DLA Success

Indefinately now means unti, 2013 when the new stricter medical tests come in for everyone including those like you and myself who have been awarded it indefinately.

congratulations Mike and very well done. I done almost exactly same as yourself and was awarded indef. also.
How long did all this take you to complete ?
It took me 3 weeks.

Is that written in stone? indefinitely/2013.

I mean, if anyone on Incapacity,and DLA is to be given a medical in 2013, who dictates who? a seperate medical for one and other ,or 1 medical for both?
My reasoning is plain, that not one department can tell you what the other department does now, and that means constant forms. If the new laws being set up on benefit mean one benefit in a grade system as we now hear, that will take longer that 3 years in anyone's reasoning.
If they try and crush it all in before a new elected parliament it will be a botch job.
All in the process of doing the change over are on a wing and a prayer,and it will fall ,and GOD willing so will the people who are destroying us now.

Where do I find this "check list in the guide " as you quote above mike?

Arundo wrote:

Hello Again!

For some reason I could not access my original B & W account when I tried to renew it, so had to re-register under another name.

Anyway, I thought I should write and let you know that I have just been awarded Higher Rate Mobility and Middle Rate Care - indefinitely!

This is in no small part due to the excellent and clear guidance that this site and the relevant guides gave me.

HOW I DID IT

Firstly, although I had successfully claimed DLA previously, I read and re-read all the guides until I had a clear idea of what I needed to get across in the application form. I then got all my supporting evidence together, and made sure it did actually support what I wanted to make clear.

Secondly, I made TWO photocopies of the DLA form. The first one was for a draft which I used to fill in the boxes according to the question, not the order it was laid out in on the original. I did this so that my answers to the repeated questions would be the same in both/all of the boxes. By shuffling the pages around I made sure that I had the text of the reply right next to the one I had to fill in. I filled this in in pencil, so I could erase any mistakes. (It is easier to read a form that doesn't have words struck out and overwritten).

The second copy was filled in with the answers from the draft, but in the correct order. I could see that the flow was much better, and the answers were consistent.
This was was also completed in pencil, so that small alterations in emphasis could be made. I sat on this for a few days to think about it and to see if any additional points came up that I could add.

Finally, I filled in the real form, using BLACK ink, and then put together my supporting evidence; doctor's letters, consultant's letter with her prognosis, forms from the hospital clearly showing what had been done and discharge notes with all relevant information of surgical procedures, drugs prescribed and possible side-effects. I also took photographs of the surgery/wound in A4 size, high definition and enclosed these as well. (This would have been a complete shock to whoever looked at my claim pack, but a picture speaks a thousand words!). I then photocopied all this yet again as a record for myself.

I then sent the whole bundle off using Recorded Delivery, having kept a note of when it was posted. I phoned the DLA to say that I had sent off the forms, and got the name of the person I spoke to, and the time I spoke to them. I recorded this on the back of the last page of my completed copy as the start of a diary.

As soon as I got the letter back from the DLA I recorded the details on the diary page and kept the letter with my copy. I did this with all the follow up correspondence.

All this may sound a bit long-winded, but having read the relevant threads on this Forum I wanted to have the best possible chance of my claim being dealt with - with clear evidence in front of the Decision Maker.

It worked. Five weeks later I received the letter saying I had been given the award indefinitely. I had only expected a two year award, but my evidence must have been so strong and supportive that I don't think there was ever a question of it being dismissed.

Some thoughts about gathering evidence: If you need your doctor to support your claim then go and see them, if possible, on a "quiet" day, when they will have more time to listen to you - and to read the check list in the Guide. Leave them a copy, and verbally go through each point you have made, expanding where necessary. Ask them to write a letter explaining your needs, and get them to send it to you. This is so you can read it and decide if it is supportive enough. If not ask the doctor to correct it. If you can get time with your consultant (I asked her while I was still in hospital), explain that you are claiming DLA, and ask them to be supportive, and explain how DLA would help you. If your consultant knows your case (he/she should!) then a letter will help your claim enormously.

This was my experience, yours will vary, but I will be logging in to see whether I can offer advice anyone else with advice from my own experience. Good luck to you all.

Mike

where do I find this " check list in the guide " that you quote above mike?