good luck!
Thanks del and kyle,also not sure who email was from but thanks for the advice.
The CAB people should sort you out.
I haven't been employed by DSS or know anyone who would admit to it.
Having said that the golden rule they apply, regardless of department, is to send a letter saying "NO" or if they can't get away with that i.e. you are only a head, they will put you on the bottom rung and pay as little as they can get away with.
Also who brought the rule that payments are only backdated to the date of the claim. If you are mentaly defficient, MD (as you will come to know I mean me) and you struggle on as best you can in total denial with no-one telling you of your rights, (I know the PDS web site is festooned with info ), try to keep working, etc., you could lose years of benefit.
There is no department set aside to pro-actively go out and seek pwp's and make sure they get all benefits due to them.
The pre-filled application form should be signed when your GP hands you your prescrition.
******************************************************************
The fact that this is non-means tested and you can still receive DLA regardless of income ( I know I've just repeated myself, MD ).
That should be written on a board 4ft high and stapled to your forehead with a note saying take me to the nearest Work & Pensions Department when you are diagnosed.
******************************************************************
That may seem a bit OTT, but when you have PD and are a bit MD, like me, I also worked in IT, its the best remedee. (OK its getting late, its 4am. I started this at 2pm).
Don't give in to these faceless wonders, they rely on that. Appeal and appeal again.
I, for example, had months of DWP telling me that the money I received from an employer was a pension and that I was not entitled to Incapacity Benfit. What actually happend was I went on Long Term Sick when I could no longer work. I was only 35. The department that handles the most Incapacity Benefit claims in the UK, and should have known better, chose to re-arrange the letters a bit and called it a pension so that they could say "NO". It beggered belief. Months of stupidity. Hoping I'd fall for it. Do they get a bonus or jusst get a kick out. After a few other claims I discovered however much of a certainty it was, the first answer is always "NO".
If CAB doesnt work go to you councillor or MP or MSP or MEP, they dont like it that at all. They come on the phone all whiney like you just poured water on the wicked witch.
Cut a long story short
1 You apply
2 Regardles of what they say -unless its top whack-never been known
3 You Appeal
4 If Lose repeat Step 3
5 Win
Eck
I haven't been employed by DSS or know anyone who would admit to it.
Having said that the golden rule they apply, regardless of department, is to send a letter saying "NO" or if they can't get away with that i.e. you are only a head, they will put you on the bottom rung and pay as little as they can get away with.
Also who brought the rule that payments are only backdated to the date of the claim. If you are mentaly defficient, MD (as you will come to know I mean me) and you struggle on as best you can in total denial with no-one telling you of your rights, (I know the PDS web site is festooned with info ), try to keep working, etc., you could lose years of benefit.
There is no department set aside to pro-actively go out and seek pwp's and make sure they get all benefits due to them.
The pre-filled application form should be signed when your GP hands you your prescrition.
******************************************************************
The fact that this is non-means tested and you can still receive DLA regardless of income ( I know I've just repeated myself, MD ).
That should be written on a board 4ft high and stapled to your forehead with a note saying take me to the nearest Work & Pensions Department when you are diagnosed.
******************************************************************
That may seem a bit OTT, but when you have PD and are a bit MD, like me, I also worked in IT, its the best remedee. (OK its getting late, its 4am. I started this at 2pm).
Don't give in to these faceless wonders, they rely on that. Appeal and appeal again.
I, for example, had months of DWP telling me that the money I received from an employer was a pension and that I was not entitled to Incapacity Benfit. What actually happend was I went on Long Term Sick when I could no longer work. I was only 35. The department that handles the most Incapacity Benefit claims in the UK, and should have known better, chose to re-arrange the letters a bit and called it a pension so that they could say "NO". It beggered belief. Months of stupidity. Hoping I'd fall for it. Do they get a bonus or jusst get a kick out. After a few other claims I discovered however much of a certainty it was, the first answer is always "NO".
If CAB doesnt work go to you councillor or MP or MSP or MEP, they dont like it that at all. They come on the phone all whiney like you just poured water on the wicked witch.
Cut a long story short
1 You apply
2 Regardles of what they say -unless its top whack-never been known
3 You Appeal
4 If Lose repeat Step 3
5 Win
Eck
hello what a good post do feel this is what they want for us to go away and not kick up fuss but as it has been said it is your right and even when told rules are rules Isay yes BUTabout time they change
Unfortunately we have to accept that a large proportion of people claming benefits af all kinds are "trying it on". As a result the officials get into the mind set that any application is fraudulent and should be rejected. They hope the con-men will give up and go away after rejection.
However if an official is used to, say, 80% of applications not being genuine, they may let an application go round the application/appeal/rejection route several times before they even look at it properly. Eventually they study it in detail, and if you're genuine you get awarded the lowest rate.
Then you appeal, because you KNOW you're entitled to the top rate, and round the same cycle we go again, till they put us up a notch. And so on until we get our full and correct entitlement.
Been there, got the T-shirt, done it. The whole process will take several months. Good luch one and all!
However if an official is used to, say, 80% of applications not being genuine, they may let an application go round the application/appeal/rejection route several times before they even look at it properly. Eventually they study it in detail, and if you're genuine you get awarded the lowest rate.
Then you appeal, because you KNOW you're entitled to the top rate, and round the same cycle we go again, till they put us up a notch. And so on until we get our full and correct entitlement.
Been there, got the T-shirt, done it. The whole process will take several months. Good luch one and all!
Hi Eck,
Thanks for the post,sorry has taken a while to reply.I haven't had much time to be on here.
It was CAB that helped me fill in form for DLA which I got turned down,After phoning to say I disagreed decision I got letter through with giro I had been awarded low rate care.
I have now put in a letter for appeal.I went to CAB for help again,got warned I might lose low rate care and recieve nothing.She is saying I don't have a chance with mobility claim as it is all based on walking.Although have some problems with legs my major problem is hands slow and weak.I really feel I need an automatic with other adjustments made to it as well.If it was only me I wouldn't worry so much but as I have 3 kids who need taking to school and appointments whatever weather and however pd is it is so frustrating.
I am fighting the decision just wish felt CAB was doing the same
Take care Dot xx
Thanks for the post,sorry has taken a while to reply.I haven't had much time to be on here.
It was CAB that helped me fill in form for DLA which I got turned down,After phoning to say I disagreed decision I got letter through with giro I had been awarded low rate care.
I have now put in a letter for appeal.I went to CAB for help again,got warned I might lose low rate care and recieve nothing.She is saying I don't have a chance with mobility claim as it is all based on walking.Although have some problems with legs my major problem is hands slow and weak.I really feel I need an automatic with other adjustments made to it as well.If it was only me I wouldn't worry so much but as I have 3 kids who need taking to school and appointments whatever weather and however pd is it is so frustrating.
I am fighting the decision just wish felt CAB was doing the same
Take care Dot xx
Hi dotty,
I was wondering where you had got to. You are becoming as bad as myself. Now you see me, Now you don't sort of thing.
I really don't understand why they are making it so difficult for you to claim.
Unless of course they have been instructed to save money because of the debt problem this country is facing.
I wish you luck.
I was wondering where you had got to. You are becoming as bad as myself. Now you see me, Now you don't sort of thing.
I really don't understand why they are making it so difficult for you to claim.
Unless of course they have been instructed to save money because of the debt problem this country is facing.
I wish you luck.
Hi kvell,
Thanks, good to have you as friend,need all support I can get at minute.Seems you have to fight for everything,nothings easy in life.Feeling totally drained but guess thats the plan,stressed,exhausted,lack sleep,frustrated lose fight,give up let them win.
Take care Dot x
Thanks, good to have you as friend,need all support I can get at minute.Seems you have to fight for everything,nothings easy in life.Feeling totally drained but guess thats the plan,stressed,exhausted,lack sleep,frustrated lose fight,give up let them win.
Take care Dot x
hello just readihg your post sorry things are bad for you kown Igo on a bit but yes was told dont like what they give apeel you could lose everything also they might wish for you to go away and acpet what they gave you but if you feel you can dont give up as you come this far ask why no mobtiey well what every you do try and keep smileing wishing all the best del
Hi Dotty
I'm sorry you are having such problems especially with the CAB who should be supportive.
Have you got an Information Support Worker in your area? They might be able to help. The PDS would be able to tell you who she/he would be. It was mine who eventually got my benefits for me by writing to them but it is very scary knowing that they can take away your care award from you. I know some people get benefits when they are not entitled to them but an awful lot of people with PD seem to have to fight for them & it is very unfair.
Best of luck,
Ceal
I'm sorry you are having such problems especially with the CAB who should be supportive.
Have you got an Information Support Worker in your area? They might be able to help. The PDS would be able to tell you who she/he would be. It was mine who eventually got my benefits for me by writing to them but it is very scary knowing that they can take away your care award from you. I know some people get benefits when they are not entitled to them but an awful lot of people with PD seem to have to fight for them & it is very unfair.
Best of luck,
Ceal
Hi ceal,
when you say that you know some people who receive DLA, it could be you only see them on a good day.
Most people won't see me on a bad day because I don't leave my house unless I need to.
I mean, how can you go out when you are shaking from head to foot, and unable to walk at all. They might spot me returning like that if they are unlucky.
I am sure a few people must have said,"There doesn't seem much wrong with him". More than once.
If only they new. I would gladly places with them any day.
Don't get me wrong ceal, I know there are people like that. But it can be so difficult to be certain who they are.
when you say that you know some people who receive DLA, it could be you only see them on a good day.
Most people won't see me on a bad day because I don't leave my house unless I need to.
I mean, how can you go out when you are shaking from head to foot, and unable to walk at all. They might spot me returning like that if they are unlucky.
I am sure a few people must have said,"There doesn't seem much wrong with him". More than once.
If only they new. I would gladly places with them any day.
Don't get me wrong ceal, I know there are people like that. But it can be so difficult to be certain who they are.
That should have said " gladly change places". I am shaking to much to read it properly.
Hi Kvell
Woops,I think my post came out a bit wrong. I didn't mean that PWP are exaggerating there conditions in order to receive benefits.I had a struggle to get the benefits myself & think that it is wrong that PWP have to fight to get them. We have enough of an everyday struggle without having the Benefits people telling us that because we can walk so many yards we are not entitled to them. Some days I can walk the distance other days I cannot & don't go out.When I phoned to ask them to explain further why I had not received any mobility allowance I was told to read out the whole letter to her. I got so upset that I ended up putting the phone down but our local ISW did write to them & I received a phone call from them apologising for their attitude.
I'm sorry for the misunderstanding,
Best wishes
Ceal
Woops,I think my post came out a bit wrong. I didn't mean that PWP are exaggerating there conditions in order to receive benefits.I had a struggle to get the benefits myself & think that it is wrong that PWP have to fight to get them. We have enough of an everyday struggle without having the Benefits people telling us that because we can walk so many yards we are not entitled to them. Some days I can walk the distance other days I cannot & don't go out.When I phoned to ask them to explain further why I had not received any mobility allowance I was told to read out the whole letter to her. I got so upset that I ended up putting the phone down but our local ISW did write to them & I received a phone call from them apologising for their attitude.
I'm sorry for the misunderstanding,
Best wishes
Ceal
Hi.
My name is Kathy and I was diagnosed with PD 3 years ago, when I was 44. I used to use this forum quite a bit when I was first diagnosed, but I haven’t been on here for a couple of years. But my PD is getting worse, so tonight I decided to have a look at the forum and see if there was any help and support available from other PWPs.
However, there is something that everyone on here should know about me: I work for the DWP. So I am a PWP at the DWP! I don’t actually work for the DLA office (I’ve worked for the Pension Service for 4 and a half years, and prior to that I worked for Jobcentre Plus for several years).
Having read all the posts re DLA, it seems that on this forum there is a general hatred of the DWP. I’ve seen us described as “faceless wonders” and “pen pushing officials”, among other things! A lot of people on here seem to assume that we at DWP take great delight in disallowing claims for DLA and other benefits, but what you should remember is that the staff who deal with claims (in any DWP office) are just working within guidelines which they have no control over. The vast majority of DLA staff are just ordinary people like me who are doing the best they can within the rules. We don’t actually make the rules! So please......give us a break!
I’ll probably be shot down in flames for saying that, but I felt that it needed to be said. And I’m sure I’m not the only one in the DWP who has PD. Maybe some of them have read the derogatory comments about the DWP on here and are frightened to post anything in case it incites a riot!
I sympathise with anyone who has tried to claim DLA and been disallowed. And yes, I have heard that it may be routine policy at the DLA office to disallow claims in the first instance, so that some people at least will give up at the first hurdle. But even if that is true, the people who process the claims do not have any say in that decision. Whatever criteria is used to assess a DLA claim (and I believe that some sort of “points system” is used), this will have been decided at a much higher level than the DWP employees (who are the same grade as me) who just have to follow the rules.
Just for the record, I have not claimed DLA myself because with my benefits background, I’m familiar with the claim forms and the questions that are asked. When I was diagnosed, I could do more or less everything that I had always done, so I thought it was unlikely that I would qualify for either component of DLA. However, as my condition has deteriorated over the past few months, I might try claiming it and see what happens. And if my claim is disallowed......yes, I will appeal.
All the best to everyone who is going through the appeal process. I know it doesn’t seem fair that you have to “jump through hoops”, so to speak, to get what you believe is rightfully yours. But given that DLA is not means-tested, contributory or taxable, doesn’t affect other benefits, and it can even be claimed while working full-time, I guess the “powers that be” are not going to make it too easy to claim. But please don’t shoot the messenger! Don’t forget that the person on the other end of the phone at the DLA office is probably just someone like me who is doing the best they can.
Best wishes.
Kathy
My name is Kathy and I was diagnosed with PD 3 years ago, when I was 44. I used to use this forum quite a bit when I was first diagnosed, but I haven’t been on here for a couple of years. But my PD is getting worse, so tonight I decided to have a look at the forum and see if there was any help and support available from other PWPs.
However, there is something that everyone on here should know about me: I work for the DWP. So I am a PWP at the DWP! I don’t actually work for the DLA office (I’ve worked for the Pension Service for 4 and a half years, and prior to that I worked for Jobcentre Plus for several years).
Having read all the posts re DLA, it seems that on this forum there is a general hatred of the DWP. I’ve seen us described as “faceless wonders” and “pen pushing officials”, among other things! A lot of people on here seem to assume that we at DWP take great delight in disallowing claims for DLA and other benefits, but what you should remember is that the staff who deal with claims (in any DWP office) are just working within guidelines which they have no control over. The vast majority of DLA staff are just ordinary people like me who are doing the best they can within the rules. We don’t actually make the rules! So please......give us a break!
I’ll probably be shot down in flames for saying that, but I felt that it needed to be said. And I’m sure I’m not the only one in the DWP who has PD. Maybe some of them have read the derogatory comments about the DWP on here and are frightened to post anything in case it incites a riot!
I sympathise with anyone who has tried to claim DLA and been disallowed. And yes, I have heard that it may be routine policy at the DLA office to disallow claims in the first instance, so that some people at least will give up at the first hurdle. But even if that is true, the people who process the claims do not have any say in that decision. Whatever criteria is used to assess a DLA claim (and I believe that some sort of “points system” is used), this will have been decided at a much higher level than the DWP employees (who are the same grade as me) who just have to follow the rules.
Just for the record, I have not claimed DLA myself because with my benefits background, I’m familiar with the claim forms and the questions that are asked. When I was diagnosed, I could do more or less everything that I had always done, so I thought it was unlikely that I would qualify for either component of DLA. However, as my condition has deteriorated over the past few months, I might try claiming it and see what happens. And if my claim is disallowed......yes, I will appeal.
All the best to everyone who is going through the appeal process. I know it doesn’t seem fair that you have to “jump through hoops”, so to speak, to get what you believe is rightfully yours. But given that DLA is not means-tested, contributory or taxable, doesn’t affect other benefits, and it can even be claimed while working full-time, I guess the “powers that be” are not going to make it too easy to claim. But please don’t shoot the messenger! Don’t forget that the person on the other end of the phone at the DLA office is probably just someone like me who is doing the best they can.
Best wishes.
Kathy
Hi Kathy, welcome back!
I think that in reality most PwP understand that the people in the front line are just following the rules, and any animosity isn't aimed at them personally. You just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. We "customers" need someone upon whom to vent our frustration, and there you are, like a front line of dispensable foot soldiers protecting the cowardly senior officers behind.
Keep up the good work!
Merve.
I think that in reality most PwP understand that the people in the front line are just following the rules, and any animosity isn't aimed at them personally. You just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. We "customers" need someone upon whom to vent our frustration, and there you are, like a front line of dispensable foot soldiers protecting the cowardly senior officers behind.
Keep up the good work!
Merve.
hello kathy c yes ilook at what you has said and cant agree more my pathways officer was and is BRILL she took notice of what i said and she seem to all ways put me frist even do kown have job to do now with dla i kown that its a long road but again as someone posted because there are pepole out there who will use and abuse because when i worked have seen them with own eyes and dont seem fair but as you said yourself when time come you would aplee ect so do kown how hard the frist port of call saff work
Lucky their office manager isn't Gordon Brown! 
Hi merve + d1d2d3.
Thanks for your comments. It's good to know that some people, at least, realise that we at the "frontline" are doing our best!
All the best to everyone on here who is currently doing battle with the DWP re DLA or other benefits.
Take care.
Kathy
Thanks for your comments. It's good to know that some people, at least, realise that we at the "frontline" are doing our best!
All the best to everyone on here who is currently doing battle with the DWP re DLA or other benefits.
Take care.
Kathy
To be honest, when I filled in my claim form for DLA, didn't think it would be granted, I only completed it because I was told to by Social Services. Having been told by some people how difficult it was to claim, I thought I would be wasting my time.
But Social Services told me. If you make a claim, you may get it, you may not. If you don't claim, you won't get it.
So I completed the form.
I was still working when I was handed the form, and they did say some thing about returning the form with-in a number of weeks of the date they had stamped on it. But I didn't really listen to what she said.
Mostly because I didn't know you could claim when you were still working. Most likely they told me I could, but I probably didn't really understand what she was saying.
In my own mind, the thought was you couldn't claim when you were working and for some reason, no matter what was said, the belief stayed there.
It wasn't until a few months later, when I was more or less forced to take early retirement from my employer, that I submitted the form.
I was then asked why I hadn't submitted it earlier. I told them it was because I was still working until recently.
The lady frowned and said. But you can make a claim when you are working. That way, if DLA is granted, payment will be backdated to the day you received the form.
I now understood why the date had been stamped on the form.
The fault was mine , not Social Services, My mind could not grasp the fact that a claim could be made while you were still earning a living.
Any way, my claim form was submitted eventually. I received a couple of letters from them over the next two months or so, telling me that my claim was being investigated, and no decision had yet been made.
Then they telephoned me, they said if I could answer a few questions now, a decision could be made in the afternoon, and they would let me know.
I am unable to recall what I was asked except for the last one. It was, "Are you in danger of falling". My answer was, "Well, I have nearly fallen on a number of occasions, but have managed to stop myself. But that is the reason my employer wanted me to retire."
The young lady then said.
"In that case, I am able to tell you now, your application is granted and payment will be backdated to the day you submitted it."
I said, "Are you sure, because there are days when I am able to walk quite well".
I was surprised at her answer, it was. " You have paid into the system for most of your life, now you will receive some thing back."
What I am trying to say is that my experience of Social Services etc.. has been good. I have been treated courteously and with respect. Perhaps I am easily pleased. But I can not fault the very people who are offering their help. I know that is what they are paid for, but even so.
So for me, I could not fault them, perhaps I was lucky.
But Social Services told me. If you make a claim, you may get it, you may not. If you don't claim, you won't get it.
So I completed the form.
I was still working when I was handed the form, and they did say some thing about returning the form with-in a number of weeks of the date they had stamped on it. But I didn't really listen to what she said.
Mostly because I didn't know you could claim when you were still working. Most likely they told me I could, but I probably didn't really understand what she was saying.
In my own mind, the thought was you couldn't claim when you were working and for some reason, no matter what was said, the belief stayed there.
It wasn't until a few months later, when I was more or less forced to take early retirement from my employer, that I submitted the form.
I was then asked why I hadn't submitted it earlier. I told them it was because I was still working until recently.
The lady frowned and said. But you can make a claim when you are working. That way, if DLA is granted, payment will be backdated to the day you received the form.
I now understood why the date had been stamped on the form.
The fault was mine , not Social Services, My mind could not grasp the fact that a claim could be made while you were still earning a living.
Any way, my claim form was submitted eventually. I received a couple of letters from them over the next two months or so, telling me that my claim was being investigated, and no decision had yet been made.
Then they telephoned me, they said if I could answer a few questions now, a decision could be made in the afternoon, and they would let me know.
I am unable to recall what I was asked except for the last one. It was, "Are you in danger of falling". My answer was, "Well, I have nearly fallen on a number of occasions, but have managed to stop myself. But that is the reason my employer wanted me to retire."
The young lady then said.
"In that case, I am able to tell you now, your application is granted and payment will be backdated to the day you submitted it."
I said, "Are you sure, because there are days when I am able to walk quite well".
I was surprised at her answer, it was. " You have paid into the system for most of your life, now you will receive some thing back."
What I am trying to say is that my experience of Social Services etc.. has been good. I have been treated courteously and with respect. Perhaps I am easily pleased. But I can not fault the very people who are offering their help. I know that is what they are paid for, but even so.
So for me, I could not fault them, perhaps I was lucky.
Hi Kvell.
I'm glad to hear that your experiences of us DWP officials and Social Services etc have been positive ones! And I'm glad that your DLA claim was successful without you having to fight for it.
One thing does surprise me, though.....you said that the lady at the DLA office made a comment about how you had paid into the system for most of your life and it was now time to get something back.
Given that DLA is non-contributory (i.e. it is not dependant on your National Insurance contributions) and it is also non-means tested (not assessed according to your income, savings etc), I am surprised that she said something like that to you. DLA is assessed purely on physical disability and it doesn't affect other benefits at all, not even income-based benefits like Income Support and Pension Credit. It is not taxable either, and as you say in your post, you can receive it even if you are working full-time.
So if your physical disabilities and needs met the criteria, which they obviously did, you would have been entitled to it anyway, even if you hadn't paid into "the system" at all!
Which presumably is why the "powers that be" make it a bit more difficult to claim than some other benefits, and then they keep strict control over it by making sure that it is reassessed periodically, so that (in theory at least) they can "weed out" anyone with a fraudulent claim who may have slipped through the net in the first instance.
Take care.
Kathy
I'm glad to hear that your experiences of us DWP officials and Social Services etc have been positive ones! And I'm glad that your DLA claim was successful without you having to fight for it.
One thing does surprise me, though.....you said that the lady at the DLA office made a comment about how you had paid into the system for most of your life and it was now time to get something back.
Given that DLA is non-contributory (i.e. it is not dependant on your National Insurance contributions) and it is also non-means tested (not assessed according to your income, savings etc), I am surprised that she said something like that to you. DLA is assessed purely on physical disability and it doesn't affect other benefits at all, not even income-based benefits like Income Support and Pension Credit. It is not taxable either, and as you say in your post, you can receive it even if you are working full-time.
So if your physical disabilities and needs met the criteria, which they obviously did, you would have been entitled to it anyway, even if you hadn't paid into "the system" at all!
Which presumably is why the "powers that be" make it a bit more difficult to claim than some other benefits, and then they keep strict control over it by making sure that it is reassessed periodically, so that (in theory at least) they can "weed out" anyone with a fraudulent claim who may have slipped through the net in the first instance.
Take care.
Kathy