Is there any point reapplying for DLA?

[butterpieify]

I'm currently on middle rate care DLA, and because of that I get the disability element of tax credits as well. However, I seriously can't work a "normal" job, and especially not full time - I am getting by with bits of home based work, ebay, the odd small casual job etc, but the DLA and tax credits are a major part of our income.

My DLA claim runs out in May.

The thing is, I am better than I was when the claim was orginally done - I suspect mainly because I haven't been working much, I have cut my social life down to barely anything, and so on. I started a job in december, thinking I was better, and by January I had had a major breakdown again, and ended up in a police cell after being temporalily sectioned :(. Now I am back on medication :( and will most likely be on it for the rest of my life :(

I seem to have some form of bipolar, which has psychosis added in when it is really bad, and I have general anxiety a lot of the time too (even when I am "well" I still have random panic attacks - I couldn't hold down a job, but I get by - I'm not obviously unwell most of the time)

When the DLA was awarded, I was very very ill - doped up on anti psychotics, in and out of hospital, having intensive help from the community team, only allowed a weeks medication at a time and so on. I am obviously not that ill now. However, I am almost certain that full time work, or too much stress, or just generally not living a very ordered and healthy life, would put me back to that state very quickly, and I have two children to think of, so I'm not willing to risk that.

But, what with the criteria apparently having got more strict anyway, and how horrible filling out the forms, and proving it all, and then probably having to go and see a non specialist doctor (the doctor in charge of me is apparently an acknowledged expert, but I bet they would send me to see some jobsworth with no knowledge of my type of illness) and then not getting it anyway, and all that risks making me ill as I need certainty, is there any point reapplying?

Without it though, I'll have to either really struggle and scrimp and save constantly or get a full time job. DH works full time from home as it is, due to a combination of him being made redundant and it being a better option for my bad days, and I work part time when I can, so there isn't really much room for manovere. However, we wouldn't starve, we would still have enough to feed us and the kids.

DLA is £200 a month though - that's a lot to lose.

Really sorry butterpie - I can't advise - maybe someone else will be along soon, but the best people to advise on welfar rights are CAB (Citizens Advice Bureau) and their number will be in the phone book.

Of course there's a point in reapplying, otherwise it will definitely stop.

I just had mine reviewed and, without looking at medical evidence (only the form) they've dropped me from high to middle care (but same low mobility) but have awarded it indefinitely whereas before it was for x years. There was no medical or interview or anything, it was a little over a week between returning the form and receiving the decision. I'm not sure whether to appeal or just count my blessings, but what do you have to lose by claiming again?

Remember dla is not an out of work benefit. It does not assess your fitness for work.

If you still need help with cooking/taking care of yourself several times during the day then you are still entitled to mrcdla so please re!ppply.

Go to cab for help if you want.

Btw i thought you could only get the disability element of wtc if you are working 16 hts?

Also are you getting esa?

I am working an average of over 16 hours, but it varies massively according to where i'm at mentally (one thing which I suppose is kind of a benefit, till it goes too far, of bipolar, is the times when i don't need sleep or food to do incredible amounts of work) - hence the wtc and not esa.

I like dla more than esa (which I have been on in the past) because you get longer between the stress of getting a doctor to look at you, having to go through it all again and so on. (and anyone who pipes up with "well you wouldn't mind a bit of a chat with a doctor if you are really desperate" has obviously never been mentally ill- the whole thing is that you are not logical)

The problem is that I can be so variable - sometimes I can go weeks, months, or even years being totally fine, then all of a sudden I won't be safe to be left alone and am not capable of eating, washing, taking medication or anything without an awful lot of chivvying and supervision (and, again, anyone who says the usual "oh you would eat if you were starving to death" obviously is unaware of just how bad mental illness can get, because no, I wouldn't). I am just coming out of an episode, before that it was a gap of about 18 months snce I had had anything longer than a couple of hours of serious symptoms and/or needed emergency help.

The thing that worries me is that it can be so long between episodes - most of the time I am fine. I know DLA is not related to fitness for work, but it is the difference between me affording to be able to take time off from work when I need it to avoid relapses, and to be able to work part time and flexibly. Without the DLA and WTC, I would be either just about scraping by on esa (aalthough I doubt I would get that when not actually having an episode) or constantly in and out of jobs, leaving a trail of destruction in my wake - you would not want to employ me when I am high, and you couldn't employ me when I am low or psychotic. However, I can be very useful on short term, part time, contracts when I am well. And I am well 90% or more of the time, if given the chance to manage myself in the ways that work, I spend most of the time just having relatively minor issues and can operate so that I seem very normal to most people. Which is great in normal life, but worries me when I am considering things like benefits - I worry I will be accused of making it all up. When you hear all this about cracking down on benefit claimants, it seems aimed right at me - I took last years election very personally. :(

Hi OP I wonder if it would help to get the support of somewhere like your local MIND. They could help with filling in the forms. I did it myself a few years ago and I know things may have changed but the more info eg. medical reports from recent times you put in the better and you might not have to have a face to face chat thing? Hope this helps a little the forms are a nightmare.

I recommend Benefits and Work site which deals with DLA, ESA and IB - there is a good forum there which you can have a look at, though you need to join to read the detailed guides and to post on the forum. It costs about £19 for a year.

sorry not up to doing a link

Here's the link for B&W