Problems fighting DLA cut off

I've been reading through the posts and people's experiences for about ten days. I've downloaded some of the help sheets and am perusing those as well. What I've read has left me very fearful and catatonic about how to proceed with my own DLA concerns.

I've been on DLA support for the past ten years with complex PTSD and back problems. The renewal review has resulted in a refusal to continue DLA support, despite the fact my health continues to decline. There was not even a GL24 form included with the letter about their decision.

I'm a black listed NHS patient and have been totally without medical care for many years (the DLA are aware of this). This means I'm not in a position to get medical evidence to help with an appeal or review.

One of the ptsd side effects is chronic agoraphobia, so I am unable to attend medicals or hearings about my disability claim. I've always asked that a home visit be arranged if the DWP require a medical assessment for the reviews, but they have never sent anyone.

I am totally isolated with only a lax care worker who gives minimal support, so I have no one to stand up for me or assist with battling the DWP. I'm the sort of person that society ignores or shunts out of the way, so I'm usually too afraid to ask for help, knowing it will be refused.

What is worrying me most is that my circumstances are unusual and will greatly hinder pursuing the DWP to get my support reinstated. I've written twice in the past two weeks to the DWP. In my first letter, I gave an extensive description of my health issues and asked for a review. Having had no reply, I've sent a second letter today asking for a GL24 form and whether they are giving consideration to the first letter.

I know the next step is to consult someone about representation but I'm terrified to take that step and don't know how to start. I have no phone, can't leave the house to get to CAB or a similar agency and can't rely on the care worker to do it for me.

Is there anyone else in a similar position who can give me the benefit of their experience, please?

wyn wrote:

I've been reading through the posts and people's experiences for about ten days. I've downloaded some of the help sheets and am perusing those as well. What I've read has left me very fearful and catatonic about how to proceed with my own DLA concerns.

I've been on DLA support for the past ten years with complex PTSD and back problems. The renewal review has resulted in a refusal to continue DLA support, despite the fact my health continues to decline. There was not even a GL24 form included with the letter about their decision.

I'm a black listed NHS patient and have been totally without medical care for many years (the DLA are aware of this). This means I'm not in a position to get medical evidence to help with an appeal or review.

One of the ptsd side effects is chronic agoraphobia, so I am unable to attend medicals or hearings about my disability claim. I've always asked that a home visit be arranged if the DWP require a medical assessment for the reviews, but they have never sent anyone.

I am totally isolated with only a lax care worker who gives minimal support, so I have no one to stand up for me or assist with battling the DWP. I'm the sort of person that society ignores or shunts out of the way, so I'm usually too afraid to ask for help, knowing it will be refused.

What is worrying me most is that my circumstances are unusual and will greatly hinder pursuing the DWP to get my support reinstated. I've written twice in the past two weeks to the DWP. In my first letter, I gave an extensive description of my health issues and asked for a review. Having had no reply, I've sent a second letter today asking for a GL24 form and whether they are giving consideration to the first letter.

I know the next step is to consult someone about representation but I'm terrified to take that step and don't know how to start. I have no phone, can't leave the house to get to CAB or a similar agency and can't rely on the care worker to do it for me.

Is there anyone else in a similar position who can give me the benefit of their experience, please?

Hi W,

As it appears that you are new to the forum, and just in case that you haven’t already done so, please see the following :

Welcome to Benefits and Work

You can access our FAQ’s in the yellow Spotlight Area, at the top above the forum, from here :

FAQ’s

You can search the forums for previously posted topics from here :

Searching The Forum

To see potential sources of face to face advice, and representation, see :

Where to get advice?

You can access our ESA Guides from here :

ESA Guides

You can access our DLA Guides from here :

DLA Guides

You can access all our B&W Guides from here :

All B&W Guides

Information on Personal Independence Payment, (PIP) can be found here :

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

With respect to a GL24 Form, you can download one from the link on this FAQ page :


How to submit an appeal


Our DLA appeals guides can be accessed from the DLA Guides link above, and there are also sections on DLA & Appeals in our FAQ's, which again can be accessed from the FAQ link above.

Can you please try and keep your posts to a shorter format in future, posts appear as one solid block of text in the the pre-moderation area, and long ones can be most difficult to check for inappropriate content.

If you have any further questions, please repost here.

Of course, other members may wish to offer comments also.

Cheers

bro58

Hi bro58
I read Wyn's plight, and I was very upset with the circumstance she finds herself. Wouldn't it have been nicer for you to give support rather that of just facts, I know we aren't allowed discussions, but please! I'm sure Wyn will be scared to write on here now for fear of upsetting you.

Lyn wrote:

Hi bro58
I read Wyn's plight, and I was very upset with the circumstance she finds herself. Wouldn't it have been nicer for you to give support rather that of just facts, I know we aren't allowed discussions, but please! I'm sure Wyn will be scared to write on here now for fear of upsetting you.

Hi Lyn,

I am sorry to hear that you feel that my response was unsympathetic.

As Moderators we are here to provide information and support regarding queries from members with respect to the benefits that we deal with.

I am obviously sympathetic to Wyn's problems, as with all of our other members, otherwise I would not be Moderating and offering advice on a totally voluntary basis, as do all the other Mods.

Especially as we all have medical conditions to deal with ourselves.

Wyn is most welcome to repost again, and I have invited her to do so, at the bottom of my response.

If you are unhappy with my style of Moderation, may I suggest you contact the site owner Steve Donninson, at :

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

You may also wish to review our site rules :

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/faq/forum-faq#specific

Under Forum FAQ.

Kind regards

bro58

Hi Wyn,

reading you post saddens me.....but the first thought off the top of my head is have you considered writing to your MP?
Past experience with an unhelpful/uncaring/wouldn't listen jobs-worth at my local DSS centre many years ago led me to contact and complain to my MP. As a result I was 'invited' along to the DSS office for a 'personal chat'. I was informed in no uncertain terms that because I had written to my MP, my file was being dealt with at 'management level' and had "been examined with a fine tooth comb" (un-quote).
It's a long story, but in a nut-shell my 'complaint' resulted to a decision in my favour (which I knew it should have been all along)

Good luck.........perhaps if there's a kind hearted member on here who lives close to you (don't give your full address out on a forum) they may be able to help you more? (I'm Mid-Cornwall)

All the best and try to keep smiling

Thanks for the reply, I have read through all the FAQs and downloaded the relevant guides, which I'm still reading. Sorry for the length of the first post, tried to keep it shorter.

Thanks to Lyn also, you're right, I was ashamed to be a problem and probably won't post again.

The post was because after ten days going through the FAQs and guides (mentioned in first post), I'm now terrified of the appeals process and can't find a local welfare rights officer to help me go forward. My circumstances are loaded against me, so I needed to hear from anyone who'd already had to overcome those initial hurdles.