Disability Living Allowance In The UK

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lilpiggy

Joined
Apr 11, 2012
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Hello,

I am new to this site, brilliant.. I am gonna spend some time reading through.

I have applied & been turned down for DLA. I don't want to appeal as I definately did not put enough content on my application form. How long is it before I can request another application pack.. A week.. A month ?

Thank you :)
 
I would appeal, I have heard it is common practice to turn down first applications to weed out those who are just trying it on!

Although I think it is pretty unusual for people with Crohn's to get DLA, because it's primarily aimed at people who need a carer for whatever reason. (not saying you're not entitled, but that it's unusual) and so an appeal is probably the best way to get medical professionals etc to give their opinion on why you need it.

The NACC / Crohn's and Colitis UK have some good info on benefits and applying.
 
DLA In The UK

:shifty:Thanks for your reply Rebecca..

I originally applied end of January, my symptoms have deteriorated since then.. I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis & crohns at xmas & put on medication, which has not helped.. but obviously Im early stages of consultancy.

Amongst all the usual symptoms, each time I leave the house I am suffering bowel incontinence as I maybe at a place where there is no toilet, or I cannot get to one in time etc...
I have taken to not leaving the house now hardly. If I have to then I have a bucket in the car, more often than not I have a bowel evacuation in a public place behind our car or a building. It is getting ridiculous...

I have stopped working as it just is not pheasible right now too.

I am waiting to see the next consultant 4th May.

Ive read briefly on some sites, that bowel disease sufferers generally apply for DLA 2/3 times and can get a rate.. I will try again, Ive got nothing to lose.
But I certainly didnt express how bad things are and in the correct detail, when I last applied, I have since seen a website for Crohns that can help with the DLA form.. :)
 
If you are unable to work, have you applied for ESA? That is the benefit for people who are too sick to work, it takes incontinence into account (dla only looks at ability to walk and ability to care for yourself).
 
I'm on ESA and currently in the support group, which as Rebecca has said you wont be expected to make an attempt to work unless your condition improves.

When I first applied for DLA I was turned down, but then my circumstances changed and even after spending 4 months in hospital and being pretty damn ill I was only Elligible for the minimum care component for £20 a week, My condition has improved to the point where I don't need care now though so I informed them and I no longer receive it. It's pretty hard to get DLA with Crohn's or Colitis as although It can be very debilitating DLA is aimed more at those with physical difficulty's like walking and physically caring for themselves. Which arguably can be caused by a bad flare up but unfortunately they don't see it that way.

If you are to ill to work then ESA is the best route, Or even if you are limited to part time work through fatigue or whatever then You can still work part time and get ESA. You can volunteer for work focus interviews which I'm going to next week in the hope that I can find a route back into work. It's been good for me. You'll need doctors sick notes to back it up for the first 12 weeks where you are on the minimum amount then after that period you will have a "medical" and i use that term very loosely , where they will ***** you and decide whether you need to be in the support or work related group, and decide on the amount you are entitled to, if the amount is higher then they back pay for the first 12 weeks aswell.
 
DLA isn't paid because you have such and such an illness, it's paid if you have care and/or mobility needs.

Sadly if you can clean up after yourself then there is little chance of even low rate care which is £20 odd a week.

If you go for ESA then be prepared to be failed at the "medical" and have to appeal, however the appeal success rates are high, especially if you approach one of the charities for help (CAB, DIAL) and get representation. There are so many appeals it will take 1-2 years if you want to go before a tribunal (recommended) and not a paper hearing. The support group is harder to get into than the others. There are different types of ESA (one is time limited, money for one year only), groups etc but I won't confuse you by going into them.
 
It show at still to UK Goverment still believe people with Crohns or illness same, should be able to be 'normal' but it ok for someone to ill and have embrassement of using bucket.

Thank you for info on ESA Rebecca.
 
No, it is simply that DLA is intended to pay for carers. People with Crohn's generally don't need carers except maybe for short amounts of time (like after operation).

ESA is the benefit for people too ill to work, and that IS payable to some Crohn's sufferers under the incontinence descriptor.

Other things to bear in mind are-
Working tax credit disability element (if you are working part time 16+ hours and claim another disability benefit you may be eligible).
There are grants available for one off home improvement costs (maybe a second toilet? Or upgrade from shower to wet room?).
Water companies will cap your bills if you are on a meter and have Crohn's or UC (scheme called WaterSure).
 
wow your advice regarding DLA and ESA is interesting! i have CD and after my resection i am left with severe diarrhea which is having a huge impact on my life at least one accident a day and could be looking to lose my job because of it! My job involves going into the classroom to teach which is nigh on impossible now. However some how i have coped not too well i hasten to add! But since 2009 i have had a lot of time off sick and now work are hinting at letting me go for medical reasons.
My question is if i dnt get DLA do i go for ESA and as i am a single person with a 19 yr son living at home and privately renting will i be entitled to help with my rent? also hopefully work will let me reduce my hours to part time. You mentioned being on a benefit....i am in receipt of WTC will that help me get extra help?
Or do i make myself worse and pretend i can manage the diarrhea and go into the classroom!
I am so worried i could lose everything i have built up!
Claire
 
thankfulchicken thats how i was at the time of quiting my job,i was ill.lost 3stone in weight,wouldnt eat and struggled like hell to get a days work done,i was a delivery driver and had to do alot of heavy manual lifting,which wasnt easy when i wasnt eating and had no energy,but my boss was only interested in the work being done,not my health so i quit and claimed esa,which was incapacity benefit at the time of claiming,if you genuinly struggle with the D which im sure you do the go and see the benefits people,they will probably make you attend a medical and just tell them that you soil yourself and cant control the D and you are taking loads of time of work,its only £110 pw so being a teacher you will loose a lot of money but there may be other benefits like help with rent as i live with my wife in a bought house and she is a teacher with good pay so we can pay the mortgage but the goverment still have to allow you to live if you cant work....
also a letter from the gp and consultant should help your case...
hope this helps with your situation...

Craig
 
thankfulchicken said:
wow your advice regarding DLA and ESA is interesting! i have CD and after my resection i am left with severe diarrhea which is having a huge impact on my life at least one accident a day and could be looking to lose my job because of it! My job involves going into the classroom to teach which is nigh on impossible now. However some how i have coped not too well i hasten to add! But since 2009 i have had a lot of time off sick and now work are hinting at letting me go for medical reasons.
My question is if i dnt get DLA do i go for ESA and as i am a single person with a 19 yr son living at home and privately renting will i be entitled to help with my rent? also hopefully work will let me reduce my hours to part time. You mentioned being on a benefit....i am in receipt of WTC will that help me get extra help?
Or do i make myself worse and pretend i can manage the diarrhea and go into the classroom!
I am so worried i could lose everything i have built up!
Claire
Click to expand...

I'd recommend going to Citizens Advice where they can go through all the benefits you may be entitled to and help filling in forms.

DLA is being changed to PIP; this means the abolition of Lower Rate Care which is what many with IBD get. So the few that qualified before will not in the future i'm afraid.

ESA is also tough to get, but there is help out there for appeals and such.

For rent there is Local Housing Allowance, check out your local authority website for the rates. LHA will pay for the number of rooms you need, so if you live in a three bed you will only get money for two at the two bedroom rate.
 
I am really lucky as I work from home, but I have no idea how people with crohns can do a 9-5 job without taking a lot of time off and having a disgruntled manager. At the end of the day we hope our management understands why these days off are required, we in reality know there is only so much they can sympathize with us. For this reason why on earth do we have to go through so many processes to get some financial help when we can no longer do the 9-5? Some people have never paid a penny in tax and they do quite nicely out of our benefit system.....rant over!
 
Hi Lilpiggy.
Just like to add to this.
I got a new toilet installed into my house, all i did was write a letter to my local MP and within a week he got back to me and told me he would look into it and see what he could do. i didnt hold much hope and i thought he would probably put it to the back burner.
well within a fortnight i had a chap at the door and it was a couple of builders and they wanted in to measure up etc. i couldnt believe it. within a week from then i had a brand new toilet installed into my house. so my bedroom is now an ensuite. im over the moon.

So if you feel your not getting anywhere, go straight to your local MP, he/she may be able to help you :)
 
danico85 thats brilliant news,i might look into that myself as we had looked at doing that but the cost was pretty steep,my loo is downstairs so its a nightmare at night running down the stairs in the dark without killing myself....
 
Yeah i cant urge you enough. i done it as a shot in the dark, i never thought i would get any response other than a knockback or a letter saying he would try. But i was amazed at how quickly he got it done for me. It made me realise these people are human too and he obviousley took a bit of pity on me (im a good sympathy writer) HAHA

But its saved me a fortune because it is really expensive to have a toilet added to your house. so definetly give it a bash, nothing too loose :)
 
thats very true,we were looking into it in our house but it was over £1000 to do it,i actually phoned the social work dep after seeing your post and they have started an assessment so will see how that fairs,its a start and if it goes belly up i can then use this as a good reason to go higher up....
 
hainman
thanks for your advice...i am def going to look into applying for the ESA. i gave the school my return to work form which recommended light duties and phased return for a month. can the school or suffolk county council refuse me back?
claire
 
Danico
what an excellent idea! i am going to write a letter to him regarding the school and the council trying to get me dismissed on med grounds because i can no longer do half my job which involves taking the lesson for a 100 mins with no access to a loo. i must add i am a senior cover supervisor so not actually a qualified teacher also i have been at the school 11 yrs this year!
i live with my 19yr son in rented accommodation and i have always worked! now i need financial help but they dnt want to know!!! God it makes me angry!!!
 
hi thankfulchicken..
no your employer HAS to give you ligt duties and returned phase....my wife is a teacher and someone in her work was off long term and got phased back in slowly,a day here a day there then 2days then 3 and so on,phone accast if you have any employment issues(not sure if this company is UK specific or just Scotland)
the school CAN'T sack you under medical grounds as you would wipe the floor with them in a tribunal...go speak to your Union to,they will give you 100% backing,my wife works with a girl who is constantly taking time off but under medical grounds they cant touch her........They can make life a bit unbearable if they really are nasty but no sacking....

it urks me no end we suffer financially yet this country will hand out to any Tom,Dick or Harry who steps foot in the country.or Junkies or drunks,these people CHOOSE to be like this,WE DIDNT!!!!sorry for the RANT......
 
Hi Craig
thank you for your advice..how about dismissing me on medical grounds? as i have had a significant amount of time off since diagnosis in 2009.they said if i cant go in the classroom which is half my job then they maybe able to offer me 10 hours admin on grade 2!!!! what a joke i work 30 hours a week on grade 4 point 26. this is my livelihood how can they just throw me away like this!!!!
i have to agree with your rant.
can i apply for the ESA even tho i am applying for DLA?
also if in receipt of ESA would i be eligible for WTC with the disability element? i get WTC now as on a low wage.
sorry for lots of questions Craig.
 
hi claire
have a look online but unless its long term,ie you havnt worked for a year i dont think they can sack you,but contact citizens advice or accass and ask for clarification,i wouldnt want to say no and they can,but get a lawyer even to speak to,esa is a benifit you can claim but only if you dont work,not sure what WTC is??esa and dla are all allowed so go for it,you have paid ypur taxes so are entitled to it
hope i have been of some help.

Craig
 
Hi Claire,

Id just like to back up craigs comments regarding your work. A few years ago when i was at my worst, i was off for 3 months, went back full time, realised it was too soon and took ill again, was off for a further 3 months. My doctor was giving me fortnightly sicklines which i was manualy handing in myself, the sicklines included blood results etc, the more info you have to give to your work, the more careful they are with you.

When i went in for a meeting with the HR, one of the women said to me that if i wasnt able to come back soon then the work has the power to pay you off on the grounds that you are in-capable to do your job.. ALTHOUGH.... she forgot to mention that the work firstly has to put you on light duties (which in my case, being a pipefitter, was office work within the company). So when i brought that up to them and i told them i wouldnt be signing myself incapable to work she changed her tune. Within a month i was told i had a job in facilities, cosy wee office, toilet right next to me if i needed it and no wage cut. So if they know you will play hardball then they wont treat you badly.

You do have rights, its not your fault you have a medical condition and your work is supposed to support you.

Hope this helps.

Nicky
 
Hi Nicky
i am on a phased return for this month but week 2 i have to go into 1 lesson a day then week 3 2 lessons a day then back to normal duties! i am dreading it but i feel helpless as i have to work or risk losing everything. Also work are monitoring my absences relating to Crohns for a year and if i am off a lot then they will terminate my employment! im thinking of applying for ESA but im not sure if i can if working? i am applying for DLA too.
 

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