DLA, rate of care..

Hi

I've recently received my renewal papers for DLA. I was awarded HRM and LRC just under 2 years ago after using benefits and works guides to help fill them out.

It still took 2 reviews (I asked to appeal twice and won both of these on review) to get the rates I believe I was entitled to and since that time I've been told numerous times by different people who deal with DLA in their everyday work I should be on MRC...

I have ME (although this diagnosis seems to be in dispute.. They can't decide, despite me having had the diagnosis for the last 3 years) fibro and chronic pain and so obviously energy is limited.. I don't want to waste time by writing down every single little bit of care I need if it doesn't make any difference and I still get awarded LRC as I think I'm probably somewhere in between. The only thing that I think means I'd be more likely to get MRC is the frequency of the times I need help, even if those are relatively short amounts of time through the day..

I can't go up and down the stairs holding anything as it's unsafe for me to do so, so throughout the day I need things like socks, meds, extra clothes, food, drinks, to be brought either up or downstairs for me.

I also need reminding to rest over the course of the day as I often forget to do this until it's too late and I'm barely able to move! I need reminding to eat often, checking on what I have eaten as I often have little appetite, need reminding to drink too as I forget and dehydration ends up making pain worse...

Can't cook a meal, unsafe to shower by myself, need help during shower- washing hair etc. When in severe pain I need comforting, reassuring, help getting things like ice packs.

I'm just after an idea of if I am at all likely to get MRC

Thanks so much in advance for any replies x

Hi,

It sounds to me as if you should be on MRC.

Use our guide to help you make the best claim you can, or better still get 'face to face' advice from an advice agency such as CAB or Community Legal Advice

Good luck.

Jim

Thanks so much for the reply Jim.. You know how it is when getting some *proper* confirmation that that's what someone else who knows about it thinks, it gives you the confidence to fight for it?

You may well be seeing more of me in here if I can't find what I need in guides! Trying to get it back (to DWP) by the end of the month as award ends in November and really don't want to have to go through hassle of changing tax disc back to non-disabled then back again when I get it back and being without BB!

Would really love to have it renewed first time....! Probably wishful thinking