Disability Living Allowance

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Does anyone in England claim DLA?

Just out of interest, I picked up a leaflet about it in the JobCentre a while back and thought 'I won't be eligable for this'.

But I've just done a bit of research and it looks like people with AS are usually entitled to it, since AS is a disability (this is something I have never really admitted until now).

I looked at the claim form on the Directgov website and thought it looked OK (contrary to the general opinion of the internet). The problem is, that I am an adult, and most of the information I can find on the internet is for parents who are claiming for children.

I see that they ask for details of your GP and you may have to do a medical assessment. I have never seen my GP about my AS. Does anyone know what the medical assessments are like?

Thanks
Steve

Last edited by steve30 on 15 Jun 2010, 9:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.

my parents claim it for me. the only problem is you cant claim for jobseekers allowance at the same time as claiming DLA, it shouldnt really bea problem because DLA is usually more than jobseekers allowance, but ive had some job applications asking me if i claimed for jobseekers allowance during unemployment, so it may have to be explained during interviews.

i'm not sure about the medical assessments though.

I am thinking about claiming Employment and Support Allowance as well.

I'm not too worried about JobSeekers Allowance. I would rather get DLA than have to sign on.

My parents claim DLA for me, they get something like £200 a month they use to look after me and stuff. When I get a car I get the transport part, then when I move out I get all of it (though at that point I might need to fill out all the forms again).

I think that not claiming Jobseekers whilst unemployed *could* cause problems with some jobs where the employer has an agreement with the jobcentre to take on people who are 'officially' unemployed, and will receive money for doing so.

But otherwise, I don't think it will mater. You could have just been living on savings, or be supported by your family.

I was going to withhold my GP's details from the form as I have never seen him about it, but I am might ask a friend to go with me to see him this week. I will have to do this anyway as I believe I will need a sick note (or a fit note?) to get ESA.

i meant that if someone wasnt claiming for jobseekers allowance and had been out of employment for some time the employer may want to know why they werent claiming for it.
so for people who want to keep their disability a secret it may be a bit of an issue

I do.

Is there something like this in the US? I did not work enough hours for unemployment. And need some in come as I look and fail finding a job

You can get DLA if you are diagnosed with AS. You should get help with the forms though.

I am making good progress filling the forms in.

I telephoned the DWP yesterday to make a claim for ESA as well. Therefore, I will need to go to the doctors to get a certificate, and at the same time, I will mention that I am applying for DLA. But first I need to find someone to go with me, as I am not going on my own.

Everyone says you should get help from a doctor/nurse/psychologist/therapist/friend/family member with things like this, but in my case, I am the only one who knows about my problems, having never seen anyone about it since being diagnosed five years ago.

I can't say anything for definate as I don't know anything about the US' benefits, but I have come across people from the US who claim benefit because they have AS.

You have to make sure you're presenting your difficulties in a negative way on the forms because of the way the forms are worded. For example it may say on it: Can you walk outside? Yeah you can walk outside but you have to have someone with you or have rituals before you go. Or another example: Can you get up the stairs? Yeah but only two at a time and then I have to take a break. So to these questions you'd say either no or yes but only with assistance.
They don't want to give you the money so the forms don't make it easy for you to claim. There are places where they help you fill out the forms properly instead of doing it on your own.

I can assure you the form is being filled in properly.

I am the only one who can fill it in with accurate information though because I spend most of my life stuck on my own.

Good luck with it.

when my claim had to be renewed i lost middle rate care and low rate mobility. i am left with low rate care. careful wording is essential. see a welfare rights officer if you can before submitting the form.

I'm trying to be as careful as possible. I almost got it filled in now.

Miraculously, I got a payment of three days worth of Employment and Support Allowance yesterday without sending in a medical certificate. I wrote to them today to confirm if I am indeed entitled to it or whether they made a mistake.

Their automatic letter writing machine wrote some letters dated this week, expecting me to travel back in time and post them some stuff by the end of last month .

I get DLA now, but they will almost certainly turn you down the first time you claim. In this case you will receive a letter saying that you do not qualify, and that you have a right to appeal within a set time frame. You must then opt to appeal, which means a different employee of the DWP will look at your claim again and make a decision. In my case, this happened twice, and after appealing twice I was awarded the benefit, which was backdated to the date I first applied - almost eight months beforehand!

As has been mentioned, these people are very pedantic, picky and downright awkward; if you give them the slightest excuse not to give you any money, they will grab it. It is best to have someone look at it who knows how these things work - it's not about them knowing your problems specifically - though you will have to tell them what your problems are relating to the questions in the form- but rather about them having more knowledge of how the assessment and the system works, and knowing how to present your information in the most advantageous way. I got someone from the local Autism Resource Centre to help me fill mine in. This will ensure you have the best chance possible of qualifying for the benefit.