(Sorry if this gets asked a lot) Hi all i am new to all this and was wondering if you anyone can give me some help regarding my D.L.A. I attended my second dla tribunal on the 5/06/2014 (The first one got adjourned for more evidence) and this time i was very please i got awarded wat i used to be on high rate care component and low rate mobility i was over the moon with this result it could not of went any better, the panel were lovely people and very understanding. How ever it has been nearly 2 weeks since the hearing and i have heard nothing off them, i rang up today and was informed a letter has been sent out to me but the adviser could not tell me Wat it was :/ I replied is it the form to complete to confirm that i have not been in hospital since my claim and bank information 'he replied no its not that form and i cant tell you Wat letter has been sent, does anyone no Wat this could be and does anyone have any time scales it takes to get the payments back going and all the back pay they owe me its over a years worth of back pay they owe me and i done the sums and its rather a lot ? Also wasn't everyone in spring 2014 changing slowly over to P.I.P where do i stand with winning D.L.A i got a indefinite award too ? i am so confused I just want it all back to how it was fed up with all the hassle now i have won it seem like DWP are just doing things really slow, Thanks for reading this and any help of similar situations or advice will be much appreciated

Hello, I am new to this writing a question on a computer and am not sure what to do. I need help with being investigated for fraud. I have had an interview under caution. I have received a letter which states i can agree to pay an Administrative penalty and i have to go for another interview about it. I have appealed against the decision of the fraud. can i get copies of the interview or the tapes, what else should i be doing to help my appeal. All of this is new to me this writing a question, so if any one can help i would be grateful, Thank you Joanne

I applied for DLA almost 14 months ago and its been nothing but a disaster. Firstly, me and my representative filled it in and I got a rejection letter almost instantly, so we appealed it. But during this 14 months, its been nothing but stress for me. Not in any particular order, but these some of the things that have happened: :They got my application mixed up with another guy called George, who had also applied for DLA :They claimed we had appealed after the time limit but, we proved them wrong as we had postal evidence from when we sent the appeal in :They requested my brothers doctors notes instead of mines from my GP, so we had to then get my ones sent out :They have been using my outdated ESA information from 2 years ago from when I failed my ESA and not my ESA information from when I passed my ESA appeal last year :They sent me a letter asking me to sign it saying I was happy with a tribunal being heard and that "I had if I remember correctly", 10 days to send it back. However, I received the letter 11 days after when they typed up the letter so I had to call them and have the date put forward a week Tribunal part one: on the day of the tribunal, my representative said she would go by herself and represent me as it said on the letter, that Nor me or my representative had to attend as the hearing will go ahead with or without either myself or both of us attending or not. So she went along with all my information, including a letter from the specialist I see at the hospital. However, when she arrived, they told her that I MUST be there??? so they rescheduled another hearing Tribunal part two. On the day of my second hearing, unfortunately, my representative was involved in a small car accident out the road and called from the hospital saying she would not manage. The tribunal asked me if I wished to go ahead with the hearing. I said yes BUT then they asked me to leave the room and I went back in after only about 90 seconds. I sat down and they said that, it would be best if both myself and my representative was there so they rescheduled another hearing The hearing is for this Tuesday. I guess I am just wondering, is this normal for all this to be happening to a person who puts a claim in for DLA or PIP?

My son's DLA recently due for renewal. He is 17 and I am his appointee. He has Autism, ADHD, I get no support or respite and his very challenging behaviour and other difficulties, mean I am kept occupied pretty much 24/7. Owing to this, I had not completed his DLA forms (DLA renewal) had been returned later than required, as they are a nightmare to complete, so time consuming and I had not been able to prioritise them - whilst dealing with various issues and daily care for my son. Disability & Carers Services, have written to me, stating my son's claim being treated as a New Claim as late return and therefore they cannot take any action so have referred claim to PIP. Is there any way I can challenge this - it is going to place so much extra pressure on my son and I think I had good reason for late submission. Any suggestions? Please let me know - I really dont know what to do about this?? Many thanks in advance to any advice given. Worried and frustrated Phillilps

I have been under an enormous amount of pressure and had failed to submit my son's DLA claiming again forms on time. My Son has ASD/ADHD&Conduct Disorder - age 17. (I am appointee) & owing to lack of support and intervention, no education, involved with the Criminal Justice System & having very challenging behaviour - which I struggle to deal with and many meetings with |Social Services, YOT and CAMHS to challenge the lack of support etc, this had meant my claiming late. First claim pack submitted, lost?? So submitted another, marked clearly DUPLICATE, second claim set etc and posted Recorded Next Day Guaranteed Delivery at the cost of #7.50. I have received a letter from DLA, which refers to claim as 'New Claim' and states has been transferred to the PIP Unit - owing to my son's age & not accepting any new DLA Claims to be processed. I telephoned DLA Unit and they said once a claim has been referred to PIP there is nothing they can do? i said, can I not ask for decision to be lookied at again and she said no - not applicable. So basically nothing anyone can do now? Can anybody clarify this for me please, is it worth my while writing to ask them to reconsider this decision based on my situation/circumstances\??? H E L P ! ! ! ! ! ! Many thanks Nadia

im currently on esa for not been able to walk unaided with crutches for more than a few metres. this is due to a back and leg injury from many moons ago. i was diagnosed with epilepsy around 3-4 weeks ago after suffering absence seizures for over 12 months . i then had a full epileptic seizure whilst in bed and woke up in hospital ,i was in severe pain with my right leg and sciatica for which they have prescribed diazipam they did an mri of my spine and i was told i have 2 ruptured disks L1 and L3 but they would not operate as i could still control my bladder. i am still in agony with it weeks later and the right half of my right foot is completley numb. my doctor has made me an appointment with a neurosurgeon for june with a outlook to operate and have a diskoptomy ? i however dont think its epilepsy as im confused most times ,and forget just about everything im asked of or told . i cannot even think in a noisey enviroment .plus i can have upto 17 absence seizures a day . then 1 week ago i suffered a massive heart attack and needed stents putting in my arteries. im now on 15 different types of medication a day totalling over 30 tablets in a 24hour period . im not allowed to drive either way with a heart attack or epilepsy the worst thing i think is im only 42 years old ,not over weight .6ft ,12.5 stone .dont drink ,do drugs or smoke . i could cope with the back pain and leg pain before and with the codeine and naproxen i was managing the pain . now i can,t cope with anything even just 1 task is hard to do .

Helloooooooooooooooooooooooooo.... Back again for some encouragement advice. As you will know from previous posts I am not Au Fait with benefit solutions This time it for me no friends involved My little munchkin will be 3 next month. She has been attending a child development center for nearly 1 year and attending under 3 nursery ( only given to kids who really need it in this area) for a few month. We have been granted funding and has a "play-friend" at nursery to "encourage" her. We have been doing a round of mini appointments and assessments recently as she is being formally assessed for Autism next month and a group of health professionals will decided if she is on the Autism spectrum or has other learning difficulties etc etc etc Now out of the 4 appointments this week 3 of the "professionals" asked if we were already claiming DLA.... we are not ...did not even cross my mind.....but have been advised to look at this..... any advice on similar situations or applications please......would we be able to? Is it something we should be doing?...both me and Mr Ida work part-time and get tax credits. I thank you

My 5 year old as been accessed for adhd we.ve seen the doctor this week who as said it looks like he does have it but can.t be formely diagnoised until he gets the school psycologist report but the school is just dragging their feet i asked months ago for this the doctor has now written to the school to speed it up. The school and i had to fill a qyestionare out schools score was worse than mine, he.s getting behind at school cause he finds it hard to concontrate and keep still he.s forever getting into trouble and being sent to the headmaster along with another boy who as just been told he also as adhd them to bind really well together. My son is also sensitive to some foods aswell i notice cause some make him very more hyper just like some medications. So would i need him to be diagnoised first or should i just go ahead and see what happens mind time they get round to going through the forms he.d probably be diagnoised with it.thanks in advance

A relative who is 75 currently gets the higher mobility and lower care component of DLA (both on an indefinite award). Their situation has worsened and they now require more daytime assistance/supervision; thus should probably be entitled to the middle rate care component. If they report their change of circumstances what will happen? With the current culture they are wary of being re-assessed due to the onerous guidelines now in place and they couldn't deal with the stress of having their benefit reduced and having to appeal. Thanks for any help and guidance.

I currently receive HRC and LRM but would now be entitled to HRM as my condition has got significantly worse. I am not in a PIP area and my current award is due to expire in 2 years. If I decided to report a change of circumstances in order to receive HRM I think it would still be a DLA claim. Am I right? I'm not yet ready to risk a PIP claim even though I shouldn't be any worse off.

I was having a chat with my parents about various benefits and it started a big debates on DLA and Mobility. I don't know if anyone can help ... basically my parents (both 68 years old) recieve DLA and Mobility component plus their pension and housing benefit. They are worried that DLA and mobility is changing and worry over losing this benefit as it is a large amount that contributes to their bills and general expenses. My Father who is ill gets the top rate on both components and my Mother who is also unwell but not as serious gets the middle rate on both components. They are worried sick as they keep hearing some elements are being cut or reassessed but I said as you are genuine recipients I think the government are mainly focussing on working age 16-64 year olds. They have claimed DLA and Mobility for around 15 years in total. Does anyone know how (and if) they will be affected or as pensioners with pension credit and genuinely unwell with various conditions they will be expempt from reapplication and PiP etc? If any of them lost a large chunk of money they would basically be homeless! Many thanks

Need some advice if possible. I am currently on DLA HRM and LRC since 2006, my initial application failed for any MR but awarded LRC so I asked for a review which agreed same so I went to appeal and in between provided further evidence. Please note I had included on my application and in continuation sheet that my condition was variable and reference was made to good and bad days. I went to appeal hearing and it was agreed to adjourn for more information from a medical examination. I had the examination and just a week later suffered a brain injury which almost killed me and required surgery, upon discharge more documentation from the tribunal service had arrived including he doctors report which was to be added to my bundle for the next hearing. There were one or two errors in my opinion in the docs statement so I wrote to the tribunal to say so and to advise that I had just been discharged from hospital with a serious brain injury, that my care needs had increased temporarily and my mobility remained unchanged and confirmed attendance at the rescheduled hearing although I could no longer drive (DVLA removed my licence for 6 months min). To my surprise without the final hearing I received notification from the tribunal service that my appeal was revised by the Appeals Officer, without the further hearing and was a more favourable one! I then received instanty an award letter from DWP stating HRM and LRC indefinately. Since the award I have the added post brain trauma syptoms which are in addition to my original claim but by care needs are now as they were at the point of claim, mobility remains the same. I have just received a letter to invite me to attend and IUC with DWP regarding possible criminal offence regarding my benefits, I only claim DLA as work (home based) as I did at the point of claim. I have read everything I can on this online so am getting rather clued up but am absolutely dreading the interview. I have arranged for legal representation as I know I will not cope with the interview on my own. I am guessing if they have had a tip off that I am not disabled that I will have been under surveillance and that they will have evidence to now support the allegation; however my circumstances have not changed in my opinion, I am as I was at the point of application and have referred to good days to show that my issues are not always present i.e variable so I am assuming any evidence would be around those such times (I am never out in public at the worst times) If anything my condition is worse given the new syptoms and I am guessing he will not be aware of my brain issue or new syptoms which, given they will not change my award were never reported directly to DWP as they are technically additional issues with mobility and mental health and this will not increase my award! I have had and continue to have ongoing treatment for all my conditions, have been hospitalised four times since claiming including two strokes, now what a benefit thief would have to suffer! What I am worried about is that I never qualified in the first instance and I am wondering if the Tribunal, faced with news of my significant brain trauma and hospitalisation, have made a decision to award and I am now paying the price! My mobility features on servere discomfort and pain and whilst I had stated risk of fall and stumbles and the need (but do not always have) for somebody to be with me; for the record I attended the hearing alone as it was not possible to have somebody with me. Two questions, If I have stated variation in my application and I have variation now can they prosecute on this i.e. no change in circumstance to report and secondly, would the tribunal have a manuscript of the hearing and details as to why they overturned the decision as I think this would also support my case and if so how can I get access to this. I am rather expecting the chap from DWP will be sat there, with my application and photos/video of my walking unaided or not seemingly with pain which is not unusual but not my permanent state of mobility; I usually always have a walking aid unless extremely well (rarely) Will he have all the tribunal paperwork as within this is where all relevance to variable is in the main other than reference to this in a few places in my application? I also hope he has the written note sent to the Tribunal (and confirmed as received) stating I had had the brain injury, was now home and care needs increased but mobility not) as this is a change in circumstance which I have reported. I do not believe anything has changed, no surgery, no cure and still with a degenerative condition! I am fully aware of the need to notify if anything changes but not if it changes day by day? I would be on the phone to DLA every day! Has anybody been to an IUC, how was it and what should I expect. This is making me more sick, have not eaten a thing for 48 hrs, pain is escalating and affecting everything for me! One minute I am a wreck the next I want to fight this all the way, they can not accuse me of fraud, I have not knowingly done anything and actually pay more in taxes that the bloody benefit is worth! One last point, phoned today to rearrange the interview and the chap was a little bit shocked to hear I was bringing a legal rep; not rolling over with this. Any help, support, encouragement or opinion gratefully received. Worried sick!

I was claiming DLA for bipolar disorder. i have been working for DWP too. I got interviewed under caution by fraud department in the summer. I have now been summons to appear at the magistrates court. they say I failed to report changes of circumstance. Looking at it now I can see things changed, but I didn't complete the form, I just signed it, my mum filled it in. So I had no idea what was on it. I am appealing the DLA decision, trying to get at least lower. I suffer with depression and mania, and am suicidal. does anyone have any idea what will happen, what kind of punishment I will get. If I get a criminal record, I will never get my life back on track. I about to be sack from DWP too, losing my house because I'm bankrupt, and we can't afford to stay on one wage. I am so frightened and need some advice. I'm seeing a solicitor on Thursday. Its for about £7500, overpayment from Jan 2012 to July 2013, I started paying back this month.

hi I am claiming dla and have had my premium stopped because my son has reached the age of 19, so in theory I am being penalised for allowing my son to live at home, is there anything I can do, apart from evicting my son. I am feeling the cut in income as well as a £1000 overpayment I accumulated and have to repay

I've just applied for DLA for my three year old son due to his developmental problems. I'm not sure he'll qualify but my Health Visitor and his Social Worker seem confident he will be awarded something. I'm a single mum on full benefits. I get Income Support as a Lone Parent, Child Tax Credits, Child Benefit and CSA off his dad. Do I need to inform any of these that I have applied for the DLA or do I just wait to see if he is awarded anything? (His dad is aware of the application so no doubt has already informed the CSA in the hope it will reduce his payments)

Hey Folks, I've just received a letter this week with a DLA renewal form giving me until Jan 27th, 2014 to send it in. Despite being in constant comms with the DLA, i.e. sending them every letter from consultants, doctors and therapists since my claim I have to renew it? I don't quite get this, in every second letter it's made quite clear that this is a permanent illness. Do I need to renew every 2 years or something? What's worse is the pure stress of being scared to send this is fearing a battle is causing other repercussions... At the moment, I rely HEAVILY on my DLA to cover annoying costs of dealing with it, and rely even mores on the disability component of my WTC to keep my head just above water. On top of all of that is because I'm only 34, if they botch it up and deny me, which I've seen happening more and more all over the place I'll even lose my HB as it just covers my rent due to being on DLA. What can I do about this to keep my back covered? It's not like this illness is going away, specialists which took a 7 year waiting list to see confirm everything in writing too. I'm almost tempted to send the form back sarcastically and in big red writing "should i renew my illness too?" lol Some advise would be really handy. Cheers, A *edit* just to add, even the medication that I'm been treated with should be a good indicator, being in the amphetamine phonily and being a listed controlled medication, it's potent stuff and not given out like smarties by doctors :-/

Sorry I know this is only a minor thing, but have those entitled to this £10 received it? I get high rate DLA and in ESA Support Group but had no letter or payment.

Hi I have recently had notie of benefit on my DLA review. Award has been made a thigher mobitlity rate indefinately and lowest rate care componant indefinately the award has been dropped from middle rate care to lowest rate which not only reduces my money but also trivializes my husbands constant and ardous tasks of looking after me. I was surprised when review came under DLA bracket rather than PIP but pressume indefinately is indefinately no matter what the heading now. I telephoned DLA to discuss the change in care component of my benefit however I think I pressed the wrong option. I spoke with a woman who was more than abrupt and she would not listen to what I was trying to say the more she spoke the more dismissive she became getting me all in a muddle. She kept on saying oh you want this reviewed but reviewed was not the word she used. The word she used made it sound as if I was being unreasonable - when in fact I just wanted to talk to her about the decision. She 3 times said she had already put paperwork through and was very sharp with me My question is this should I telephone them again and pressin the correct option and try to speak to someone? As the woman I spoke to said that a may lose all my entitlement in putting this request through? Also if DLA review is different to the PIP then am I know going to be reviewed under new guidelines? Can they really cancel a indefinate qualification for DLA ? Just because I wanted to ask a question? If this is the case then should I just cancel my request (although I never made this request) and send DLA a change in circumstances application ? This whole thing is proving to be extremely stressful, I have read other peoples experiences of the effects on them both mentally and pyhiscally - I now can understand the feelings of dispair leaving them questioning the point in them being here at all. What should I do ? Shall Ijust leave it to run its course OSW

My daughter has type 1 Diabetes. She received DLA with the lower mobility allowance up to the beginning of this year. We then had to re-apply in about March and in about June we were informed that she was no longer eligible to receive the allowance. Nothing has changed in her outlook, though. So far as I can remember, there was no mention on the letter of the ability to appeal the decision. When she had her latest hospital appointment, last week (she has to have them every three months), I mentioned the situation to her doctor and he said we should appeal. I am concerned that because it is almost 6 months since we received the letter removing her entitlement, that we would not be allowed to appeal. Do we have to reapply because of the lapsed time or can we still appeal and ask them to reconsider the decision? Mark

Hey I hope somebody can provide some advice, I am posting here on behalf of my farther who sadly lost his brother around a month ago. He was in a care home for the last 23 years of his life, he was severely mentally disabled and was unable to look after himself or any of his own affairs, my father let the care home manage his finances, my farther only needed to sign when something major was needed to be bought (eg specially adapted bed) but other than that everything seemed to be fine, around 12 months ago the care home manager showed my farther a copy of the statement of account which had around £10,000 but they needed him to sign to buy some things which he did. My father made a phone call to the head office to check the status of the funeral payment as the funeral director advised it had still not been paid. They advised they are paying it today but after that there will be around £700 left because there has been a benefit over payment which until now nobody had mentioned to my farther until now. The over payment has been taken back in full since my uncles death just looking for some advice on what we can do and who to contact about this as it seems confusing that nobody mentioned a word of this until now. Thanks

I've just read on the 'Benefits and Work' forum that DLA claimants outside the 'Capita' area who are not currently being transferred to PIP are (mostly) no longer going to be assessed by ATOS and will instead have their claims decided based on information from 'a variety of sources' (DWP). Apart from obvious questions such as why? and if DWP no longer need ATOS, what have they been paying them for? I mostly would like to know if it's true? Also, would it apply to Attendance Allowance claims or were they never assessed by ATOS?

Hi A friend seems to have a problem, she is self employed, single parent, works 25 hours per week, £100 per week income (if she's lucky) one child on DLA, receives CA, council is saying she can only work 9 hours per week to receive the full (91%) council tax benefit, yet working tax credits say minimum hours need to be 16 hours. Does all this sound right? What can she do?

Hello, Had a home visit for DLA. First letter was postmarked a Friday with a 2nd class stamp for an appointment on the following Tuesday so only got the letter a few hours prior to the appointment. therefore rearranged it as no notice given, have kept envelope and letter Atos said they do not need to give any notice and they posted in plenty of time! Can anyone advise a link to guidelines were ATOS state the notice period that they have to or should give? Dr that turned up introduced himself as a current GP. However he is not on the GP or specialist register. When confronted with this at a later date - he has now said he didn't say this. However an audio recording was in place for personal use. Dr ignored aids I use and what he was told, stating I need no help - basically he has written a false report to say no care help required despite various reports from experts being ignored. Despite not being a current GP he carried out a physical examination and an eye test - GMC complaint maybe? Dr then went on to diagnose that I had a severe mental condition and suggested I should start treatment - news to myself and medical team. Something made up from a line I said about feeling a bit low at times. Have done an initial complaint via ATOS but it's they're stating the DR didn't do any of that and he is right and I'm wrong attitude - they haven't stated where to go now - what's the next level of complaint I can take? Any advise folks?! Thanks!

At the moment I am in the WRAG (just started the work programme) thought at the moment they are not hassling me. Anyway I have my DLA appeal next week. Recorded I suffer from Depression Anxiety Arthritis High Blood pressure On going chest infection On medication for the lot. I have just had a chest x-ray for a very long ongoing chest complaint (results should be known next week). At the moment I use an inhaler, antibiotics, but they not really helping. I am also booked for an Asthma clinic (if the chest x-ray shows nothing more)/ The pressure of it all is making the condition worse, can I use this info at my DLA appeal. There is mention of long term chest infections on the doctors print out I have sent them, just not the latest about the x-ray. They will also be able to hear my racking cough, and wheezing so they can tell I have a problem.

Someone has asked me to enquire on their behalf regarding the new PIP rules when someone is already in receipt of DLA. They received their award following their consultant completing form DS500 which advises the DLA team that they have a terminal condition. They have a motability vehicle through the scheme and their DLA award is due to expire next summer. They have spoken to the DLA team this week and been advised that they will receive a telephone call approximately 20 weeks in advance to be interviewed over the phone and subject to their answers is whether or not they get it renewed. I have been researching through this site to look for similar threads but I presume because it is quite early on in the transition of things, that not too many people have yet been affected. Therefore, can anyone point me in the right direction as to what they might expect in a telephone interview and whether their consultant is still able to complete forms on behalf of his patient? Who will carry out these telephone interviews? Will there still be an appeal process? I am certainly not looking for people's personal opinions as to whether a terminal patient should or should not receive this benefit, I am strictly looking for accurate information set out by either DLA/government bodies or other community organisations which maybe fighting the government and or supporting people through this transitional process. Thanks in advance