AIBU to cry my eyes out over this?

[alessthandomesticgoddess]

I got my decision from DLA today on the grounds of fibromyalgia and bi polar type 1. Nothing. That's bad enough but after a statement, a GP report, a report from my psychiatrist who I've seen once and a medical assesment it has been decided that I don't have anxiety or panic attacks, I don't need help at night, to get up the stairs, to dress, to get out or in bed, to get in the bath and I can also lift and walk perfectly normally.

This is all bloody news to me. Should I just throw my crutch in the bin and run everywhere? Get a hold on my emotions? Fuck.

So I'm really upset and have put in for a new decision before I appeal. My head is all over the place, I'm manic yet uncontrolably crying and I can't get hold of my CPN.

AIBU?

Appeal, all the way. What other have said about flat refusals and "lost forms" is true.

Honey forget the reconsideration...it's useless. Go straight to appeal, as they automatically do a reconsideration then anyway. I've done so many dla applications for my disability, until October last yr I was on high rate mobility, mid rate care. When I had to re-apply they awarded me mid rate care low rate mob.
I wasn't happy at all, especially as it meant I didn't automatically get a blue badge. I was told to appeal straight away. During that time, in order to get a new blue badge, I had an assessment with an occupational therapist, arranged by my local council, which resulted in me getting a blue badge, and also the ot's reort got submitted to the DWP and once they received that, they stopped my appeal and awarded me mid rate care, high rate mobility...Result!
My advice is don't give up, appeal. And get as much written evidence as you can manage.
Good luck x

Oh, and ALWAYS photocopy anything you send them,from the form you fill in to ny letters you send. They lost my claim form a few yrs ago, and I had to start from scratch.

They won't send the original back no. Like I said before, they will say it is lost.
If you just stay calm you will remember all you originally wrote. Of course it doesn't all have to be word for word so long as the facts are the same.
Any future dealings with them remember to keep a copy.

did you photocopy your forms? i would appeal too, it's not right :(

Appeal, appeal, appeal.

Atos is screwing over everyone they can. Bastards.

I hope you are successful.

DP phoned Carers as according to ESA he could claim while I'm on it. Apparently not until I get on to DLA. It's like nobody knows anything, I'm getting contradictary information from all sides and I just want to bash my body out in the gym so I have physical pain to concentrate on rather than this seemingly emotional turmoil and anxiety :(.

If CAB help me fill out the appeal form, how long in your experience until appeal?

I didn't photocopy any forms but I will do from now on. I remember the big facts I wrote but if I miss a tiny detail they may scrutinise it which is worrying me.

you did write worst case scenario days down didn't you?

Don't worry about it :) The facts they look for are things like the distance you can walk etc. It will all come back to you when you read through the form again.
If I remember correctly it takes another 6 weeks but you will get back-pay

Send in your appeal form, staing logically and clearly why you are appealing and what you are appealing. Don't just say " I don't agree with your decision".
Get together as much supporting evidence you can do, and put you NI number on it, and COPY it ALL.
Remember these people are not medically trained, and it's not your illness / disability they want to know so much about, it's more how it affects you, and how it stops you doin things.
Keep to facts, don't waffle, or get emotional.
Consider keeping a daily log for maybe 2 weeks, describing your days.
The appeal will eventually go to a tribunal, but that can be 12-18 months ( sorry to worry you, but they take he's to go thru). If they carry on your appeal to tribunal, go to it, more people get there decisions overturned when they go to the tribunal than those who don't.
If you win you get the benefit back paid. If you don't you're no worse off.
Thing is, you might,like me, win this battle, then the whole thing gets turned on its head when they change DLA to PIP in April 2013 :-(

I did. I said that 5 out of 7 days are bad days but at least two a month leave me bed ridden for days and even.onmy physically ok days my mental health can trip me up making life excrutiatingly difficult.

I then put down ?On bad days/normal says/very bad days...? and did each scenario for the different days to show the level of pain and how it can change and intensify so rapidly.

• take ages

Along with photocopying and the other good advice, if you are in pain or need help during the night when the household is asleep please do not understate this. It is usually the difference between a yes or a no, or a middle or higher rate.

I had a phone call asking about DS during the night as, "there was no proof" and ended up inviting them to come and stay. They declined

Sometimes I do need help as our bathroom is in between two floors so I have to go downstairs from bed to the toilet. According to the medical assessor it didn't count and neither does my insomnia and hallucibations that cause me to wake up my partner at 3am .

A period of at least 20 minutes between 11 and 5 is supposed to count as qualifying for higher rate. It's mad that they don't count shorter periods but more frequent. It isn't as if it is less awful or disruptive

I agree. It's very disruptive for my poor DP