Reconsideration successful.. one of the 15%

Hi all

After nearly 13 weeks since I asked for a reconsideration of my DLA renewal(up until Sept 2011 I had been on HR mobility and MR care and was then plunged down to LR care only on my renewal) today I received the news that I have been awarded HR Mobility and LR care for the next 2 years.

Thank you for your advice, which I followed by sending in 3 very lengthy medical reports. Obviously the senior decision maker could see the glaring error made on not awarding me any mobility component in the first instance as I walk with crutches and need help with showering, cooking, shopping,and socialising outside the home.

After you had told me only 15% of reconsiderations are altered, I had not held out much hope for a change and was thinking I would go to the appeal tribunal stage in the new year, but this has made my day, and is obviously backdated to September as well!

Many thanks for answering my queries regarding reconsiderations as I phoned them to chase the decision last week. It has been well worth the time and effort taken to achieve the correct result.

Hi Ladymadonna

Thank you for your kind comments. I'm pleased that you are happy with your DLA award at reconsideration.

For the benefit of others reading this, may I just re-iterate, B&W suggest that claimants appeal a decision in the first instance, using form GL24, as this will trigger a reconsideration.

Kind regards

Michael

Can I ask ladymadonna, did the letter state your use of crutches contributed to getting HR mobility?

I'm in a similar situation - though I am having to wait for Tribunal as reconsideration made it worse . (I was on HRM & HRC, dropped to HRM & LRC at renewal, and then dropped to LRC only at reconsideration )

I have actually been advised by the ATOS HMP on the DLA report to increase my use of crutches (I currently dont use them at home - to prevent further muscle wastage) & use them at all times to prevent falls. DWP say my need for crutches all the time is not relevant when making their decision about HRM.

The ATOS HMP went on to estimate that I could manage at least 200m experiencing only mild pain, even though when he tested me he told me to sit down after about 3 metres because he could see I was in pain I'm on the highest allowable dose of Tramadol SR, and he called it a moderate pain killer on the report. ATOS say its my word against his, and as he is professional and I'm not they believe him etc....

So any relevant info you could give would be very much appreciated.

I am really sorry Gordon. I honestly did not intend for it to sound like I was asking for tips.

It is just my use of crutches has been used by one DM to apparently support my need for HRM, and the second saw it as not relevant, so I am very confused.