i'm pleased, of course I am but I'm also a bit gutted as I *should* have been eligible for high rate mobility and at least middle rate care as I need help 24/7.

I've got a date for my wheelchair assessment on the 5th september. So assume if that goes ok I will need to inform them of my changes. What happens then? More forms? Or do they just consider the new information?

Thanks all.

[sheppeyescapee]

You'll get a asking them to look at it again form DLA434 and you'll be able to fill in any changes to your care/mobility needs. This is what we got when we asked for them to look at it again a few months after the previous renewal had happened.

[star gazer]

How did you get on with that sheppeyescapee, did it make a difference to your award? I am worried that if i poke the nest i might get stung. My problem is lack of care component and I pay for someone to come in, I have the same probs as most of you with falls cooking etc, but of course dwp say I can do all by myself,amazing!

[sheppeyescapee]

Yeah mine went from lower rate mobility and care to higher mobility and middle rate care. I think that was mostly due to the fact that I had filled the form in quite badly and when I got it looked at again I had someone help me fill in the form and had a lot of supporting evidence (from social worker/medical reports etc).

[nemonie]

It's called a supersession - where you ask them to look at your award again due to a change in circumstances (i.e. you've gotten much worse).

If you've had to go through a tribunal, where the decision was based on how you where when you first applied, then you will usually have fulfilled the requirements of having been 'worse' for 3 months or more (as the appeal system takes so long). Get help filling in the forms - the benefits and works website is very helpful.

[FunkyPhysicist]

Just thought that I would do a quick post to say that I have just received my DLA grant and have been awarded higher care and higher mobility. I think the only reason that this happened, seeing as it was my first application, was because I received some amazing help from the local Association for Disabled People when filling out the form. The guy who helped me was very experienced with the monster form and came up with and asked me about loads of scenarios which I never would have thought of.

I am thrilled but after reading the comments of the forum, totally bemused too!

[star gazer]

Congratulations funkyphysicist, great news and show how much the support of outside agencies can help.
best wishes
star gazer