mental illness reason for sending claim late?

Jima1 wrote:

It would be best if you wrote, and your CPN wrote a letter of support, or you asked your CPN to write explaining why you were unable to submit your claim form in time.

me *AND* my CPN. I always feel a bit afraid to write anything myself. I got my CPN to fill in the form while i said stuff.

Is there a difference between 'a letter of support' written by us both than a letter 'explaining why you were unable to submit the claim form in time' written just by the CPN?

If we both sent exactly the same letter it wouldn't look right - like plagarism. Both letters don't have to say the same things do they?

Also: Does it make any difference if its typed up? Does it make you look less capable if its its written by hand than if they though you typed it up on a computer?

Hi Nervy

It would be fine if you just got your CPN to write a letter explaining why you were unable to submit your claim form in time.

Although the DWP do make sweeping assumptions about claimants upon the presentation of evidence, I would not let that put you off typing or printing a letter if you do have to write a letter yourself. I've practically forgotten how to use a pen!

Writing with pen and paper to produce a document that other people can make sense of requires far more skill than punching a keyboard.

Derek

Hi Nervy,

On reflection, I agree with Derek. Get your CPN to write the letter.

These days, I rarely use a pen, nor for that matter punch a keyboard.

I'm a Mac User so use a programme called MacSpeech Dictate which types as I speak into a microphone on a headset. It's 98% accurate.

For PC Windows users, it's called Dragon Dictate.

The PC version is much cheaper than the Mac version, and if you buy from somewhere like Amazon, it's around the £50 mark.

Hope this helps.

Jim

Compiled with MacSpeech Dictate

Hi I had problems completing my renewal forms due to mental health problems.

In the end I had someone else complete the forms and they attached a letter explaining that due to mental health problems I had avoided completion of the forms as it was all to much for me and I had not advised anyone due to feeling very low and having no self esteem and no confidence to complete the task. They advised they had just recently found out that the forms had not been completed. The letter also asked if the renewal could be considered quickly to avoid a break in payments. The documents where submitted and arrived recorded delivery 1 day before the expiry date and I have to say the DLA department where fantastic and I had a reply within 9 days confirming the renewal was accepted and I missed no payments.

Get someone to write a letter for you supporting the reasons why the forms had not been returned dont hold back in the letter and let them know how the mental health problems restricts you and your feelings and thoughts that make things difficult.

Good luck the DWP DLA department do understand sometimes

It has been overwhelming getting to grips with filling in the DLA form. Somehow its easier when there someone you trust going over it all with you but I only had two separate hours with my CPN who wanted me to fill in parts by myself.

I described it as 'doing my head in' and 'freaking me out' or more formally 'overwhelming'. But is that because of all the help documents i've read all by myself?

I don't think i could write that i spend a lot of time reading up on the internet how to fill in the form which i found wearying. Apart from the official pamphlet suppled by the DLA people.

Would it be foolish to mention I've found it draining reading up all the stuff on the internet that i felt i needed days to recover and take a break from?