Starting the DLA to PIP Battle

When I received mine there was no mention about the help I need for getting up in the night, yet there was other slightly way off remarks that weren't right. But on the whole compared to what I was expecting I thought it was nothing like the horror stories I had heard; i.e. all the lies, inventions etc. Mine was an Occupational Therapist which explained why she took such an interest in who had approved/bought the stairlift.

Do you think you will leave it Rich or go for MC?

Enhanced mobility and standard care is not what we hoped for but pretty much what we expected. I don't think it's worth the extra time and stress trying for any more. I have applied for carer's allowance which I was never able to get before. Overall, I think we have done OK and are better off than a lot of people.

It's been worth it signing up for this forum, going to the CAB and treating this almost as a full time job. I feel for those who have to go through it with little or no support. It's important to feel that somebody is on your side.

Our assessor was a nurse apparently but he still asked if we had funded our bathroom conversion. I wondered what that had to do with anything. I'm just happy that we don't have to worry about this stuff for a while.

Your comment about being asked about the bathroom conversion is similar to my experience of my assessor asking about my chair lift; i.e. did we have it put in or was it the local authority. We are pretty sure the relevance is to do with the difference of us ourselves deciding to pay and put it in. If we had done this ourselves without an assessment from the local authority which also included my Doctor's approval; it could be said we were doing it for show, or we ourselves thought we should have it/be in need of it. As the LA/OT approved it, they also deemed it necessary. After my chair lift was installed I couldn't believe the difference it made. I phone up to thank the lady 'top dog' who came to my house. She said it was far cheaper for them to pay up to £3,000 for a chair lift than for me to have a fall and end up in hospital.

Hopefully you will notice a difference when on Carer's Allowance and life will be a little easier because of it.