Hi everyone,
I am just after some advice really. I live in Portsmouth and claimed for DLA in May last year (was diagnosed in the January). I sent a copy of my initial meeting with my ms nurse specialist and filled out the form. The DWP wrote to her and I recieved full rate mobility and low rate care awarded for 1 year (in case I got better lol). Anyway, I have now received my renewal claim form for this May and am surprised it is still a DLA form so I assume PIP hasn’t reached this area yet.
I was just wondering if I will qualify for high rate mobility again as I want to get a car, my old banger is 11 years old and I rely on it so much. The thing is, after last year I daren’t get one as have only been given a year’s award and if I lost that I would have to give the car back - arghh.
Since my claim last year I have - had occupational therapy out to the house who assessed me to have a perching stool, shower board and bath seat. Physio (although discharged), measured and cut me a walking stick, I am now on 20mg nortryptilyne daily, have numb feet completely to the point it feels like I could snap off my toes, still legs walking short distances, and immense fatigue. What do you think my chances are? My Ms nurse is filling her bit on the form again for me next week. I am so confused and hope it will be re-awarded.
Any advice?? All this DLA - PIP is stressing me out and from my last form as listed above, I have more things to add so also hope I don’t have to be assessed face to face as have not been so far.
Thanks for reading.
Dawn x
Hello Dawn
I can’t see any reason why you won’t get high level DLA again.
It is stressful, filling out the form…I’ve just recently been awarded high level, which is a great relief.
Your problems sound similar to mine…I’m sure you will get the high level again. Just take your time filling out the form and do get someone to help. You say you have more things to add, so this will strengthen you case even further. Its also helpful that your MS nurse is supporting your application.
Did you keep copies from your previous application Dawn? its always best to. www.benefitsandwork.co.uk is a good site for advice.
My husband filled my form out for me…I just can’t cope with these things anymore. Goodness knows how I managed to be senior nurse on a ward lol.
Good luck xxx
Hi Blossom,
Thankyou for your response. Luckily I did keep a copy of the last form I filled out (It was done online last year so was very neatly typed, that option is not available now so I have to hand write it). I have used last year’s form to copy everything over plus the additional things. I was awarded a blue badge without question 2 months before the dla last year too.
I just couldn’t understand why I only got it for a year and have had to re-claim. So far it has taken me 2 hours to fill out all of the questions and i’m still not finished! I hope I get the same award, as you say, I got it last year without question and have more to add this year on top so I hope it will just be re-awarded. This PIP business really confuses me. I really think us guys with ms should be awarded regardless as it’s not like we have a bad back or have had an operation and will recover. We have to live with this nasty thing day in day out and to have to say how it affects us and justify what we have is just so sad.
Thankyou again,
I will keep you posted on how it goes, I will be posting my claim form off by the end of the week. Last time I left out the page where it says to have it filled out by someone that knows me hence (i assume), them writing to my ms nurse who i have regular contact with for her report on me. This time it will be in the form so should also be a quicker response.
Dawn x
Don’t forget Dawn!! If you have a partner or close family member, who helps you on a day to day basis. They too can write their own supporting statement. Even though my husband filled my form in on my behalf. He still wrote his own separate statement. Noreen x
Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to give you all an update. I posted off my DLA renewal form a couple of weeks ago, received a letter on Saturday to say that they had received it last Monday and were assessing it and this morning I received my award - high rate mobility and low rate care as before! So relieved and happy.
What I don’t understand is that when I claimed for the first time last year I was only given a year’s award (in case my condition improved - if only!) but this time it is from May this year until 2019! How does this work in terms of PIP when it comes into my area?
Anyway, I think my 11 year old banger will now be replaced for my piece of mind and independance.
Thankyou all for your support and comments on the earlier post.
Dawn xxx
Hi dawn, I`m so pleased for you re the new award.
As regards it lasting up to 2019…I`m not sure that will remain like that. I am on DLA indefinitely, but I believe I and everyone else on the same, will still have to re-apply for PIP next year.
Wendels here (Jane) is up on all this stuff, so I think she`l be ble to tell us about it.
luv Poll
ps hope the new car will be wonderfu for you.
Hi Everyone,
The timetable for change over to PIP is postcode led. Unfortunately it has nothing to do with how long your DLA award is for. The people with indefinite awards will also be transferred.
This is a copy of the timetable from the Gov website. There have been many changes to the timetable over the last two years so all I can say is that it is correct as of today!
From February 2014
From 3 February, areas further extend to include postcodes beginning: CA, DL, HG, LA and YO in the north of England.
DWP started inviting the following current DLA recipients to claim PIP:
· _those with fixed period DLA awards ending on or after 23 June 2014 (reassessment activity starts approximately 20 weeks before existing DLA awards end);
· _young people turning 16; · _those where there is a report of a change in the DLA claimant’s health condition or disability; and · _existing DLA claimants aged 16-64 who wish to make a PIP claim.
Further decisions on extending reassessment will be taken and communicated to the rest of the country in due course and will be informed by the experience of introducing reassessment in a gradual way first.
From October 2015
All the remaining claimants in receipt of a DLA award will be invited to make a claim for PIP. DWP will randomly select DLA claimants in receipt of an indefinite award or a fixed term award, and notify them about what they need to do to claim PIP. DWP will invite claims as early as possible from recipients who have turned 65 after 8 April 2013, when PIP was first introduced.
By October 2017
All existing DLA claimants (aged 16 to 64 on 8 April 2013) will have been invited to claim PIP.
Thankyou. I am in postcode area PO so let’s hope it’s not for a while yet x
Really glad to hear you’ve kept the same award. It must be a big relief for you. Enjoy 
Noreen x