Yes that example above from silverbreak definately describes 100%. My Gp has written a statement nearly exactly the same as that. He has diagnosed my as haveing a degenerative knee due to various injurys over the years and will not improve. I am now on morphine wich does help the pain. DWP just dont want me to have DLA at higher rate which I think I deserve and need.

I have looked at the links given and also googled myself. All I can gather is that a person exagerates about pain they have in their spine. my spine is ok, its my knee thats the problem. So anyway when i get to the appeall in front of the 3 people deciding, when they read this load of bo**ocks they are only going to think im a liar. This isnt me, Im not exagerating the pain, anyway its the fact that I cannot walk far, due not solely to pain. Thanks everyone.

well at last i have now today recieved the date for my adjourned appeall in a few weeks time!! But, included with this was a letter from a consultant that Ive only seen once ( since the origal appeall ). He stated there is nothing organic wrong and i have ' WADDELLS SIGNS. What the hell does this mean and how could this affect the decision they make?? PLEASE anyone help and advise....as im totally gob smacked and havent any clue what this is and means.

Hi all. i havent forgotten you all but still waiting for the adjourned hearing date. They are going to make thier decision based on a consultant's report that I have now only seen once!!. It looks like all the other strong evidence may not be taken into account. Anyway if i am am successful the claim was started on 3rd june 2009 which means a whole years back pay. i will of course update you when things happen. bye for now.

P.s - I forgot to mention that the evidence from my consultant was so breif and useless - it didnt explain anything. The doctor and judge on the panel agreed that the evidence from consultant didnt match up with how bad I was at walking into the room. now I think that they think I am putting it all on which I am not. Why couldnt they take into account the 2 letters of evidence from my GP and welfare rights officer that was fully supportive?? I got no chance now.

Hi everyone. just had my appeal hearing. They have adjourned it so they can obtain more evidence from my consultant!! I arrived there in plenty of time and sort of prepared for the questions they will ask. On the way in whilst on two crutches, I lost my balance and nearly fell in front of them twice, falling onto the wall on both occasions which all three of the panel saw. They introduced themselves and also I had a DWP representative sitting next to me. The doctor started asking me questions and I was answering them, I thought all was going well until the judge said there was not much evidence from my consultant. I told them that I will be going to a different hospital with a new consultant in April10. I was told to sit outside in the waiting room, when called back in to the room they told me they wanted evidence from this new consultant that I havent even seen yet, and when they have the required information and evidence will be called back to finish the appeal. The appeal didnt get going really, no questions from the judge or the other person who would ask about my needs and how my daily life is affected. To me, this new consultant wont be able to say much about me after the first consultation.???? So, Im still none the wiser, and still waiting, but at least it was not a refusal.

Hi everyone. Well only 2 days to go for the hearing and Im bricking it now!. Got my submission from my welfare rights, and they sent it in to them last week. Im trying to get some thoughts together about the questions they may ask, hard as I dont know what they will ask. Anyway, will let you all know the outcome later this week when I find out. THANK YOU ALL WHO REPLIED TO ME AND GAVE ME HELP AND ADVICE... IT IS ALL HIGHLY APPRECIATED.

P.S - I forgot to mention Currently I am getting Incapacity benefit have been since 2006, pass all the atos medicals. I also have a BLUE DISABLED PARKING BADGE that was issued in May 2009 and from a letter / report from my GP. I can get everything else, why cant I get DLA????

Hi again Right everyone I have been through the paperwork several times extemely carefully. I have however found a few things they have said about me that dont agree with 1- I use 2 crutches, my bad leg in the air using my good leg and sort of swing my body through the crutches dragging the bad legalong the ground. I support my weight on the handles of the crutches, move them forward, then lift my good leg ( now im on no legs just hands supporting me with crutches ), then my body swings through. The DWP doctor wrote in his report : There is no evidence of any problem in the other leg, so he will not be swinging though the crutches, should be able to walk 100meters plus and perform all daily living activities safely. To me I do swing So how does someone swing through their crutches ? 2- I never said anything to them about the other leg as there is nothing wrong with it ( yet ! ) 3 -They say I have restrictions and difficulties - course I do otherwise I wouldnt be claiming in the first place. 4- Can anyone tell me what they mean by H.F.R ?. Just now hope these facts ( errors ) and my submission from my local welfare rights will convince the panel I need DLA. What do you think?

Thanks Simon and honeybee. I will look through the paperwork very carefully. They seem to have taken no notice of what my GP has written. I was also awarded with my blue parking badge a month before I applied for DLA. I got that from only a letter from my Gp. My consultant is not very good, not saying too much, just brief points. I have a letter from him as evidence which is only 4 lines long!!!. My GP extremely helpful, I also have a report from my occupational health therapist. Also I was in private housing with only 1 toilet upstairs, as I struggle with stairs, I got a Housing Association house with a toilet boyh upstairs and downstairs, that saves me having to climb stairs whenever need the toilet. This house is getting some grab rails, an extra stair bannister, and Ive already got a bath lift/chair for me from Social Services. All This has been going on since before they made their decision. To me, it feels they have not listened to me, how I am, how im effected, etc, they only listened to what a doctor who has never seen me, and doenst know anything about me. Like you and everyone else in this situation everything is provided by the relevant people, they wont listen. due to all this, my mobility, pain etc i am also diagnosed with depression and on more medication. I am on morphine for the pain and a few months ago took an overdose of morphine. Anyway, I will go through the paper work and see what I can find. Thanks again:eek:

Yes thanks very much simon, honeybee, and kelkou for all your help and and advise. SIMON - I have just been reading your post about your DLA appeal tribunal hearing, we sound very similar. What I read has given me some hope. If you got any further points or advise for me, it will be greatly appriciated. I do already own and drive a automatic car at the mo, have been for about 18 months CHEERS everyone

Thanks for all the help guys. Im getting a clearer idea now. The DWP original decision stated that although I have restrictions I do not qualify for the Higher rate DLA. To me they are nearly there, having restrictions means that a person has problems walking. The DWP doctor decided that I could walk, someone who has never met me or seen me. My GP has written in and it states that i can only walk 30 - 50 meters and that takes me a long time. My consultant has written saying I have problems with walking. They award this to people who DO NOT need the help, and people who do need help CANNOT get DLA. Anyway as for scooter or crutches I think I will take both. Leave scooter outside and go in on my crutches so they can see how much I struggle when walking. The big day is 17 March 10 in the afternoon.

They reckon the venue is a 5 min walk ( for someone who has no walking problem like them ) from the car park and bus station. That I think has helped me. I cannot walk that far without 2 crutches, and if I did would take me around 15 - 20 mins with a couple of rests. So, I will go on my scooter, and explain that to them. I may try and take my crutches a well, but not sure yet. Less than 3 weeks to wait.

Hi. Thanks for all the advice. I have my hearing date at last, now very nervous. I dont know what to say when I get there, dont know whether to go on my crutches or take my scooter. In the letter they reckon it is a 5 min walk, from Bus station to the venue - ( that will take me 20 or so mins for me?? ) Will let you know how I get on Regards Neil.

HI ALL. SINCE I POSTED THIS THREAD MY IM STILL WAITING FOR MY HEARING DATE. THE WELFARE RIGHTS OFFICER IS HELPING ME. SHE HAS WRITTEN TO MY GP AND CONSULTANT AGAIN, MY GP HAS REPLIED AND HE STATES I CAN ONLY WALK 30 - 50 METERS. WILL THIS HELP MUCH?? DONT KNOW IF CONSULTANT HAS REPLIED YET AND IF SO WHAT HE HAS WRITTEN. I HAVE STILL GOT DEPRESSION WHICH IAM ON REGULAR MEDICATION, STILL STRUGGLE TO DRESS / UNDRESS / WASH MY LOWER HALF OF BODY. COOKING A MEAL WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME, AS IM ON 2 CRUTCHES EVEN ROUND THE HOUSE. ON MORPHINE PAIN KILLERS. GOT THE BIG PACK OF PAPERWORK BEFORE XMAS, SENT IT BACK, SO THE TRIBUNAL HAS HAD THESE SINCE JUST BEFORE XMAS - STILL WAITING FOR A DATE, I DID ALSO TICK THE SHORT NOTICE BOX ON THE FORM. CAN ANYONE OUT THERE PLEASE ADVISE ME OF 1)- HOW MUCH LONGER BEFORE THE HEARING? 2)- HOW MY CHANCES OF WINNING ARE.- I WILL BE ATTENDING. 3)- I DONT KNOW WHETHER IT BEST TO GO ON SCOOTER OR CRUTCHES. ANY ADVICE PLEASE REPLY. THANKS.