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DLA as European student
13 years 11 months ago #38123 by Leibniz
DLA as European student was created by Leibniz
Hey everyone,
First a bit background to my situation.
My partner is British, I am German and we both decided to live and study here in the UK.
When we started 2 years ago, we both never imagined that we would have to go through this horrible process of worrying and waiting.
When I got my diagnose of Fibromyalgia and Hypermoility Syndrom, we thought everything will be sorted now, but it was the beginning of a learning curve.
Although being EU national, I was always treated as an illigal immigrant, getting DLA and the National Insurance Number was vital and not a matter of convenience. Our funds are enough to cover the studies and daily living expenses, but didn't stretch far enough to cover for regular medication, petrol to physiotherapy, make my car easier to use and accessable, buy appliances, well you get the idea.
Since my body refused to do as its told, our house is a mess, laundry isn't done regularly and without my partner's mother we would have had to declare this house as a health hazard zone.
This webpage gave us the help and the understanding how this application process works. Great thanks to the team.
I started my application in July and got told today by phone, how much I was awarded and that it is backdated.
No medical, no appeal.
Higher rate care and higher rate mobility!
More than we even ever imagined and trust me - I will enjoy a save and long, really long shower as soon as the money comes through, without being nagged by my partner to stop faffing around. Don't get me wrong he is loving and caring in each aspect, but there are moments where a bit dignity and self-determination mean the world and nothing else counts more than that.
How we have done it:
1. I used the form as a guideline of what they want to know. 'Cause of muscle spasms in my arms, I typed everything in word.
Repeating over and over again how Fibro and Hypermobility effect certain aspects of my daily life and activities, was annoying, but the cut and paste option helped a lot to ease the strain on my tendons.
2. I made a flow chart of my typical day. This helped me to focus on what they need to know. The Benefits and Work guidlines helped me to close gaps and more importantly, to understand, what most of the questions actually meant and referred to.
3. I didn't exaggerate anything, just expained everything in detail. And when I say detail, I really mean detail. Like my odyssey to get in/out of the bath for/after a shower. What happens if I lift my left leg first, what happens when I lift my right one, which muscles hurt when doing what and why. Where I have to put my arms and why. Why I can't have a bath and have to shower, and explain what happens if my partner tries to lift me out from this sitting position while being wet. We all have those anecdotes, use them and let them know what you learnt from them.
If you have falls, mention them, let them know about it, even if you didn't end up in A&E and just ripped your third trouser within a month. If you needed help to get up from strangers, tell them how this felt like. Those experiences were more painful for me than the actual fall.
It is embarrasing, but it's the truth. It's humilating, but if it makes them happy, give them their "entertainment".
4. I made a cover letter, listing each single attached document and how many pages each had. Recorded delivery is great! No excuses and - keep them! Glue them to a blank A4 sheet and just store them with the rest of your copies.
5. After 6 weeks I started calling them to get to know whether they needed more documentation and how far the process was.
Always write on a sheet, time, date and the person you speak to. If they put you through to someone else, write this down. Additionally also name of the new person and at what time they answered the phone. And - summarise the call.
6. If you can't keep on talking, for what ever reasons, tell them why and if you have a partner or other supporting family member, hand the phone to them to deal with it. Being on the phone for more than half an hour was just a waiting game I could not do on my own.
7. Always ask when there should be a new development. If they say in a week, call the following week, if you still didn't hear from them.
8. Escalate to the supervisor. We finally did this after 5 months. The written documentation from privious phonecalls where more than handy.
9. And - there are competent and friendly employees at the Department for Work and Pension!! You increase your chance to get one of those when you keep bothering them. This extra bit of guidance did definately make it easier to handle the waiting time. And more important, I have had one person I could directly call and didn't have to explain everything over and over again. This saved a lot of energy and strength.
10. I don't know for how long they awarded me DLA. But it does not matter, cause sooner or later, I will have to go through this process again. I started a dairy, where I document, changes in my health, achievements and backlashes in Physiotherapy, Side effects of new medications and everything else that limits my life and effects my partner/carer. I hope this makes my next application much easier and less stressful.
11. For EU nationals:
We are entitled to DLA. Don't allow them to fob you off whith illigal immigration and Home Office talk.
If you don't have a National Insurance Number yet, make them aware that DWP has to initiate an interview with the Jobcenter, so that you can apply for one.
This processs took 10 min., a few questions, a copy of my ID/passport, and a recent letter of my energy supplier, to prove my address.
Even if you have an award on your claim, they can't send you DLA without the NI. Took us nearly 2 months to figure that out.
The helpline for "how to apply for a National Insurance Number" is a bit helpless. Don't bother with them and stick with the DWP. Even if the Jobcenter doesn't get in touch with you, bother the DWP.
To all those who are still in the process:
Big big hugs!!! I did hit rock-bottom, I had to pause my studies, put my live on halt and did cry enough tears to fill a lake. And I have had moments where I just wanted to give up.
First of all, don't be scared and intimidated. Ask questions and if you can't let someone else do this on your behalf. Worse that can happen is that they say no and your next claim will be even better.
My partner always complains that I intend to overexplain things. This time it helped and it was def worth the time and pain to do so.
Good luck to all and take care
First a bit background to my situation.
My partner is British, I am German and we both decided to live and study here in the UK.
When we started 2 years ago, we both never imagined that we would have to go through this horrible process of worrying and waiting.
When I got my diagnose of Fibromyalgia and Hypermoility Syndrom, we thought everything will be sorted now, but it was the beginning of a learning curve.
Although being EU national, I was always treated as an illigal immigrant, getting DLA and the National Insurance Number was vital and not a matter of convenience. Our funds are enough to cover the studies and daily living expenses, but didn't stretch far enough to cover for regular medication, petrol to physiotherapy, make my car easier to use and accessable, buy appliances, well you get the idea.
Since my body refused to do as its told, our house is a mess, laundry isn't done regularly and without my partner's mother we would have had to declare this house as a health hazard zone.
This webpage gave us the help and the understanding how this application process works. Great thanks to the team.
I started my application in July and got told today by phone, how much I was awarded and that it is backdated.
No medical, no appeal.
Higher rate care and higher rate mobility!
More than we even ever imagined and trust me - I will enjoy a save and long, really long shower as soon as the money comes through, without being nagged by my partner to stop faffing around. Don't get me wrong he is loving and caring in each aspect, but there are moments where a bit dignity and self-determination mean the world and nothing else counts more than that.
How we have done it:
1. I used the form as a guideline of what they want to know. 'Cause of muscle spasms in my arms, I typed everything in word.
Repeating over and over again how Fibro and Hypermobility effect certain aspects of my daily life and activities, was annoying, but the cut and paste option helped a lot to ease the strain on my tendons.
2. I made a flow chart of my typical day. This helped me to focus on what they need to know. The Benefits and Work guidlines helped me to close gaps and more importantly, to understand, what most of the questions actually meant and referred to.
3. I didn't exaggerate anything, just expained everything in detail. And when I say detail, I really mean detail. Like my odyssey to get in/out of the bath for/after a shower. What happens if I lift my left leg first, what happens when I lift my right one, which muscles hurt when doing what and why. Where I have to put my arms and why. Why I can't have a bath and have to shower, and explain what happens if my partner tries to lift me out from this sitting position while being wet. We all have those anecdotes, use them and let them know what you learnt from them.
If you have falls, mention them, let them know about it, even if you didn't end up in A&E and just ripped your third trouser within a month. If you needed help to get up from strangers, tell them how this felt like. Those experiences were more painful for me than the actual fall.
It is embarrasing, but it's the truth. It's humilating, but if it makes them happy, give them their "entertainment".
4. I made a cover letter, listing each single attached document and how many pages each had. Recorded delivery is great! No excuses and - keep them! Glue them to a blank A4 sheet and just store them with the rest of your copies.
5. After 6 weeks I started calling them to get to know whether they needed more documentation and how far the process was.
Always write on a sheet, time, date and the person you speak to. If they put you through to someone else, write this down. Additionally also name of the new person and at what time they answered the phone. And - summarise the call.
6. If you can't keep on talking, for what ever reasons, tell them why and if you have a partner or other supporting family member, hand the phone to them to deal with it. Being on the phone for more than half an hour was just a waiting game I could not do on my own.
7. Always ask when there should be a new development. If they say in a week, call the following week, if you still didn't hear from them.
8. Escalate to the supervisor. We finally did this after 5 months. The written documentation from privious phonecalls where more than handy.
9. And - there are competent and friendly employees at the Department for Work and Pension!! You increase your chance to get one of those when you keep bothering them. This extra bit of guidance did definately make it easier to handle the waiting time. And more important, I have had one person I could directly call and didn't have to explain everything over and over again. This saved a lot of energy and strength.
10. I don't know for how long they awarded me DLA. But it does not matter, cause sooner or later, I will have to go through this process again. I started a dairy, where I document, changes in my health, achievements and backlashes in Physiotherapy, Side effects of new medications and everything else that limits my life and effects my partner/carer. I hope this makes my next application much easier and less stressful.
11. For EU nationals:
We are entitled to DLA. Don't allow them to fob you off whith illigal immigration and Home Office talk.
If you don't have a National Insurance Number yet, make them aware that DWP has to initiate an interview with the Jobcenter, so that you can apply for one.
This processs took 10 min., a few questions, a copy of my ID/passport, and a recent letter of my energy supplier, to prove my address.
Even if you have an award on your claim, they can't send you DLA without the NI. Took us nearly 2 months to figure that out.
The helpline for "how to apply for a National Insurance Number" is a bit helpless. Don't bother with them and stick with the DWP. Even if the Jobcenter doesn't get in touch with you, bother the DWP.
To all those who are still in the process:
Big big hugs!!! I did hit rock-bottom, I had to pause my studies, put my live on halt and did cry enough tears to fill a lake. And I have had moments where I just wanted to give up.
First of all, don't be scared and intimidated. Ask questions and if you can't let someone else do this on your behalf. Worse that can happen is that they say no and your next claim will be even better.
My partner always complains that I intend to overexplain things. This time it helped and it was def worth the time and pain to do so.
Good luck to all and take care
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13 years 11 months ago #38150 by Suzy3
Replied by Suzy3 on topic Re:DLA as European student
Leibniz - Congratulations and well done on your patience and perseverence with the DWP
Very pleased for you and your partner
Well done for sharing all of your good tips.
Take care
x
Very pleased for you and your partner
Well done for sharing all of your good tips.
Take care
x
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