Please help, DLA appeal

[Heartmum2Jamie]

Ok, for those of you who have been to tribunal, did you do a diary? If so, how exactly did you do it. I have started one about 4 times now and keep changing my mind on how I want it done. I have no settled for bullet point, ie: 9.30: Apply creams, takes 20 minutes. Do you think this wil be ok or will they be looking for even more info? I suppose if they want more info, they could just ask me! Also, is it ok to take photo's? I have a great photo of ds's eczema from last week and a great one showing what damage can be caused by leaving him unsupervised for a few minutes (he fell, bashed his mouth up and had a deep cut to his gum...he is a heart child and at risk of endocarditis from an injury like that. Thankfully I had anti-b's at home for such an occassion, otherwise it would have been a trip to A&E as it was 1/1/07 )

Am absolutely terrified, so could you spare me some thoguhts for tomorrow please. Will be virual champers and cake all round if we win!

[lourobert]

Thoughts will be with you tomorrow.

I thought I was going to have to go to tribunal but they chaged their mind at the last minute so I cannot offer any specific advise except to say that surely you need to give as clearer picture as possible with being as consise and to the point as you can so The diary sounds like a great idea as do the photos it will mean what your saying is more than just words by backing it up with photos.

Maybe someone will be able to give some better advise as thats just my opinion....!

Good luck

[coppertop]

I haven't been to appeal but did a diary for DLA. I think you need to make it as detailed as possible. I don't know anything about eczema etc but I would write something like:

9:30 Ds needs X cream(s) to be applied. I put them on his [name all the areas where you use it]. Without the creams ds' skin would [write what would happen].

Also add details if ds is upset or generally unco-operative about the cream being put on. It's possible that the tribunal people won't know a lot about eczema either so describe everything for them.

Good luck.

[Heartmum2Jamie]

Thanks! I did go into vivid details on the re-worded dla forms that I sent in 10 days ago, but I agree that I need to go into more details. I completely take for granted that the things we do for ds are not the norm, just that we are so used to doing them that we don't even notice how long it takes or how ds reacts. Another of opinions much appreciated.

Incidentally, do you think I will get even less sleep than last night?? I was awake until well after 3am this morning, althoguh not a bad thing as means I heard ds2 wake at 2.50am

[jenk1]

make sure you include in your diary how long it takes from starting to put the creams on and then finishing and if its in the middle of the night how long it takes to get him back to sleep again.

List every single time you have to apply creams, constant supervision, time from things like coaxing him to let you put cream on, soothing and reassuring him afterwards if he gets distressed, do you have to bathe him using an emoliant? include that then, because they have to have a good soak in the stuff i know DD and DS have a good soaking for about 20mins and then you have to pat dry very carefully, that takes time, then more creams etc, oh and dont forget to say if he is having a bad night with his eczema and anything like DD, sometimes her eczema gets so bad that she bleeds, then i have to change her sheets, and thats adding extra time on, the difference between getting higher rate and middle/lower can be so slight that you have to include EVERYTHING.

HTH

[Heartmum2Jamie]

Jenk, thank you! I already put all of this in the claim form, which ofcourse I was filling in from a "worst" day / night senario. The diary is more like what my "average" week is like. Fortunately (or unfortunately) ds has woke everynight for the last 10 nights or so, so it is no word of a lie when I say I am up.

I will go back and write in more detail on the diary. I kind of filled it in from my poitn of view and I suppose, the way i think about it which i realise now is wrong because I write about it like it is normal 9now that i have re-read it), but I forgot to mention what ds2 is like, how he feels, how it makes me feel, how it makes things harder, what it is like to cook a sperate meal for him (allergies) to see him fling it on the floor (food phobic) and go to bed with nothing to eat, onyl to wake up hungry in the night .

Perhaps would I be better not writintg a diary and just showing up and they can ask me. I am much better at explaining myself verbally and can be really longwinded, lol! I am presuming they would ask me what my days are like, or even ask me what Today was like?

[Mitchell81]

Good Luck for tomorrow, I hope you get the best result.

[lourobert]

I tink we alll take for granted exactly what we do for our kids and how long it all takes etc.......!

Really hoping for a good result for you tomorrow as I know how much easier our lives will be now that that little bit of financial pressure has been released.

Sending positive vibes x