review of DLA for mental health??

I currently get lower rate care and lower rate mobility of DLA for schizoaffective disorder. I am in the support group of ESA. I also have another physical health issue.

I have been speaking with someone who has had experience of supporting people with DLA applications, and they have said based on what I had shared about my situation that they would have thought I'd be eligible for middle rate care.

About six weeks ago I rang the DLA helpline and explained that I was struggling with some issues and said I wanted to let them know. The woman I spoke to said that I could put in for a review but that the whole of my claim would be reassessed and she couldn't guarantee that I would still get it. This really worried me and I didn't return the form (I find filling in the form very stressful and the last time I had to complete an ESA form I ended up in hospital for six weeks).

Would it be worth applying to try and get middle rate care, given that DLA is going to be ending in the not too distant future? Is it possible to find out what the differences in criteria are, so that I don't have to go through the whole process of applying to know whether I am entitled for help?

Thanks for any advice that you might be able to offer.

You can ask for a 'supersession' of your DLA if you believe that you are entitled to a higher award. You should be aware that the whole claim would be looked at, not just the care element, and the Decision Maker could decide to raise the award, keep it the same or decide to remove it. This page might help you decide if your award is 'safe'

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/disability-liv...a-cuts/2-min-mh-test

If your DLA were withdrawn you could appeal that decision and/or apply for PIP

This only applies if you are not in an active PIP area. As the PIP requirements are very different from DLA you should check that first.

PIP postcodes