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Animad · 11-04-2012, 04:25 PM

I thought it may help if I added my side to things.

I personally am 'disabled'. I have reduced use of 1 side of my body as well as having trouble with several joints, my back anf have difficulty walking long distances amongst other things. When I first applied for DLA I got rejected. I asked for them to reassess my application to be rejected again. The final stage was to take it further and go to tribunal; I sent in supporting evidence from a number of sources plus my own beliefs. I then got told I'd have an independent doctor visit me re my application. He came and assessed me and presumed that I'd been on it for years, when I told him I hadn't been and that I'd actually just been refused twice he was astonished. He filed his report in and they finally realised my needs, I was offered medium rate care allowance and higher rate mobility and also had it back-dated from when my first application was (5 months previously); I didn't have to go to tribunal as the doctors report changed their decision in my favour. What I'm saying is if you feel it is wrong you can always query it and see however things are on a sliding scale depending how disabled you are and the help you need and it's up to them to make the decision on that. It sounds like my cousin has a similar problem to you and he gets either lower or medium rate care, if that and nothing for mobility.

I do have a job. At the moment I'm working part time plus doing cover when people are away. I'm doing a physically and mentally/ emotionally demanding job, which is compounded when you're not really healthy, and at 1 point I wasn't believed to be able to get the qualifications I needed to get where I am and when it came to getting a job, I had some negative comments. However, I now have a very good employer who knew about my problems but saw past them. They've, for the moment, capped the number of hours per day I do when covering other people just to try and reduce the impact on me, and I get extra help as well as it being understood that some things won't be as easy for me as other people. All the staff are aware of at least part of my health problems and therefore assist me appropriately. This is how it should be and you are protected under the Equalities Act 2010 which states that employers have to make 'reasonable adjustments' to help you to work. You could also apply for Access to Work (which I haven't and really should've done when I started my job or beforehand) during the time when you are looking for jobs and they can fund things you need to put you on a more even keel.

DLA is really a tough thing, as are disabilities, to put on a scale as they all different, not just each disability but more importantly the affect a certain disability has on the person; someone may be in a wheelchair but still be able to totally care for themselves whereas someone else may have the same problem but be unable to care for themselves at all and that, amongst people trying to get it when they don't need it, is why it can be difficult to get it and also get it at a level you feel you should as other people may see it differently to what you do and things may also be questioned (with me some of the things was how it affected my social life, my abilities to do sport, how far I could walk (and that was cross-examined by the doctor through asking some questions) amongst other things. I'm not at all trying to say you don't deserve more or that you're trying to get more than you need/ you don't need it or anything like that, all I'm trying to say is it can be hard for you and anyone else (especially those in an office who have never met you before) to guage where you lie on a spectrum and if you do want to appeal, like I did, then feel free to but get as much supporting info from as many sources as you can; even a friend but say if you have a physio/ occupational therapist then they may really be able to help your case and see what they think.

11-04-2012, 04:25 PM	#11
Animad Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: UK	I thought it may help if I added my side to things. I personally am 'disabled'. I have reduced use of 1 side of my body as well as having trouble with several joints, my back anf have difficulty walking long distances amongst other things. When I first applied for DLA I got rejected. I asked for them to reassess my application to be rejected again. The final stage was to take it further and go to tribunal; I sent in supporting evidence from a number of sources plus my own beliefs. I then got told I'd have an independent doctor visit me re my application. He came and assessed me and presumed that I'd been on it for years, when I told him I hadn't been and that I'd actually just been refused twice he was astonished. He filed his report in and they finally realised my needs, I was offered medium rate care allowance and higher rate mobility and also had it back-dated from when my first application was (5 months previously); I didn't have to go to tribunal as the doctors report changed their decision in my favour. What I'm saying is if you feel it is wrong you can always query it and see however things are on a sliding scale depending how disabled you are and the help you need and it's up to them to make the decision on that. It sounds like my cousin has a similar problem to you and he gets either lower or medium rate care, if that and nothing for mobility. I do have a job. At the moment I'm working part time plus doing cover when people are away. I'm doing a physically and mentally/ emotionally demanding job, which is compounded when you're not really healthy, and at 1 point I wasn't believed to be able to get the qualifications I needed to get where I am and when it came to getting a job, I had some negative comments. However, I now have a very good employer who knew about my problems but saw past them. They've, for the moment, capped the number of hours per day I do when covering other people just to try and reduce the impact on me, and I get extra help as well as it being understood that some things won't be as easy for me as other people. All the staff are aware of at least part of my health problems and therefore assist me appropriately. This is how it should be and you are protected under the Equalities Act 2010 which states that employers have to make 'reasonable adjustments' to help you to work. You could also apply for Access to Work (which I haven't and really should've done when I started my job or beforehand) during the time when you are looking for jobs and they can fund things you need to put you on a more even keel. DLA is really a tough thing, as are disabilities, to put on a scale as they all different, not just each disability but more importantly the affect a certain disability has on the person; someone may be in a wheelchair but still be able to totally care for themselves whereas someone else may have the same problem but be unable to care for themselves at all and that, amongst people trying to get it when they don't need it, is why it can be difficult to get it and also get it at a level you feel you should as other people may see it differently to what you do and things may also be questioned (with me some of the things was how it affected my social life, my abilities to do sport, how far I could walk (and that was cross-examined by the doctor through asking some questions) amongst other things. I'm not at all trying to say you don't deserve more or that you're trying to get more than you need/ you don't need it or anything like that, all I'm trying to say is it can be hard for you and anyone else (especially those in an office who have never met you before) to guage where you lie on a spectrum and if you do want to appeal, like I did, then feel free to but get as much supporting info from as many sources as you can; even a friend but say if you have a physio/ occupational therapist then they may really be able to help your case and see what they think.
Animad Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: UK	PM Me