im currently on esa for not been able to walk unaided with crutches for more than a few metres. this is due to a back and leg injury from many moons ago. i was diagnosed with epilepsy around 3-4 weeks ago after suffering absence seizures for over 12 months . i then had a full epileptic seizure whilst in bed and woke up in hospital ,i was in severe pain with my right leg and sciatica for which they have prescribed diazipam they did an mri of my spine and i was told i have 2 ruptured disks L1 and L3 but they would not operate as i could still control my bladder. i am still in agony with it weeks later and the right half of my right foot is completley numb. my doctor has made me an appointment with a neurosurgeon for june with a outlook to operate and have a diskoptomy ? i however dont think its epilepsy as im confused most times ,and forget just about everything im asked of or told . i cannot even think in a noisey enviroment .plus i can have upto 17 absence seizures a day . then 1 week ago i suffered a massive heart attack and needed stents putting in my arteries. im now on 15 different types of medication a day totalling over 30 tablets in a 24hour period . im not allowed to drive either way with a heart attack or epilepsy the worst thing i think is im only 42 years old ,not over weight .6ft ,12.5 stone .dont drink ,do drugs or smoke . i could cope with the back pain and leg pain before and with the codeine and naproxen i was managing the pain . now i can,t cope with anything even just 1 task is hard to do .

My 5 year old as been accessed for adhd we.ve seen the doctor this week who as said it looks like he does have it but can.t be formely diagnoised until he gets the school psycologist report but the school is just dragging their feet i asked months ago for this the doctor has now written to the school to speed it up. The school and i had to fill a qyestionare out schools score was worse than mine, he.s getting behind at school cause he finds it hard to concontrate and keep still he.s forever getting into trouble and being sent to the headmaster along with another boy who as just been told he also as adhd them to bind really well together. My son is also sensitive to some foods aswell i notice cause some make him very more hyper just like some medications. So would i need him to be diagnoised first or should i just go ahead and see what happens mind time they get round to going through the forms he.d probably be diagnoised with it.thanks in advance

A relative who is 75 currently gets the higher mobility and lower care component of DLA (both on an indefinite award). Their situation has worsened and they now require more daytime assistance/supervision; thus should probably be entitled to the middle rate care component. If they report their change of circumstances what will happen? With the current culture they are wary of being re-assessed due to the onerous guidelines now in place and they couldn't deal with the stress of having their benefit reduced and having to appeal. Thanks for any help and guidance.

I currently receive HRC and LRM but would now be entitled to HRM as my condition has got significantly worse. I am not in a PIP area and my current award is due to expire in 2 years. If I decided to report a change of circumstances in order to receive HRM I think it would still be a DLA claim. Am I right? I'm not yet ready to risk a PIP claim even though I shouldn't be any worse off.

I was having a chat with my parents about various benefits and it started a big debates on DLA and Mobility. I don't know if anyone can help ... basically my parents (both 68 years old) recieve DLA and Mobility component plus their pension and housing benefit. They are worried that DLA and mobility is changing and worry over losing this benefit as it is a large amount that contributes to their bills and general expenses. My Father who is ill gets the top rate on both components and my Mother who is also unwell but not as serious gets the middle rate on both components. They are worried sick as they keep hearing some elements are being cut or reassessed but I said as you are genuine recipients I think the government are mainly focussing on working age 16-64 year olds. They have claimed DLA and Mobility for around 15 years in total. Does anyone know how (and if) they will be affected or as pensioners with pension credit and genuinely unwell with various conditions they will be expempt from reapplication and PiP etc? If any of them lost a large chunk of money they would basically be homeless! Many thanks

Need some advice if possible. I am currently on DLA HRM and LRC since 2006, my initial application failed for any MR but awarded LRC so I asked for a review which agreed same so I went to appeal and in between provided further evidence. Please note I had included on my application and in continuation sheet that my condition was variable and reference was made to good and bad days. I went to appeal hearing and it was agreed to adjourn for more information from a medical examination. I had the examination and just a week later suffered a brain injury which almost killed me and required surgery, upon discharge more documentation from the tribunal service had arrived including he doctors report which was to be added to my bundle for the next hearing. There were one or two errors in my opinion in the docs statement so I wrote to the tribunal to say so and to advise that I had just been discharged from hospital with a serious brain injury, that my care needs had increased temporarily and my mobility remained unchanged and confirmed attendance at the rescheduled hearing although I could no longer drive (DVLA removed my licence for 6 months min). To my surprise without the final hearing I received notification from the tribunal service that my appeal was revised by the Appeals Officer, without the further hearing and was a more favourable one! I then received instanty an award letter from DWP stating HRM and LRC indefinately. Since the award I have the added post brain trauma syptoms which are in addition to my original claim but by care needs are now as they were at the point of claim, mobility remains the same. I have just received a letter to invite me to attend and IUC with DWP regarding possible criminal offence regarding my benefits, I only claim DLA as work (home based) as I did at the point of claim. I have read everything I can on this online so am getting rather clued up but am absolutely dreading the interview. I have arranged for legal representation as I know I will not cope with the interview on my own. I am guessing if they have had a tip off that I am not disabled that I will have been under surveillance and that they will have evidence to now support the allegation; however my circumstances have not changed in my opinion, I am as I was at the point of application and have referred to good days to show that my issues are not always present i.e variable so I am assuming any evidence would be around those such times (I am never out in public at the worst times) If anything my condition is worse given the new syptoms and I am guessing he will not be aware of my brain issue or new syptoms which, given they will not change my award were never reported directly to DWP as they are technically additional issues with mobility and mental health and this will not increase my award! I have had and continue to have ongoing treatment for all my conditions, have been hospitalised four times since claiming including two strokes, now what a benefit thief would have to suffer! What I am worried about is that I never qualified in the first instance and I am wondering if the Tribunal, faced with news of my significant brain trauma and hospitalisation, have made a decision to award and I am now paying the price! My mobility features on servere discomfort and pain and whilst I had stated risk of fall and stumbles and the need (but do not always have) for somebody to be with me; for the record I attended the hearing alone as it was not possible to have somebody with me. Two questions, If I have stated variation in my application and I have variation now can they prosecute on this i.e. no change in circumstance to report and secondly, would the tribunal have a manuscript of the hearing and details as to why they overturned the decision as I think this would also support my case and if so how can I get access to this. I am rather expecting the chap from DWP will be sat there, with my application and photos/video of my walking unaided or not seemingly with pain which is not unusual but not my permanent state of mobility; I usually always have a walking aid unless extremely well (rarely) Will he have all the tribunal paperwork as within this is where all relevance to variable is in the main other than reference to this in a few places in my application? I also hope he has the written note sent to the Tribunal (and confirmed as received) stating I had had the brain injury, was now home and care needs increased but mobility not) as this is a change in circumstance which I have reported. I do not believe anything has changed, no surgery, no cure and still with a degenerative condition! I am fully aware of the need to notify if anything changes but not if it changes day by day? I would be on the phone to DLA every day! Has anybody been to an IUC, how was it and what should I expect. This is making me more sick, have not eaten a thing for 48 hrs, pain is escalating and affecting everything for me! One minute I am a wreck the next I want to fight this all the way, they can not accuse me of fraud, I have not knowingly done anything and actually pay more in taxes that the bloody benefit is worth! One last point, phoned today to rearrange the interview and the chap was a little bit shocked to hear I was bringing a legal rep; not rolling over with this. Any help, support, encouragement or opinion gratefully received. Worried sick!

I was claiming DLA for bipolar disorder. i have been working for DWP too. I got interviewed under caution by fraud department in the summer. I have now been summons to appear at the magistrates court. they say I failed to report changes of circumstance. Looking at it now I can see things changed, but I didn't complete the form, I just signed it, my mum filled it in. So I had no idea what was on it. I am appealing the DLA decision, trying to get at least lower. I suffer with depression and mania, and am suicidal. does anyone have any idea what will happen, what kind of punishment I will get. If I get a criminal record, I will never get my life back on track. I about to be sack from DWP too, losing my house because I'm bankrupt, and we can't afford to stay on one wage. I am so frightened and need some advice. I'm seeing a solicitor on Thursday. Its for about £7500, overpayment from Jan 2012 to July 2013, I started paying back this month.

hi I am claiming dla and have had my premium stopped because my son has reached the age of 19, so in theory I am being penalised for allowing my son to live at home, is there anything I can do, apart from evicting my son. I am feeling the cut in income as well as a £1000 overpayment I accumulated and have to repay

Helloooooooooooooooooooooooooo.... Back again for some encouragement advice. As you will know from previous posts I am not Au Fait with benefit solutions This time it for me no friends involved My little munchkin will be 3 next month. She has been attending a child development center for nearly 1 year and attending under 3 nursery ( only given to kids who really need it in this area) for a few month. We have been granted funding and has a "play-friend" at nursery to "encourage" her. We have been doing a round of mini appointments and assessments recently as she is being formally assessed for Autism next month and a group of health professionals will decided if she is on the Autism spectrum or has other learning difficulties etc etc etc Now out of the 4 appointments this week 3 of the "professionals" asked if we were already claiming DLA.... we are not ...did not even cross my mind.....but have been advised to look at this..... any advice on similar situations or applications please......would we be able to? Is it something we should be doing?...both me and Mr Ida work part-time and get tax credits. I thank you

Hey Folks, I've just received a letter this week with a DLA renewal form giving me until Jan 27th, 2014 to send it in. Despite being in constant comms with the DLA, i.e. sending them every letter from consultants, doctors and therapists since my claim I have to renew it? I don't quite get this, in every second letter it's made quite clear that this is a permanent illness. Do I need to renew every 2 years or something? What's worse is the pure stress of being scared to send this is fearing a battle is causing other repercussions... At the moment, I rely HEAVILY on my DLA to cover annoying costs of dealing with it, and rely even mores on the disability component of my WTC to keep my head just above water. On top of all of that is because I'm only 34, if they botch it up and deny me, which I've seen happening more and more all over the place I'll even lose my HB as it just covers my rent due to being on DLA. What can I do about this to keep my back covered? It's not like this illness is going away, specialists which took a 7 year waiting list to see confirm everything in writing too. I'm almost tempted to send the form back sarcastically and in big red writing "should i renew my illness too?" lol Some advise would be really handy. Cheers, A *edit* just to add, even the medication that I'm been treated with should be a good indicator, being in the amphetamine phonily and being a listed controlled medication, it's potent stuff and not given out like smarties by doctors :-/

Sorry I know this is only a minor thing, but have those entitled to this £10 received it? I get high rate DLA and in ESA Support Group but had no letter or payment.

My daughter has type 1 Diabetes. She received DLA with the lower mobility allowance up to the beginning of this year. We then had to re-apply in about March and in about June we were informed that she was no longer eligible to receive the allowance. Nothing has changed in her outlook, though. So far as I can remember, there was no mention on the letter of the ability to appeal the decision. When she had her latest hospital appointment, last week (she has to have them every three months), I mentioned the situation to her doctor and he said we should appeal. I am concerned that because it is almost 6 months since we received the letter removing her entitlement, that we would not be allowed to appeal. Do we have to reapply because of the lapsed time or can we still appeal and ask them to reconsider the decision? Mark

Hey I hope somebody can provide some advice, I am posting here on behalf of my farther who sadly lost his brother around a month ago. He was in a care home for the last 23 years of his life, he was severely mentally disabled and was unable to look after himself or any of his own affairs, my father let the care home manage his finances, my farther only needed to sign when something major was needed to be bought (eg specially adapted bed) but other than that everything seemed to be fine, around 12 months ago the care home manager showed my farther a copy of the statement of account which had around £10,000 but they needed him to sign to buy some things which he did. My father made a phone call to the head office to check the status of the funeral payment as the funeral director advised it had still not been paid. They advised they are paying it today but after that there will be around £700 left because there has been a benefit over payment which until now nobody had mentioned to my farther until now. The over payment has been taken back in full since my uncles death just looking for some advice on what we can do and who to contact about this as it seems confusing that nobody mentioned a word of this until now. Thanks

I've just read on the 'Benefits and Work' forum that DLA claimants outside the 'Capita' area who are not currently being transferred to PIP are (mostly) no longer going to be assessed by ATOS and will instead have their claims decided based on information from 'a variety of sources' (DWP). Apart from obvious questions such as why? and if DWP no longer need ATOS, what have they been paying them for? I mostly would like to know if it's true? Also, would it apply to Attendance Allowance claims or were they never assessed by ATOS?

Hi A friend seems to have a problem, she is self employed, single parent, works 25 hours per week, £100 per week income (if she's lucky) one child on DLA, receives CA, council is saying she can only work 9 hours per week to receive the full (91%) council tax benefit, yet working tax credits say minimum hours need to be 16 hours. Does all this sound right? What can she do?

Hello, Had a home visit for DLA. First letter was postmarked a Friday with a 2nd class stamp for an appointment on the following Tuesday so only got the letter a few hours prior to the appointment. therefore rearranged it as no notice given, have kept envelope and letter Atos said they do not need to give any notice and they posted in plenty of time! Can anyone advise a link to guidelines were ATOS state the notice period that they have to or should give? Dr that turned up introduced himself as a current GP. However he is not on the GP or specialist register. When confronted with this at a later date - he has now said he didn't say this. However an audio recording was in place for personal use. Dr ignored aids I use and what he was told, stating I need no help - basically he has written a false report to say no care help required despite various reports from experts being ignored. Despite not being a current GP he carried out a physical examination and an eye test - GMC complaint maybe? Dr then went on to diagnose that I had a severe mental condition and suggested I should start treatment - news to myself and medical team. Something made up from a line I said about feeling a bit low at times. Have done an initial complaint via ATOS but it's they're stating the DR didn't do any of that and he is right and I'm wrong attitude - they haven't stated where to go now - what's the next level of complaint I can take? Any advise folks?! Thanks!

At the moment I am in the WRAG (just started the work programme) thought at the moment they are not hassling me. Anyway I have my DLA appeal next week. Recorded I suffer from Depression Anxiety Arthritis High Blood pressure On going chest infection On medication for the lot. I have just had a chest x-ray for a very long ongoing chest complaint (results should be known next week). At the moment I use an inhaler, antibiotics, but they not really helping. I am also booked for an Asthma clinic (if the chest x-ray shows nothing more)/ The pressure of it all is making the condition worse, can I use this info at my DLA appeal. There is mention of long term chest infections on the doctors print out I have sent them, just not the latest about the x-ray. They will also be able to hear my racking cough, and wheezing so they can tell I have a problem.

Someone has asked me to enquire on their behalf regarding the new PIP rules when someone is already in receipt of DLA. They received their award following their consultant completing form DS500 which advises the DLA team that they have a terminal condition. They have a motability vehicle through the scheme and their DLA award is due to expire next summer. They have spoken to the DLA team this week and been advised that they will receive a telephone call approximately 20 weeks in advance to be interviewed over the phone and subject to their answers is whether or not they get it renewed. I have been researching through this site to look for similar threads but I presume because it is quite early on in the transition of things, that not too many people have yet been affected. Therefore, can anyone point me in the right direction as to what they might expect in a telephone interview and whether their consultant is still able to complete forms on behalf of his patient? Who will carry out these telephone interviews? Will there still be an appeal process? I am certainly not looking for people's personal opinions as to whether a terminal patient should or should not receive this benefit, I am strictly looking for accurate information set out by either DLA/government bodies or other community organisations which maybe fighting the government and or supporting people through this transitional process. Thanks in advance

I am trying to complete mine but am shocked to see nearly all the questions are centered around people who can walk, so for example there are no choices for wheelchair users when getting around , just those who can walk. It doesn't even ask if you can stand , or reach etc any more either , I mean I might as well write them a whole dossier as there is nothing really there at all geared towards asking questions about serious disability. mike

Well going off my experience there is no such thing. I was previously getting Lower Care Rate. I posted my renewal claim on */oct and got a reply through the letter box 9 days later. No doctors notes sent or surgeons appointments etc. I have now got Lower Care Rate awarded indefiinatey. They just based the decision on the info on the form I in had filled in, yet previously they contacted my GP and Surgeon for info. Just goes to show what an absolute joke this system is !!, when other people much worse off than me get turned down.

Hello everyone. I have a doctor visit on Saturday about a DLA claim. Does anyone have any experience or advice regarding this. I have heard people say don't sign things but surely they will need some kind of signature at some point. I'm really looking for what to expect and what to look out for. So any help at all would be really appreciated.

Hi there, after a home visit medical I was awarded high mobility and NO care. I cannot understand how they have decided that I have not been awarded care component. I am thinking i should appeal, but i have several questions. the letter says that i can write or phone within 1 month of date of letter. (I have about 10 days left) and that if since receiving this letter we have sent you a written statement of reasons for our decision you have at least an extra 14 days to make your appeal. How do you get a written statement of reasons? .. In the award letter it does say having considered all the information i have decided the following ( and incorrectly lists not needing help to prepare a meal, lists day attention areas not needed. and not needing night attention more than once or for 20 mins or more a night).... is this the statement of reasons? How do you get to see what was written in the EMP report as i cannot see how the difficulties i stated ( i recorded the medical for my own memory) would result in a NO care award. when I appealed my ESA , i didnt request a review and went straight to asking for an appeal ( as the review is done automatically)... and I waited for the tribunal pack before preparing a submission is the same for DLA? I will probably have some more questions , but right now i need to know how to proceed . many thanks in advance

Hi All, My Sister has just received her DLA renewal award, it has remained the same High Care and High Mobility, what is confusing me it states she will receive this for the rest of her life, I thought everyone has to claim PIP from April of this year??? any suggestions..

Hi everybody, I'm hoping someone can help me because I'm terrified. I receive DLA. My award ends in Jan 2014. When I was assessed by one of their doctors in March 2012 I was working part time. I started a full time job in November 2012. Not to make excuses, but I was just out of surgery and I had just moved house and broken up with my long term partner all within the same couple of months as starting my job. I thought I phoned to inform the DWP of my change of circumstances. I hadn't. I only realised this about a month ago when I was sorting out some Working Tax Credit stuff and they advised that I hadn't changed my employer. I thought I had done both at the same time. I wrote to the DWP as soon as I realised this, and told them that my circumstances had changed and requested they stop my DLA immediately, and now they are sending out a change of circumstances pack. I just dont want this benefit anymore. I know this amounts to benefit fraud and I am petrified about what is going to happen to me. I will lose my job if I have a criminal record and my doctor has put me on anti depressants and diazepam because I am having panic attacks and have started to think about killing myself because if I lose my job I wont have anything. Nothing has actually happened yet with the DWP, I haven't had an interview under caution or anything but I am so scared that something is going to happen I just dont know what to do. If I have to pay back money I'll pay it back, I just cant have a criminal record or I'll have lost everything I have worked for. Can someone please give me some advice on what to do, I am completely terrified right now. Thank you.

Hi, My 64 year old wife receives DLA at the lower level for mobility and personal care. Her current entitlement ends mid January 2014 and she received claim forms today for it's continuation. The form stated that she should complete and return it ASAP but I have heard that if she did this and her claim was denied then her current payments would stop immediately instead of carrying on until January. Can anyone throw some light on this? Also she thought that DLA was being replaced with PIP yet the renewal forms all say DLA. Would I be correct in thinking that because of her age and the fact that she is over retirement age the Government will not be so anxious to get her off DLA as they would someone of working age? Thanks in advance.