Disability Allowance Claim, going to tribunal

[Inca]

Re: Disability Allowance Claim, going to tribunal

Are you under a consultant/specialist/surgeon? Someone who can verify your condition and it's prognosis?

[MissFM]

Re: Disability Allowance Claim, going to tribunal

In addition to and in support of all the good advice above, I have come across this http://londonprogressivejournal.com/...-obtaining-dla, which is an angle of which I was not aware.

It is also absolutely true that you need to dwell on your worst days and use particular language/phrases to get any help at all.

I wish you so much luck

[jsmith589]

Re: Disability Allowance Claim, going to tribunal

In addition to and in support of all the good advice above, I have come across this http://londonprogressivejournal.com/...-obtaining-dla, which is an angle of which I was not aware.

It is also absolutely true that you need to dwell on your worst days and use particular language/phrases to get any help at all.

I wish you so much luck

Thanks very much for the link. I will give this a read this evening. If I am not entitled to anything, than that is fair enough, I don't expect something if I am not meant to have it, but I think it would be really beneficial to me and would allow me to get the help I need.

In answer to Inca's question, I don't have anything myself which confirms my condition, I was around 15/16 at the time when it diagnosed etc. But my doctor said there are copies of the notes on my nhs file. It was so long ago that I was diagnosed, I don't have any details for the doctors I saw, where I went for scans etc. I don't think it will be an issue proving I have what I have. It is just proving how it affects me which seems to be the trouble.

[jsmith589]

Re: Disability Allowance Claim, going to tribunal

Could anyone help me with this which was included in the reply:

Section 6 - The Response

Issues raised by the appeal:

A. There is no information to show that MR X cannot prepare a cooked main meal for one person if the ingredient are already there.

How can I prove this?!

[Inca]

Re: Disability Allowance Claim, going to tribunal

Do you live alone? Do you do all your own cooking? That's as simple as the criteria is,,if you can,you don't need help.

[Sapphire]

Re: Disability Allowance Claim, going to tribunal

Silly idea time, but wouldn't it be a good idea to get hold of a copy of your NHS file, or isn't that allowed ? If you can get hold of it then you can give all the times, dates, names and so on in your claim, plus you can copy the relevant bits and give them to the ATOS numpties.

[Inca]

Re: Disability Allowance Claim, going to tribunal

There are many aids that can be used to help you ..eg:- a perch seat for the kitchen...your GP can refer you to OT to get things like that sorted.

[ostell]

Re: Disability Allowance Claim, going to tribunal

Section 6 - The Response

Issues raised by the appeal:

A. There is no information to show that MR X cannot prepare a cooked main meal for one person if the ingredient are already there.



You've already said that you find it painful to stand up for any time, such as when you prepare a meal. And how do the ingredients get there? Someone has to do the shopping, and it's painful for you.

[jsmith589]

Re: Disability Allowance Claim, going to tribunal

Thanks again for your helpful posts.
I live with my parent so she often helps out where she can, but at my age I find this very embarrassing as I like to do my own thing (I am not a child!) so try and do what I can. A few of my friends helped put up some shelving outside of my bedroom. I have a microwave and fridge right outside of my door so I don't have to go downstairs to the kitchen which does make things easier. I can do my food on my own but I do struggle and can only do microwave meals as they take a few minutes only to cook.

I have no idea about getting an NHS file, I would not know who to approach or how long that may take to come through. Not a bad idea though. At least I will have all of the facts. Do they stretch back for a certain time?

Speaking to occupational therapy is not a bad idea and I did look up about this. Apparently they can also come out and visit your home and give suggestions to make things better which would be very helpful.

[Inca]

Re: Disability Allowance Claim, going to tribunal

DLA is being replaced by PIP (Personal Independence Payment).... ..and I have to be honest (and i could be wrong)..I don't think your current condition will qualify for it YET (I'm not saying never)
If you are coping with minimal help from your Dr and you don't have any other input from the hospital/specialists etc I think you will find it difficult to convince the panel that you meet the criteria.
I obviously don't know all your circumstances,I can only comment on what you have already said but I won't give you any glimmer of false hope that getting a PIP award will be easy,,it won't.
It's good that you have a level of independance and that you can hold down a job..I hope you continue to be able to for many a year to come .

[CleverClogs]

Re: Disability Allowance Claim, going to tribunal

Could anyone help me with this which was included in the reply:

A. There is no information to show that MR X cannot prepare a cooked main meal for one person if the ingredient are already there.

How can I prove this?!

How would the ingredients be "already there"? Would they be beamed by transmat from the supermarket to your kitchen or would you have to carry them?

Can you carry bags of vegetables, boxes of eggs or packs of meat?

Can you stand at a kitchen sink to wash/scrub vegetables, or at a work surface to prepare them?

Can you stand over a stove as the food cooks, turning the food so that it does not burn or would you need to sit down before then because the pain was too severe?

Do the drugs you take for severe pain make you at all giddy, clumsy or tired? Could you safely use sharp knives or a hot stove when you are in such a condition, or is there even a slight chance that you might cut or burn yourself?

[Inca]

Re: Disability Allowance Claim, going to tribunal

Section 6 - The Response

Issues raised by the appeal:

A. There is no information to show that MR X cannot prepare a cooked main meal for one person if the ingredient are already there.



You've already said that you find it painful to stand up for any time, such as when you prepare a meal. And how do the ingredients get there? Someone has to do the shopping, and it's painful for you.

Online home delivery shopping ,don't have to leave the house You live at home with your Mum,,they will query why your food can't be done together,you're not a lodger so it's not unreasonable to ask.
You will need a referral from your GP to access OT,,and you will have to have an assessment but even being on their books doesn't mean you will get PIP.
There are many gadgets etc that can make life easier for you,,an electric bed riser under your pillows to help you get up easier etc.
I have a disability that is life limiting (NOT life threatening) and have great help from OT.
.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Disability Allowance Claim, going to tribunal

There are many gadgets etc that can make life easier for you,,an electric bed riser under your pillows to help you get up easier etc.

Or someone wielding an electric cattle prod in one's general direction? :rofl:

[Inca]

Re: Disability Allowance Claim, going to tribunal

You twonk Cloggy msl:

[CleverClogs]

Re: Disability Allowance Claim, going to tribunal

Another proven way to arouse a wench from her slumbers was to shove an ice cube up her bum. :rofl:

(She'd have been late for work otherwise...)