I have been informed to expect my appeal for DLA to go ahead Feb 12,and are worried as what to expect,having had my initial application declined.I was planning to do thed following
Letter from my OC and MS nurse
*Will try to get local CAB rep with me on the day
*How long does the meeting last for ?
*I have PPMS ,will this be viewed any differently to other types of ms
*Do you find the result on the day or via letter
*Are there any do/dont on the day
How have other people prepared and found the appeal day.Any help would be appreciated
When you appeal, you have 1 month from refusal; you will receive all the correspondence from your doctors so will see who is to blame. It is invariable your Neuro or GP who are being scarce with the truth: the DLA assessor can only go on what’s in front of them.
The answers below are occurrences doctors would not know about.
At the appeal there are 3 people asking questions, a doctor, solicitor and social services agent. Don’t worry there usually very nice and make you feel at home.
Just a few ideas of the way you should answer the questions.
While hobbling along the High Street I keep near to the shops. This aids me in two ways; I am less likely to fall into the road and I can stop and look in shop windows to get a rest. I can testify that Ann Summers has the best window display.
To get High Rate you must show you need help during the night. Say something like, “I get up 2/3/4 times per night to go to the toilet, sometimes to no avail.” “My husband has to accompany me; this takes about 45 minutes each time and obviously breaks his sleep.” “It’s amazing just knowing he is there gives me so much confidence.” “He has to accompany me because once I fell over and slept where I lay that night, good job it was the middle of summer and warm.”
The hearing lasts about 20 minutes and then you are asked to go to another room. Another 20 minutes and then you are asked back in and told the result. It is very important to have someone attend with you.
Simple rule ‘don’t say one word when 100 will do’ in other words explain in detail. Always quote your worst; they appreciate MS is a variable condition. Be very careful though as there are some mistakes you could make like do not say your housebound as that begs the question why do you need the mobility component? Say “I would like to go out more if I could afford to” The examples are that examples if they are not true don’t use them.
I just wanted to comment on where the carer at your appeal said you don`t look disabled! Unbelievable…especially as it was said by someone who should know better, from working experience. Where do these people come from?
Hi, good luck with your appeal, I have never been to an appeal, remember that dla is about not what help you actually get but what help you need. So for that reason I would query Georges comment about not saying you are housebound cos that begs the question why do you need the mobility component. If you are housebound say so. Also George states “I would like to go out more if I could afford to” dla is about help you need to go out not being able to afford to go out. I would be more inclined to say something like, “I can’t go out on my own because I find the doorstep awkward, I find it hard to balance to lock my door, getting in the car on my own is difficult”. I find all these things awkward and have someone to help me when I go out. Obviously you need to say what applies to you, not me. I also think the few statements George makes sound well rehearsed and the Ann Summers statement, is , in my opinion, likely to raise a laugh rather than anything else and I do not think this is a situation where a laugh is justified. Sorry but that’s just what I think. Cheryl:)
The filtered word was not rude or not meant to be rude, it was a proper word , totally correct to use in that context, but I am having a laugh to myself as to why it was filtered. Cheryl:)
Upytupy has given herself the right name it seems. As opposed to her I have been on 8 appeals and advised many others. No one has ever received less than middle care and full mobility component on appeal. Proof in the pudding really.
Hi George, my comment wasn’t meant as a personal attack on you, I just didn’t think your comments rang true, they are not what I would say, especially the “Anne Summers” comment, which to me sounds laughable and also highly subjective! You must know what you are talking about, I received dla many years ago (about 12/13), so maybe it was easier then to get. I filled in the form myself and was successful first time, I also query quoting your worst day, this wouldn’t have been suitable for me but may work for some, I also took the opposite approach to your “don’t say 1 word if 100 will do” . But if what you say works stick to it, it’s just not the way I would (or indeed did) do it. No hard feelings intended George, just different approached I guess. Cheryl:)