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Claiming disability?

good idea bev. as far as dla is concerned though, its the only benefit that cant be taken into consideration as regards other benefits. for instance, i was on incap benefit, and dla, if i was to apply for anything else, they take the incap into consideration, but have to ignore the dla, i dont know why, but it is. good luck if you decide to go for it, hugs x
 
I get incapacity benefit ( and Industrial injuries with reduced earnings - I was retired at 25 following a back injury). Nursing had been my life - I was devastated.

I also get DLA - lower care for life and upper mobility for 2 years.

I applied years ago for mobility due to my back pain and arthritis and was turned down - their reasons meant that appealing (which is stressful been there for my Industrial Injuries) wasn't worthwhile.

Years passed - weight increased - knees became arthritic so I asked them to look again - and I got my mobility.

Had to reapply recently and because I've had knee replacements been given it for 2 years to "allow for rehabilitation" - my knees still are really painful - no-one knows why.

I fill in my own forms - my tips

1) Take copies of every word - so you have a record of what you said

2) Think about what you can't do - rather than what you can

and 3) What you would like to do if you were able - and what you could do before your condition deteriorated.

Done DLA forms for my hearing impaired daughter with crib sheets from the National Deaf Childrens Society - so have had a bit of experience

And did hubbys - but his was done on the form with less than 6 months to live - fortunately he proved the docs wrong.

If I can help anyone please ask

Please don't think we are a scrounging family - unfortunately it's what life has thrown our way. I definitely didnt choose this way of living.

xxx
 
I am a money adviser for debt advice charity and give benefits advice as part of my job, although we only give an overview of benefits and do not do calculations or assist clients in making claims.

DLA is a non means tested benefit, in other words you can claim it regardless of income.

It has 2 categories, Care and Mobility. Care has a lower, middle and higher rate, and Mobility just has a lower and higher rate.

Obviously, mobility is paid if you have severe mobility problems and need assistance. This could be paid, for example if you are disabled by your weight and could not walk very far (more than a few steps), or if for example someones mental health issues meant they needed constant supervision when out and about, say to stop them getting lost, or run over.

DLA care is paid to those who need regular help or supervision with their bodily functions, which could include, for example, washing, toiletting, getting dressed. Lower rate can be paid if the impact is not severe, but enough to cause you great difficulty.
Middle rate is paid if you need regular care or supervision either during the day or night.
Higher rate is paid if you need regular care or supervision BOTH day and night.

For both forms of DLA, you must have qualified for the last 3 months, and be more than likely to continue to qualify for the next 6 months.

Just to clear up the misunderstanding re cancer.... Cancer is not an automatic right to DLA. If you had care or mobility needs as above which were caused by your cancer, then this would qualify you.

Terminal illness though (with a prognosis of less than 6 months) IS automatic entitlement to the higher rate care with no waiting period.

Hope that helps some of you. For more info look at www.direct.gov and search for disability living allowance.
 
I receive dla at high rate care allowance and low rate mobility allowance for my mental health issues. It's worth noting that if you get into debt, your creditors are not allowed to include DLA when they add up your monthly income. Also, receiving DLA may also bump up your other benefits. I used to just get Incapacity Benefit plus housing and council tax benefit but not the full amount to pay my rent. As soon as I was awarded dla I was entitled to full HB and CTB in addition to my incapacity benefit, and then to my amazement I was also given £50 per week income support, which also then meant that I could get free prescriptions. I had to ring and put the claim in for those extra benefits though. They don't tell you that you are entitled to it.

I get the mobility allowance because they said I am a danger to myself and others when out and about lol. Makes me sound like a mad axe murderer, when in actual fact its just that my meds and lack of concentration leave me with a tendency to walk across roads without looking.
 
try
entitledto online it will give you any benefits your entitled to

for dla you have to have care needs or mobility needs more than someone of the same age
they go to your Dr's for confirmation not cons or hospital also you will more than likely have to go for a medical now even the renewals will be included in the next few years everyone on dla and incapicity/esa will have to have one.
just because you have been given 2 years-life doesnt mean that you will not have to go they are getting extremly tight on all the benefits. Apparanetly even child will have to eventually have these assessments.
There is alot on the disabilities websites about it

Make sure you apply before your retirement and ask for reconsideration/appeal if turned down as they are turning down 1 out of 5


xx
 
hi Roch
thanks for the info

I contacted the Disability Advice project

(from Angler's post.)

Made an appointment for them to help me fill in the paperwork. Unfortunately, not until the 19th of October

My neighbor who works for the council helping OAP's, she
has knowledge of applying for benefits.She says fill it out ASAP because the change of government is going to start cutbacks as already seen in WLS.

about the occupational therapist stuff how long did it take for that to happen for you, what did they provide etc..
 
have a good long look round here first to familiarise yourself fully with DLA

Benefits and Work

they also have a forum which, whilst they don't comment on individual cases, has a mine of very useful information
 
The other thing to remember if you get benefits is to tell them of any changes - whether your condition changes for the better or worse.

And asking them to look again at any part of your claim CAN mean that they reassess the whole thing and can change your entitlement.

Bless them they told me my daughter was safe out by herself cos she can see - she's hearing impaired 2 hearing aids - I had to point out that vehicles, bikes and pedestrians behind her are the problem - not what she can see!!

SO looking forward to the incapacity/ESA assessment - presume it will be as pleasant as the old Industrial Injuries assessments were - geriatric retired GPs with unhealthy obsessions for clothes removals!!
In this day and age all our benefits are going to be under scrutiny - though DLA assesses ones needs as if the help was available - mine is for being able to cook a meal - not sure they are able to take a life award away if nothing changes - they were specifically told my Industrial Injuries was for life when I won my appeal.

Its a bloomin minefield

xxx
 
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