DLA – are they trying to pull a fast one?

I’ve applied for DLA and I received a letter from them on the 28th June saying that they couldn’t come to a decision yet as they were seeking a report from my consultant.
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1990 but this in itself did not affect my ability to work full time. However, in 2005 I suffered the first of several problems with my heart and have had two heart attacks. After my last heart attack in December 2009, my cardiologist recommended that I stop working due to the advanced nature of my coronary heart disease. Following reports from my GP and Cardiologist, an Occupational Health Doctor working on behalf of my employer decided that I would not be able to carry out gainful employment for the rest of my life and I have been medically retired at the tender age of 55. Along with my DLA form, I also submitted copies of the reports from my own GP and the report from the Occupational Health Doctor.
I expected that they would be contacting my Cardiologist for the report, as it was his details that I supplied on the DLA form. Imagine my surprise when the doctor from the Diabetic clinic contacted me this morning. He said that he had been requested by the DWP to provide the report, but he could not answer the questions. I said that all my issues with mobility relate to my heart condition and that I expected they would have contacted my Cardiologist. However, he asked me the questions and I gave him answers that would support my claim.
Can anyone explain why they would write to my Diabetic Consultant instead of the more logical choice of my Cardiology Consultant? I may be a bit paranoid, but are they doing this in order to say that my “consultant” does not support the evidence I have submitted on my form?


Robert1

Robert1 wrote:

I’ve applied for DLA and I received a letter from them on the 28th June saying that they couldn’t come to a decision yet as they were seeking a report from my consultant.
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1990 but this in itself did not affect my ability to work full time. However, in 2005 I suffered the first of several problems with my heart and have had two heart attacks. After my last heart attack in December 2009, my cardiologist recommended that I stop working due to the advanced nature of my coronary heart disease. Following reports from my GP and Cardiologist, an Occupational Health Doctor working on behalf of my employer decided that I would not be able to carry out gainful employment for the rest of my life and I have been medically retired at the tender age of 55. Along with my DLA form, I also submitted copies of the reports from my own GP and the report from the Occupational Health Doctor.
I expected that they would be contacting my Cardiologist for the report, as it was his details that I supplied on the DLA form. Imagine my surprise when the doctor from the Diabetic clinic contacted me this morning. He said that he had been requested by the DWP to provide the report, but he could not answer the questions. I said that all my issues with mobility relate to my heart condition and that I expected they would have contacted my Cardiologist. However, he asked me the questions and I gave him answers that would support my claim.
Can anyone explain why they would write to my Diabetic Consultant instead of the more logical choice of my Cardiology Consultant? I may be a bit paranoid, but are they doing this in order to say that my “consultant” does not support the evidence I have submitted on my form?


Robert1

Hi,

In deciding your claim, the DWP can write to (or not write to) anyone mentioned on the application form. It could be that they have also written to the other consultant as well (it might be worth contacting the consultants secretary to check). If not, would he write a report for you to send in supporting your claim, even at this stage?

Overall though, as to why they may have chosen to write to one consultant over another or even your own GP we would not know.

Pete

Hi Pete,

Sorry for not making it clear in my original post that I did not make a great deal of my diabetes,although I did put it down as one of my medical conditions, and certainly did not mention any contact details for my diabetic consultant in my original DLA form. All the info I supplied related to my heart condition and its impact on my mobility.

I am concerned that, somehow, the DWP appear to have tracked down my diabetic consultant by some other means. My concern is that my diabetic consultant could not provide them with detailed information regarding my heart condition and that this may be why they deliberately chose to write to him.

Robert1

Hi Robert1

Thanks for providing further information about this. Unfortunately, as Pete has said, it's impossible for us to know why the DWP contacts, or doesn't contact, particuar doctors etc. Additionally the DWP moves in most mysterious ways at times and it's often impossible to understand why they have acted as they have! You should not assume a "sinister" motive for them writing to your diabetic consultant and, as Pete suggested, it may well be worth your while asking your cardiologist if he or she would be prepared to provide a supporting report if he or she hasn't already done so.

Hope the above helps. Good luck with your claim.

Kind regards

Mr B

as has been said its impossible to know why they write to one doctor and not another, but its not to try and pull a fast one

IMO the reason would be because of something you wrote and they want to get more information

as you said you did not make a "great deal" its never a matter of making a deal its a matter of giving them all the info you can