Hello everyone, I have a DLA tribunal at the end of the month after being turned down twice at appeal , the gps report was as good as useless and my consultant and ms nurse the same. Has anybody got any info about attending a tribunal, I cannot get C.A.B to look at my case as i am not entilted to legal aid . Any help or tips would be greatly appreciated thanks x
You do not need to be entitled to legal aid for CAB to help. A tribunal is the same as an appeal; I think you will be becoming to the end of your appeals; it does not go on forever; GET HELP. From your doctors reports you have seen 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.” Contact DIAL http://www.dialuk.info/ who will come around your house and help with the forms. Or Benefits and work http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/ who give excellent advice. 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. The examples are that examples if they are not true don’t use them. Good luck George
I am sorry to disagree with George but the legal aid thing with CAB is correct. Everyone is entitled to generalist help at CAB This is usually provided by trained volunteers. They will take you as far as filling in the GL24 (appealing a DWP decision) After this point, for tribunals etc you need the help of specialist workers. Access to the specialists is governed by eligibility for legal aid. Most CAB offices will have a list of specialist solicitors who will help if you are able to pay. It is unfortunate that CAB (and other organizations) cannot help everyone but alas in these times demand far outstrips availability. Another place to try - who seem to have more resources- is benefits and rights at your local council. Failing these I would suggest joining Benefits and Work website (about £20.00) who have excellent advice for tribunals. Good Luck Jane
you local council should have a “welfare and rights team” get in touch with them, also the “benefits and work” sight is excellent as has being already said good luck MTT
This is from the benifits and work site 1 piece of advice is when answering questions watch the chair persons pen if he/she is writing after you have answered do not speak and add unessesary details, even though you will feel uncomfertable with the other two members of the board looking at you, they are also waiting for the chair to stopwriting before asking the next question. Watch what you wear if you say on your form that you wear elasicated cloths for ease then be sure to do just that. The Benifits and work.co.uk (take out the spaces) has lots more tips like this it costs around £20 for the year. Good luck Barbara.xx
supertramp wrote:
Hello everyone, I have a DLA tribunal at the end of the month after being turned down twice at appeal , the gps report was as good as useless and my consultant and ms nurse the same. Has anybody got any info about attending a tribunal, I cannot get C.A.B to look at my case as i am not entilted to legal aid . Any help or tips would be greatly appreciated thanks x
This site [Advice now] has some free advice http://tinyurl.com/66go3d3 Also the MS Society has a Welfare Office… I believe… Give them a call Contact us If you’d like to get in touch, please use our contact form or the details for our national offices below. England MS Society national centre MS Society MS National Centre (MSNC) 372 Edgware Road London NW2 6ND Tel: 020 8438 0700 Fax: 020 8438 0701 Scotland The MS Society Scotland office at Ratho Park, outside Edinburgh MS Society Scotland Ratho Park 88 Glasgow Road Ratho Station Newbridge EH28 8PP Tel: 0131 335 4050 Fax: 0131 335 4051 Wales MS Society Cymru national office - Temple Court Multiple Sclerosis Society Wales/Cymru Temple Court Cathedral Road Cardiff CF11 9HA Tel: 029 2078 6676 Fax: 029 2078 6677 Northern Ireland MS Society Northern Ireland national office MS Society Northern Ireland The Resource Centre 34 Annadale Avenue Belfast BT7 3JJ Tel: 02890 802 802