Yet Another Tribunal

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machines

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Hi all. I have been suffering from crohn's disease for about 3 years and have applied for the DLA. I have reduced my hours of work because of my inability to work a full shift because of tiredness and regular flare ups but my own GP, consultant and the tribunal panel dont seem to think that crohns is a life changing ilness.

I have yet another tribunal coming up and and I have asked for this to be carried out at my home (soiled myself at the last tribunal = very embarassing). Can anyone in the forum offer any advice or can you point me in the direction of information I may need to argue my case?

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!PLEASE HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!PLEASE HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Hello,

Do you belong to the 'crohns and colitis association', they give all sorts of help, from filling out forms to advice and counselling. they are on the network. I pay £10 a year and receive magazines, information, group meetings etc. They are really helpfull and is worth the money to join them. I've been diagnosed from Crohns, Colitis, Divaticular disease, you name it, I've had a hem-colectomy 18 mnths ago. It is hard with work, I did have 2 jobs one full time and one part time, (two eve, and sat morn) I had to give the part time up, I was always in hospital. But my main job I have health care which have now decided they cant fund me any more as my condition is classed as crohnic even though I only found out about 4 yrs ago, and been with my employer 14 yrs. I suppose its cut backs again financially.

Not many people know about crohns / colitis disease, I always get asked"What is it". Anyway I hope you get on ok

Regards, Karisue
 
Hi Machines. I'm fairly sure Karisue is referring to the National Association for Crohns and Colitis. Try www.nacc.org.uk (I think) and they have so much info in the way of fact sheets that it'll take you quite a while to work your way through them... but look for the ones that apply to you first. Don't know much about the DLA myself, but they'll probably have some information on the site. I've also had to reduce my hours at work, and considering reducing them even further.
Let us know how you get on and good luck

Edit: just checked, there is a link on the site for info on disability benefits. The above link works - my first attempt would have sent you through to the National Association of Catholic Chaplains!
 
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hi Karisue. Thanks for the heads up. I'm trying to find if there are any supports groups in my local area. I'm sorry to hear about your health care cannot fund you anymore but I wish you well now and for the future. Again many thanks
 
Hi agent x20. Thanks for the link. You weren't kidding about the amount of info to sift through (laughing because I reckon I can print it out and read it during one of my visits to the throne). I hope things work out for you too because I don't think some people understand the mental implications of having to reduce your hours of work (worthless feeling - less of a man/provider) etc. Again many thanks for the info and I'll keep ya posted on the outcome of the tribunal.
 
Hey machines,

Welcome!

I am not around much at the mo as have a fair bit of stuff going on myself at the mo.

I have just appealed my DLA - applying on the grounds of my asthma, arthritis and crohns.

I sent them a booklet by the NACC about crohns and used a highlighter pen to show the bits in it that applied to me specifically and made small notes beside it.

The NACC have a team that you can talk to on the phone about appealing etc. They also have alot of info about how to fill out the forms.

So far I have managed to get the low rate of care but everyone around me feels I should be getting more. So I have appealed.

Will post how I get on...

It basically comes down to how things are worded. You use too many and they ignore it. You dont use specific words and they throw it out. Also must say you suffer from "it" multiple times a day and night and how you need help etc. The care component is about showing how you need help if you had it available and in what specific areas you arent coping.

I got the low care because they finally deemed I couldnt make a meal for myself due to not being able to chop food to prepare, lift saucepans etc and also because I rely on elemental drinks which come in a powder format but need 5-7litres water each day to drink and cant lift the bottles of mineral water I have to have (as per the manufacterer) all due to arthritis affecting my hands and wrists.

I have mobility problems due to the arthritis so I am fighting for a mobility component too.

I want a higher rate care because I suffer from continence problems with my crohns multiple times a day/night when I flare.

The whole point with DLA is you consistently tell them how BAD you are every single day and night.

They look at specific areas listed in the original pack you filled in. You must keep it concise, to the point.

Does any of my waffle help? Hope you get some results soon. Thinking of you.
 
Hi. Thanks for the heads up. I have found and downloaded a form (google search - DLA chrons). Just yesterday I forwarded a letter to the appeals tribunal giving them an update on my current flare up. This form gave me great information on how to translate the questions to relate to my chron's disease. Good for you for appealing the low rate decision because I and i'm sure many others agree that you should be getting the high rate care allowance. Hope all turns out well for you in the end. The ITS has told me that the tribunal may take another 6-8 weeks because I have requested a domicillary visit. Will keep you posted on the outcome. Again many thanks.
 
High rate mobility in the UK



Hello everyone,
I am new to the site and in the UK.

Reading some of your posts its clear a lot of you are :confused: confused when it comes to DLA. So first log onto www.benefitsandwork.co.uk it is the site that will tell you all you need to know :study: and its a subscription based site, not Goverment.

I just found a report on it that is good news for all of us in :uk_flag: :banana:

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk reported 16 June 2009 that a decision on mobility and incontinence was reversed this year in May.


Be prepared to fall off your chair.:yfaint:



Claimant who can walk and run gets high rate mobility for incontinence

Many people who suffer from severe bowel incontinence may now be able to claim the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance even if they can walk fast and run.
Until now, faecal incontinence was very unlikely to lead to an award of higher rate mobility. In addition, a change in the law in 2002 prevented ‘fear and anxiety’ relating to a physical health condition, rather than a mental health one, being taken into account for lower rate mobility. This meant it was hard for people with incontinence to claim either rate of the mobility component.:angry-banghead:

However, in May of this year :worthy: Commissioner Levenson looked at the matter anew in CDLA/0217/2009.

The case involved a claimant with back problems and also abdominal problems which led to ‘sudden attacks of diarrhoea and fear of and actual incontinence’. :ywow:

The tribunal accepted that ‘her incontinence was so voluminous that it could not be contained by incontinence pads’. :stinks: However, it did not accept that this was the position most of the time and found that the claimant could physically walk, sometimes fast, or even run. The tribunal refused any award of the mobility component. :voodoo:

However, :worthy: Commissioner Levenson allowed the claimant’s appeal and awarded her higher rare mobility. He found that the tribunal had failed to consider the claimant’s ‘physical condition as a whole’ as required by statute.:awe:

The Commissioner held that the claimant was:

:worthy: ‘on the whole, virtually unable to walk without severe discomfort caused by physical factors. These factors include not only any referred or residual effect of her neck and back problems, but also the physical and muscular effort of trying to control her bowels and the very real effects of an episode of faecal incontinence, :redface: :shifty-t: including discomfort, soreness and so on. :applause: :congratualtions:

The decision may allow many claimants with conditions such as colitis and Crohn’s disease to make a successful claim for higher rate mobility if their condition means that they are usually in severe discomfort when walking outdoors because of such things as the effort of trying to control their bowels. :applause: :banana:

We’ll be updating our DLA guides to take account of this decision in the near future.

Fromwww.benefitsandwork.co.uk
Subscription to members area £18 annally. I strongly recomend subs. :mademyday:
Also pay your subs to National Association for Crohns and Colitis at www.nacc.org.uk they have claim packs for DLA.

A scanned version of file CDLA/0217/2009 can be downloaded from the members area of benefitsandwork.
Or http://www.rightsnet.org.uk/pdfs/CDLA_217_2009.pdf

Did that help anyone.....:whistleinnocently: Don't all shout at once

:bigwave: Lavvie

:eek:utahere:
 

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