Oh no, not again! I hate DLA!

[meltedmarsbars]

Just when I foolishly thought life was starting to settle down, school stuff calming down, no new referrals to Hosp departments we don't already know intimately ....today I actually stopped for coffee with a friend when out shopping!

BANG!

I come home from said coffee/shopping trip to find letter saying we have got to re-apply for the DLA.

Can't they just undertand she has a LIFE-LIMITING CONDITION! She will not suddenly learn to walk/talk/feed/dress/read/write/learn astrophysics/insert ridiculous idea here.

She is profoundly disabled. She will always need complete round the clock care.

The issue will not be to fight for the DLA. The problem is that I have to spell it all out again and depress myself completely doing it.

Right, rant over.

Oh melted - that is shit

I had to do the forms 3 times in four years. But for the last four years they have left me alone.

You poor thing. It is horrible.

( I photocopy mine before I send it back andthen have it just to check and re-write onto the new form)

This upsets me too. Like they think you're going to find a cure and not tell them

Every time we have to fill these forms in again, we have to put the worst stuff in, so its like re-opening old wounds that were gently healing over.

We subtly protect ourselves from it all by telling ourselves that its not that bad, others have just as bad or worse to cope with. But for the DLA you have to put it all there in black ink.

Can't crawl
Can't stand
Can't walk
Can't talk
Can't eat
Can't drink
Can't dress
Can't wash
Can't toilet
& so on...

AAARGH!

Hey, she can sit Hooray!

D'ya think they'll reduce our level because she can sit?

I would photo copy them before sending them, and then just copy to next form if nothing has changed
HTH

I opened the envelope then realised what it was and hastily shoved it back in. Can't even bear to look at it yet.

Oh no! I've recently done one too, I'm not quite sure what was different about the way I wrote it this time or if I just got a sympathetic person reading it but DS award is now until he's 2017! I was so relieved about the date that I forgot to check what level it had been awarded for!
Good luck and I hope you get a sympathetic person too.

you have my sympathys.

and i hope everything goes ok with the reapply

Well I have opened the envelope - funny how the form is in a sealed plastic bag - is it so toxic?

So far, there is only one question to answer "no" to - kidney dialysis.

I do have one sensible question:

Where is asked how many times a day and for how long the help is needed, can I write "all day", or will they disregard that answer?

Poor you. I had someone come help me with my renewal pack as I couldn't face doing it myself.

I think for that you can put 24 hours?

I put 'at all times of the day'& 'continuous support & aid' for how long the help is needed.That was the advice my HV gave me.
It's awful,I feel for you melted.Un-mumsnet hugs.

for the times that help was needed all the time I put 'constant'.