UK Residents - Financial aid (Urgent, please answer ASAP.)

[Hayleymariex]

So Joe had his DLA (Disability Living Allowance) taken away early in our relationship, so say 5/6 months ago. Recently he and his family have been appealing to get it back and all was going well.
However, he told me today that his consultant from the hospital emailed his solicitor telling him that Joe didn't deserve the DLA because his illness isn't severe.
Joe's illness is severe, as he has Crohns all the way through his digestive system, including his mouth and butt. This is supported by his GP and nurse, who both say he deserves a high level of DLA.

Has this happened to any of you? If so how, if at all, was it resolved?
I'd appreciate answers ASAP as it's a big stress on both of us, which is putting strain on our relationship.
Thank you in advance for any help!

 

[rygon]

Can you get another Consultants advice? Im sure it is just a matter of opinion so that could help.

Also it would be worthy keeping a diary of all related problems (times he goes to the toilet, riddled with pain hes confined to home) I wouldnt lie on any of these as im sure someone could easily find out but by keeping a record it may help show how badly it affects his lifestyle

 

[StarGirrrrl]

Is he going to attend an in-person Tribunal? If so, they are the ones making the decison. Any supporting evidence is helpful so get his GP and Nurse to write letters tailoring it to the descriptors ie detailing how he needs care etc.

Obviously the Consultant being a !!!! isn't going to help but it needn't stop his chances.

DLA is about the claimant having care and/or mobility needs rather than getting it because you have such and such an illness.

The UK IBD charity has some good info on DLA appeals here

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

I appealed a different benefit being taken away and had a very unhelpful GP. However I was clear at the Tribunal on the day about how and why I disagreed and produced other evidence in my favour. I won

It may also be an idea to consult your local Disability Advice Bureau who deal with this kind if thing all the time. A Solicitor is very good but they don't have the knowledge base that CAB/DIAL do. I actually won my case using a point of law supplied to me by the CAB.

Sadly in the UK it is now very hard to get any kind of Disability benefits. Being genuine does not qualify you any more. The Government want less people claiming and have targets to get millions of them. In fact the reforms of DLA to PIP are designed to cut out low rate care all together, so people who now qualify for that will get no help under the new system.

 

[Misty-Eyed]

Is he working at the moment? When I was too ill to work I claimed the equivilent of ESA.

I do also know that the NACC help people who are trying to claim DLA.

 

[StarGirrrrl]

Another thought, why not put in a complaint to the head of the Gastro Department? Your bf's consultant is obviously not supporting him or taking him seriously enough. Maybe he doesn't even know enough about your bf's needs to be making this judgement.
That will be another piece of evidence in your bf's favour for the Tribunal to see, that you've had to complain about this Consultant.

 

[Hayleymariex]

Is he working at the moment? When I was too ill to work I claimed the equivilent of ESA.

I do also know that the NACC help people who are trying to claim DLA.

He's not currently working as he's in college full time, which tires him out so he spends the weekends sleeping mostly. It doesn't usually make him so tired but he's struggling to go through full college days at the minute due to him still recovering from his hospital stay. However, the frequency of his flare ups will eventually affect his work, as he'll need a lot of time off. We've only just found out about the NACC so hopefully they'll be of some assistance

 

[littlemissh]

When did he last see the consultant?
If he rarely sees him it might be he has made a report on the basis of minimal facts. Why not ask the ibd nurse to ask the consultant on what basis he classifies his disease as mild. At least then you know where you stand.
The IBD nurse can also inform the consultant why she thinks his disease is more severe.

 

[Hayleymariex]

When did he last see the consultant?
If he rarely sees him it might be he has made a report on the basis of minimal facts. Why not ask the ibd nurse to ask the consultant on what basis he classifies his disease as mild. At least then you know where you stand.
The IBD nurse can also inform the consultant why she thinks his disease is more severe.

I'm not 100% sure on when he last saw the consultant, as far as I'm aware it was in January.
However he seen his GP on Wednesday, and see's him more regularly. I'm unsure about whether his GP and nurses opinions will matter, as I thought the consultants opinion would be more respected, so to speak?

 

[robbo87]

Getting DLA with Crohns disease is something that is very hard to do. I currently get the smallest amount after first being denied, and that was after spending 4 months in hospital.

Either way keep fighting and arguing your case, The DLA system in this country is somewhat of a joke at times. there are so many cheats yet people who suffer from "non visible" things like crohns lose out.

if they turn you down, apply again and give them the details of the gp and IBD nurses who say he needs dla and leave out the consultant who thinks otherwise. or maybe try getting a second opinion.

It's a shame that due to the nature of Crohns disease in some people DLA is such a grey area.