DLA - How Do I Request A Medical?

[Melian]

Got a letter yesterday and the DWP are still claiming that I have sod all wrong with me. Right, because that's why I've been told (more than once, I think) that I would never be able to legally drive.:rolleyes:

My quewstion is, how do I request a medical? They claim they've contacted my GP. However, because of the lack of treatment (currently, there's only physiotherapy and an operation - I've recently had the physio and have never been offered the operation) there's not a lot on my medical records about my illness.

I'm seriously wondering whether I'm wasting my time even trying to get DLA. CAB & Community Legal Service Direct (I think that's their name?) said they can't understand why I'm not even entitled to the lower rate mobility.

[Randomgirl]

Have you spoken to your GP about your claim?

Did you get a leaflet about how to appeal from them? Or did you already appeal?

[katralla]

I'm just guessing here but for your doctor to be able to write anything of interest about your illness they will need to have seen you and made note of the problems. Do you go to your doctor and talk to them about the problems with day to day activities that you have?

Did the letter come with a leaflet explaining how to appeal and what your next legal steps are? They usually come with this information, if it didn't you could give them a ring or check on the gov website for what your next options are. Also, there are the agencies that Kermit has pointed you in the direction of before - did you get around to contacting anyone to help you with your claim?

[Pixi]

This site click here (http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/) helped me greatly when I first claimed and then reclaimed my DLA. It is used by many people who are having a hard time with the DWP and each person I know who has used this site has had success. Though some do have a hell of a fight to get their entitlement.

Do you have a social worker? They can be invaluable when you are trying to claim benefits. Mine said she would fill any DWP form out if needed and back me all the way if I encounter problems.

[Melian]

I'm just guessing here but for your doctor to be able to write anything of interest about your illness they will need to have seen you and made note of the problems. Do you go to your doctor and talk to them about the problems with day to day activities that you have?

No. All they wrote on the letter to the DWP was something about how because of my vision, I have to use certain equipment (apart from glasses) to help me with my reading and use the computer.

Also, there are the agencies that Kermit has pointed you in the direction of before - did you get around to contacting anyone to help you with your claim?

Yes I did and I will talk to the CAB again on Monday. I did also talk to someone else about this (quite a few people I know who have the same illness as me, also have had problems DLA) and will get in contact with him again.

I don't have a social worker and have never had one.

I did not get a leaflet explaining how to appeal and what my next steps are. I think Kermit and CAB have also explained them to me as well.

[Wyetry]

I would also see if you can get someone who is an expert in your condition - like a consultant to write to the DWP on your behalf as well explaining whats wrong with you and confirming in writing that you have the condition and how it will progress and what you need to overcome it.

However not being able to drive does not automatically mean you shouldn't have a job if you see what i mean - there are loads of people who cant' drive for various reasons who are still in gainful employment.

[Melian]

DLA has nothing to do with getting a job/working.

[queenmab_roo]

what visual problem do you have melian? PM me if you like. My mum works for a blind charity, and also has experience fighting for my younger brother who has nystagmus.

[Melian]

I have Nystagmus.

[queenmab_roo]

ok, any head turn with it? i'll email my mum and ask her. there's also a forum she goes onto where she gets a lot of information, chances are someone there may have had a similar fight.

[Melian]

Yes I do get a head turn. (tilt) I do post on a few Nystagmus forums and it seems everyone (even a parent whose daughter has Nystagmus and is blind) had problems getting it. Thanks for your help.

[queenmab_roo]

Mum emailed me back with this:

Other than the diagnosis I don?t think that the DWP would take much notice of a medical. The DLA form is very difficult to complete unless you have a physical difficulty. When filling it in for someone with a VI it makes them look really bad. You have to really spell out that things like kerbs can?t be seen and so form trip hazards every time. If photophobic the effects of light making the person almost blind on turning a corner into sunlight. Without looking at the copy of my brother?s last application I can?t remember all of the different things. Not being able to see when clothes are dirty or whether food is edible or not. Cooking can bring other problems and lots of other things. As I said, it really needs to be laid on thick but in the right way. Probably the best thing is to ask local blind society who may well advise.


Nystagmus Network have a forum as does the RNIB. The other one that I use is PVIC on Yahoo but it is for parents who have VI children.

soo not too sure how much help that is... as you said, its notoriously difficult to achieve for VIPs...

[twisted_trinity]

i'm currently struggling to get DLA as well, i'm on my third appeal. I believe that your doctor needs to write down all the things that you cannot do or struggle to do, not what your able to do with ot without the aid of other people or equipment.

[Melian]

i I believe that your doctor needs to write down all the things that you cannot do or struggle to do.

I've not been told this. My doctor isn't aware of most of the things I can't do, because there's nothing they can do that would help out at all. (as it's stuff like crossing roads safely, cooking and being able to dress myself properly)

Mum emailed me back with this:

Other than the diagnosis I don?t think that the DWP would take much notice of a medical. The DLA form is very difficult to complete unless you have a physical difficulty. When filling it in for someone with a VI it makes them look really bad. You have to really spell out that things like kerbs can?t be seen and so form trip hazards every time. If photophobic the effects of light making the person almost blind on turning a corner into sunlight. Without looking at the copy of my brother?s last application I can?t remember all of the different things. Not being able to see when clothes are dirty or whether food is edible or not. Cooking can bring other problems and lots of other things. As I said, it really needs to be laid on thick but in the right way. Probably the best thing is to ask local blind society who may well advise.


Nystagmus Network have a forum as does the RNIB. The other one that I use is PVIC on Yahoo but it is for parents who have VI children.

soo not too sure how much help that is... as you said, its notoriously difficult to achieve for VIPs...

Thank you. I do post on the Nystagmus Network and Paul White from there has offered to help me if I need to. I have also posted on another Nystagmus forum, but it seems that everyone with Nystagmus has been turned down.

[queenmab_roo]

I *think* my brother has received it at some point. So not everyone with nystagmus has been turned down. just need to spell it out. Would anyone in the opthalmology dept be able to help you out? They might be more aware than GPs. Or as mentioned, the Rehabilitation Officer at your local blind charity, they should have knowledge of dealing with this sort of stuff.