Feeling let down by doctors

[GreenLantern]

Omg star gazer so many things you say on there ring true! I too have stomach problems which means that like you any trips have to be meticulously planned around the toilet! also like you it can just come on from nothing, I can be fine one min and then desperately needing the loo the next! I've had this problem for years and had no idea it was linked with HMS, I'm finding so many of the things I've got wrong with me are linked with HMS.

Thank's for that link I will have a look at it, I went to my appeal meeting at the CAB, the woman filled out the form and I have to post it tomorrow, I have an appointment to go to on 27th of June to see someone who's going to represent me.

I have typed out a 6 page detailed explanation of ALL of my problems, how it effects me, what I can't do and why I can't do it, I've also done a diary of a typical day in my life, my partner has also typed out a statement about how our lives are from his eyes, the woman at the CAB said she wished everyone was as organised as us lol.

So if my appeal is unsuccessful I can apply straight away for DLA again?

Do you think it may be worth me claiming ESA? I'm unsure on this, I'm worried I might like DLA get turned down!

[Superstottie]

Wheather to claim ESA or not depends on your circumstances. We discovered that as my hubby is my carer that we would actually be worse off if I claimed ESA as he gets Income support for me and him, which is worth more than the ESA I would get. Maybe have a play about with figures and circumstances on entitledto.co.uk (i think it is) as you will be able to see what money you would get in different circumstances.

[GreenLantern]

Thanks Superstottie, would my partner be able to claim IS for us? the person at the CAB a few weeks ago told us we would not be able to get IS as we do not have children, if you don't mind me asking do either you or your partner work?

[Superstottie]

No, neither of us work as my partner is my full time carer. He tried working a few months ago but it all ended in disaster as my sister was supposed to be my carer but couldn't be bothered which meant I ended up in a mess and he had to give up his job again! He can claim IS as he gets carers allowance due to me getting DLA. Before I finally got my award though he was having to claim JSA, but they were understanding of the fact that he was only doing this while waiting for my DLA to come through and that he was very limited on working hours etc etc. If your partner works then you might be able to get contributions based ESA, but you wouldn't be able to get Income based I would imagine due to his earnings (I might be wrong as I have never bothered claiming it).

[GreenLantern]

Thanks again Superstottie, so if I was to get DLA and my partner got carers allowance then he could claim income support, that would really help us out, the guy at the CAB said we couldnt get that as we had no children

What a awful thing for your sister to do

[barkingmad]

I think you only qualify for CA if your cared for person receives at least middle rate care...?? and if you earn under £100 a week. Anything more then you dont qualify

[GreenLantern]

Yeah barkingmad that's correct, the man at the CAB told us that if we get mid rate care then my partner could claim CA, we earn WELL under £100 a week.

[trekster]

As far as I know, middle rate care is for people who need help 4 days or more per week and/or also prompting. i.e. it is to help us recognise danger or to avoid doing something dangerous if we forget to eat and then try and cook late at night for example. I ended up in Casualty because I didn't recognise how hungry I was and ended up preparing food when I was really hungry, I then sat down and it caused an accident. My burn is peeling 3 weeks later and i hope it heals up soon.

[star gazer]

Hiya, just to clarify, you can claim for again dla if you fail your tribunal because the tribunal will only be looking at evidenceand your condition at the time of application and not how it is when you get to tribunal, so if your tribunal is not for maybe a year then your symptoms and condition may well have changed by then (got better or worse).
I think you can also re apply straight away whilst waiting for tribunal but one thing to consider is that if you win your tribunal you will get back pay to the date of your origional claim, if you make a new claim straight away and it is successful you will be paid from the date of the new claim. As i said previously I chose not to appeal but to go ahead and make a new claim because I was better informed by that point and my new application provided a better case.
you can always ask the question on B&W, you dont have to be a member to use the forum but you wouldnt have access to the members area which is where you can download the info packs.
best wishes
star gazer

[GreenLantern]

trekster, Thank you, I need help day and night 7 days a week, prompting, yeah, I need prompting to for instance avoid bending my legs backwards when sitting or standing.

star gazer, Thank you, I have an appointment with the CAB for 27th June, I will see what he says about how long it will take for the appeal to go through, if it is going to be a long time I may just reapply, it it isn't going to be a long time I will just go ahead with the appeal.

[mazza111]

Good luck with it. I've also heard that most are dismissed first time round.

I have just applied for my daughter, don't know if it will be successful or not, but can only try.

Was rather shocked this afternoon to get a call from them, Stacey's having problems with her mobile phone, so they called me as I've been helping her, just for some more information, so fingers crossed. They said they would write to the consultant at the hospital. Just hope he passes it to the young German doctor (who she's been seeing) and doesn't answer it himself as he's been a complete p**t to deal with

[GreenLantern]

mazza111, Thanks and good luck in getting it for your daughter, when I applied they didn't even contact my GP which annoyed me.

[mazza111]

Was the same when I applied for myself Greenlantern. I wasn't too bothered tbh, because I don't think I am quite there yet. Yes, my knees/hips are getting worse, but I'm managing with them at the moment

Just hope she gets a wee bit of something to help her out

[trekster]

My GP rarely sees me and so I was pleased DLA didn't get any information from them because I have difficulty
communicating my needs to anyone including my GP. For me Autism = complicated, i.e. it makes other things
complicated especially my ability to communicate basic needs and recognise what society calls common sense.

DLA did contact my GP even though I didn't give permission! They also contacted my rhematologist
who has been the most bendy friendly out of all of the medical professionals that ive seen.

[GreenLantern]

I have a letter from my GP now so I'm hoping they take notice of that, if I get refused on the details I'm going to give I am going to put a complaint in.

mazza111, I hope your daughter is successful in her claim, trekster, I'm going to see the rhematologist when I get an appointment, do you think it would be worth adding a letter from them is as well as the one from my GP?