Another bl***y DLA rant!!!!!!

[luckymum]

These people are a complete pain in the butt!! We've been waiting over 4 months now for a reply about dd's DLA. As of last Friday they had 'lost' the paperwork from her cardiologist. Today we've had the standard decline letter dated 23/3. If the report turned up on Monday that means they spent less than a day deciding whether to agree the claim!! For God's sake how can they have given it anything like the consideration it deserves???!!

Rant over. Thanks

Luckymum, (its misdee here) just want to you know that dh has finally been awarded DLA, backdated from sept. we think(havent got the letter with rates on it, just one stated they will be paying lump sum into account) that he has been award high rate mobilty and low rate care. keep on at them and good luck.

The appeal form is going off on Tuesday, so cross your fingers. Their reasons for not awarding are that dd is not breathless at rest and whilst she can't walk far she can ask for help if needed (Oh that's all right then?) and that she can self - care, I ask you?? Really, really pleased for you getting it for dh this time, its been a hard battle for you. Did it go to appeal this time or not?

Luckymum-are you getting any help with your appeal? If not, contact a CAB or law centre or similar, if only cos the sucess rates if you have a representative are about 60% compared to 40% without.

A lot of solicitors won't actually go to the tribunal with you. They will take your (legal aid?) moeny and write a few standard things, thats all (no offence to solicitors reading this-I'd like to discuss this further)

Higher rate attendance ("care component" CAN certainly be awarded with higher rate mobility and in my experience is. Higher rate care is just bloody hard to get, you need a lot of help in the night AND in during the day AND you need to show that its more than you would be expecting to give a child of that age anyway.

It is absolutely not impossible to get DLA with a heart condition.

Its absolutely right that a lot of getting the benefit is how you fill in the form. The other big thing is the report from the DCS doctor (they are often real b***ds, even with kids). CAB workers among others are trained to fill in DLA forms as part of their basic certificate training. The Legal Services Commission will fund completion of these forms, thats how complex they are. So get help to do it.

The whole situation with DLA makes me furious.

What's that smiley doing there? Sorry sorry sorry!