DLA renewal

burmagirl wrote:

Thanks Michael. From what I was reading on when to submit the form, it looks like the early part of February would be a sensible time to submit. Thank goodness I don't have to think about doing it until after Christmas!

Hi Burmagirl

Reproduced below the is paragraph(s) from the guide -

How quickly should I return the renewal form?
There are differing opinions about this.
Some people think that it’s best to leave it as long as possible to return the form. This is
because, if a decision is made to reduce or end your DLA, it may take effect as soon as it is
made, rather than when your old award runs out, (see below). So, the theory goes, the later
you leave it to return the form, the less DLA you risk losing.
5
Other people think you should return the form as soon as possible, because it’s likely to
take the DWP several months to make a decision. If you leave it too late there will be an
interruption in your payments because your old award will have run out before the new one
is decided upon. This may have an effect on other benefits that are dependent upon your
receiving DLA.
The best advice we can give is that you should take as long as you need to complete the
form and gather all the additional evidence you can and then send the form in without
delay. If you are considering doing anything else, get advice from a benefits specialist.
However, if you are aware that your condition has significantly improved for a
considerable period, or that there has been any other change that you are aware could affect
your entitlement to DLA, you should inform the DWP as promptly as possible. (This
doesn’t include changes in the law: the DWP will know about those). This applies at any
time, not just in relation to renewals.
Failing to inform the DWP promptly could mean that they will take action to recover any
benefits that they consider you have been overpaid. If the DWP consider that you
dishonestly failed to notify them of a change that you knew would affect your entitlement,
they make even seek to have you prosecuted for fraud. We don’t want you to lie awake
worrying about being prosecuted for fraud: many health conditions fluctuate and you are
not expected to contact the DWP every time your health improves for a few weeks. But
trying to ‘play the system’ where renewals are concerned, by delaying returning the form,
could have serious consequences.

I assume that in the case of a renewal the only evidence to be sent in concerns evidence of any change? I was awarded DLA for 2 years initially 'in case new treatment became available' but it hasn't.

burmagirl wrote:

I assume that in the case of a renewal the only evidence to be sent in concerns evidence of any change? I was awarded DLA for 2 years initially 'in case new treatment became available' but it hasn't.

Hi Burmagirl

Your renewal will be treated as a new claim. You need to submit all evidence of the help you require from someone else (needs arising) and not rely on your medical condition.

Better alert my doctor then, so she can write in confirmation again.

burmagirl wrote:

Better alert my doctor then, so she can write in confirmation again.

Hi

Although the DWP may send your GP a form to complete, these are often completed inadequately. There is no reason why you shouldn't collect your own evidence, from sources that are aware of the help you need from someone else to cope with your disabilities and send this with your renewal form.

You do not actually have to get help, but you do need to explain the help you need, from someone else.

Write your name & National Insurance number on every page, number the pages and keep a copy.

Please refer to the B&W guides, as if you were starting from scratch -

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/dla/#dlaclaims