New DLA claim

[deathbycrayons]

Can anybody tell me, can I make a new claim for DLA while I am already in receipt of it?

 

I am currently on the lower rate care componant. My doctor has said that she thinks I should be awarded mobility aswell, and that I should make a new claim. I've been on DLA for 18 months now. My condition has worsened in that time.

 

So can I make a new claim? Will it affect my existing DLA payments while it's being decided?

[ErikaPNP]

DLA claims are subject to review if there is a change in your circumstances.

 

You can get in touch with them and tell them that your needs have increased, here are the contact details:

 

Disability Contact and Processing Unit

Disability and Carers Service

Warbreck House

Warbreck Hill Road

Blackpool FY2 0YE

Tel: 08457 123456

Textphone: 08457 224433

 

And here is the link to the relevant info:

DWP - Technical guidance - HB5 - Disability Living Allowance (DLA) - Change of circumstances

[deathbycrayons]

Thanks

[andie_303]

It's easy to have it reassessed - my son was awarded lower rate care and then he started having to have physio at home everyday and then with a phone call and a new letter from his doctor it was increased to middle rate within 2 weeks. You also qualify for the back payment from the time you applied for the change up to the time they decide it

[deathbycrayons]

OK I think what I'll do then is phone my GP tomorrow and advise her that I'm going to phone DLA processing unit and that she should expect them to write to her shortly.

[sisternumber1]

Just to add that yes if your circumstances change you should get in touch and try and get awarded what is right for your changed circumstances. And make sure you say how it is on your worse day, and when they give you the forms again dont worry about repeating yourself.

[sallysas]

Get some help filling forms in - it is human nature to not fill it in for a BAD day. Good advice above.

[deathbycrayons]

I've filled it in all as though every day is my worst. For questions like: "How many days a week do you need help walking" I put 7. Did that for all of it, as I never know when I'm going to have a bad day.

[deathbycrayons]

Update. I rang DLA and asked what I should do, and said that I wanted to inform them that my condition had worsened. The guy said he'd send me some forms, and I asked if I could do it online. He said he wasn't sure but I could have a look on the website and it might be quicker for me to do. But he said he'd send me the forms anyway.

 

So I went onto the goverment gateway site and filled in a new claim. From scratch.

 

The next day I got the forms in the post. They were not for a new claim but forms to fill in to inform them of how my condition had worsened. So I filled them in and on the back where it asks for any addition information I put "Please refer to claim ref no XXXXX made online on 10/04/09".

 

About 2 weeks later I received 2 seperate letters, both exactly the same, with seperate claim reference numbers on, acknowledging my claims. So I'm still waiting to hear. I just hope that me making that new claim online hasn't slowed their desicion down about upping my existing award.