DLA decision made in 1 week without checks -Usual?

Hello

Is this a usual scenario? I sent my DLA application 28th Feb, and the decision that I am NOT entitled to any award was made 4th March (date on top of letter)

I am really upset about this, because it states that the decision was made from information 'given by the health care professional who examined you for Employment and Support Allowance 11/08/2010'

How can this be right? That info which although is actually still relevant, does not take into account that my problems have greatly worsened, and is 7 months old.

My daughter who is helps me every day was not contacted, nor was my therapist or doctor. I had asked my therapist to complete the 'people who know me' section, and the DLA letter came back before I had chance to send it!

Is this usual?

Many thanks in advance.

If I was you I would send in a letter asking to appeal against the decision and get letters from your doc, therapist, daughter, any copies of hosp letters, as much as you can. Dispute the medical say all the things you need help with, write a diary of your normal day for a few days and send it as well, they will then reconsider all the evidence you send them and either change the decision or they will send out the appeal papers. Everyone is different, I have had the decision left the same and the appeal refused, I have also sent in a change in condition and had the rate changed but not to what I was entitled to, I appealed, they changed the decision to my favour and cancelled the appeal. You have to be aware they can reduce what you have been given but you have nothing to lose as you have been refused. Just try and send in anything you have that will help with your appeal letter, you have 30 days from date of refusal. This is only going by my experience, the moderators will reply and they are the experienced ones so I would go with what they say. Good luck.

Thanks for the reply.

I already sent in a diary of a typical day with my claim. I made sure that the replies on the form were very indepth (as advised by the help sheets on here) I honestly couldn't have added anymore information

I can't believe that they received my claim and made their decision in 7 days from old info, without getting opinions from the people who really matter.

Hello Gordon

I do receive ESA (work related) and yes, I did use the guides on here to help with my application.

I didn't realise there was a specific form to send off (GL24) It just says on the back of the decision letter to write in if I think the decision is wrong. I obviously do, but I don't know what else I can say or send in to support my application.

So asking them to look at the claim again is a separate process to appealing? This is how it seems when I read the back of the letter.