DLA - not entitled now

I have received a letter telling me that following my 2nd apply for dla after having received it for 1 year i no longer am entitled. My Epilepsy is stable on tablets and i assume this is why i cannot get DLA now but i still have other problems resulting from my stroke 2. 5 years ago. I have poor memory and whilst i can be left alone at home i cannot do much apart from internet and watch tv - i cannot iron, cook etc unless my husband is here as i have left the iron on and pans on the cooker in the past, i am very distracted and if the phone rings i forget what i was doing and therefore it is not safe for me to use the cooker etc. I also have a stress related problem which causes me to shake uncontrolably at times, i do take anti depressent for this which does seem to help a bit but if i have for instance need to go to a interview such as a medical etc i will shake badly so much that i need someone with me. I get lost easily so tend not to go in town alone and also do not cope with large crowds now and do not have much aware of people etc behind me due to my stroke problems. Is it worth me appealing as this will cause me loads of stress problems and also i am worrying that i will loose my ESA as well due to my epilepsy being stable with drugs. This is my only income and i will probably have to go bankrupt after having sold the house we own which is rented out at the moment our life is getting worse by the minute i think in feb my ESA ends and am really worried about this as i could not cope with having to sign on as available for work which would be lying anyway any help please

Hi Tiggy

Have you informed DLA about the stroke and effects is has on you? I dont know a great deal about epilepsy and maybe it is controlled on medication at the moment but could this change? I would put in appeal and seek advice on this one, you can always withdraw your appeal at a later date once you have taken advice. Have DLA said in your letter that as epilepsy is controlled this is the reason they are stopping it? Did you follow the guidlines on this site when filling your renewal form out? They have to give you a reason why they are stopping your payment.

I can really understand how you are feeling and it can be quite daunting at times when trying to deal with something like this when you are not feeling well and the depression doesnt help at all. Dont give in to it my advice to you is brush yourself down and fight it with every ounce of energy you have got. Surely all this stress will make your epeilepsy unstable, maybe have a word with your GP/Consultant to see if they will give you supporting evidence in favour of your claim. Good luck and please let us know how things are going for you. Always remember there are a lot of people right behind you.

God bless and big hugs
Mm xx

Tiggy wrote:

I have received a letter telling me that following my 2nd apply for dla after having received it for 1 year i no longer am entitled. My Epilepsy is stable on tablets and i assume this is why i cannot get DLA now but i still have other problems resulting from my stroke 2. 5 years ago. I have poor memory and whilst i can be left alone at home i cannot do much apart from internet and watch tv - i cannot iron, cook etc unless my husband is here as i have left the iron on and pans on the cooker in the past, i am very distracted and if the phone rings i forget what i was doing and therefore it is not safe for me to use the cooker etc. I also have a stress related problem which causes me to shake uncontrolably at times, i do take anti depressent for this which does seem to help a bit but if i have for instance need to go to a interview such as a medical etc i will shake badly so much that i need someone with me. I get lost easily so tend not to go in town alone and also do not cope with large crowds now and do not have much aware of people etc behind me due to my stroke problems. Is it worth me appealing as this will cause me loads of stress problems and also i am worrying that i will loose my ESA as well due to my epilepsy being stable with drugs. This is my only income and i will probably have to go bankrupt after having sold the house we own which is rented out at the moment our life is getting worse by the minute i think in feb my ESA ends and am really worried about this as i could not cope with having to sign on as available for work which would be lying anyway any help please

I am sorry you are so worried, it is difficult not to when you are isolated and feel you have no control due to chronic illness, i know only too well. I have a horrendous tendency to really get worried about anything which then serves to impact upon my already severe health problems.
However, just because you have not been deemed to fit the criteria for DLA, it most certainly does not mean that they will stop you ESA at review. I understand that it is the thought process and I myself and lots of others on here have probably felt the same in the past...but strictly speaking they should not stop your ESA simply because they have not granted you DLA. If they do then you really do have a case in addition to appealing for your DLA. Like millymoo says, focus on your DLA appeal and clearly state your problems. Try not to think about your ESA at the moment, you do not know what is going to happen and if you worry about too much you will not have the mental energy to appeal.
Get as much help as you can from folks, I am sure that there are reports you can get to help your case.
I wish you lots of luck and hopefully things will not turn out as badly as you fear.
Callisto x