DLA

Fab news, yay you!

L
xx

Well done, its a blooming complicated process isn't it! I don't qualify for the mobility rate obviously, but have known a couple of people who do and they too found it a godsend.

?

Brilliant news Madgington.

Brilliant news, must be a great relief.

Really pleased for you, great news.

Brilliant news! Something similar happened to me and it was really stressful, I'm glad its sorted for you!

? Wonderful news!

Fab news. Those forms are pure evil. At least you have 3 years with not worrying now. I think mine needs resubmitting early next year, not looking forward to that.

Great news!!!! You deserve a medal for filling out that form too!! ?

Thank you so much everyone! I really am desperately relieved! We couldn't have afforded to buy a car for me if they'd said no and that would have been a real worry when I'm not well enough to get the bus. In the Motability scheme (for those who don't know), you get a brand new car plus free insurance, RAC, tax and all repairs in exchange for your £45 a week mobility component of DLA. You couldn't even buy a car for that outwith the scheme so it's well worth it. The £45 a week care will help so, so much too - it's more than I got last time so it's an added bonus. ?

I sobbed down the phone to the Motability man last week when they said I had the car 'illegally' (my DLA had been stopped for some reason), I thought they were going to phone the police and get me arrested.?

Isn't it funny how it's the one time you actually want people to say your disability/condition is actually really bad! ?

? for the decision and another ? for getting through the nightmare of the booklet.

Wow, that's great! Those forms are so horrible and a nightmare to fill in, all our kids' parents have to fill them in and I'm often asked to fill in part of them.

So good about the Motorbility car too, I know they are such a lifeline.

Hey, great. Enjoy your sushi.

We got high rate care, low rate mobility for Dan, which was our best outcome.

Happy Days, Mrs. M! That's really great news, and hopefully the bit extra will make things easier in one way or another - is it really pathetic to wonder what colour of car you will get?

Great news Mrsm. It's a godsend that scheme. It's kept my dad on the road, even though he's a pensioner on his own with only a basic state pension.

What kind of car are you going to get?

Congratulations Mrs Magic!

The form is a total nightmare, isn't it. Oh, and ? to the man at motability last week - sounds like he could have dealt with it all a bit more tactfully.

Ooh, what a fab name, can we use this now? I am going to 'inton' everyone!

L
xx

So pleased for you ?

No excuses not to meet up soon!

That is great news ?.

Great news - enjoy your sushi!

Brill news Mrs M, I'm delighted for you! Enjoy your sushi ?

p.s. I have a baking question to ask you x

Really pleased for you! Both for the DLA and for the sushi. Agree that the Motobility chap needs a crash course in customer care and tact!

(how bad is the form? I'm helping our allocated WBA fill in 71 of them over the next three months........)

Glad to hear it Mrs M ?

That is wonderful news and three years of no forms. the forms are hellish but atleast you can apply online now. my kids get higher care but no mobility.

hope they sort the car out quick for you.

jennie

KJX, I presume from your comment you'll be helping in a professional capacity - I'd say its easier in that sense, because it isn't about you. People spend so much time trying to make the best of things and the old British "mustn't grumble" mentality that being asked to write down what you can't do can be a bit stressful. Too many people make the mistake of putting down how they are on a good day, and then don't get the DLA that they should be entitled to if they had put how they are on the other 99% of the days.

Professional might be pushing it - the WBA is that! I'm supposed to be there to make sure nothing is missed. I've seen on here so many people having a hard time with the process - it's not on - people should get the help they need without needing to complete a telephone directory of a form.

That is great news! Enjoy your sushi!

Yes I meant a professional who knows the appllcants, so as you describe - making sure nothing is missed. Its a good combination of support - someone who knows the person but has a bit of professional distance, and someone who knows the forms and the system and what wording will best show what is looked for!

I went to a brilliant training session once, where a WBA talked us through the form against the "marking" criteria - it was a few years ago now, and the form has changed a couple of times, but it was still one of the most useful training sessions ever.

Excellent news MrsM! Enjoy the sushi.

Ahh, thank you all so much. ?

Sushi (apart from the fact they put wasabi on as standard ?) and car shopping were fab! We have the shortlist down to Vauxhall Meriva (what we had before), Vauxhall Zafira or Skoda Roomster. We're going to go back and test drive them to see which suits us best. Lauraloo, I'm not sure yet but that is the most important bit to me too, as long as it has power steering, high seats and big boot, I don't mind what car we get. ? If we go for a Vauxhall, I quite like 'power red'.

Being able to apply online is brilliant, it saves your hand falling off and it's generally much easier... Such a pity I didn't know this before I filled out the form. ??

KJX, honestly? It's bloody awful. It's about 40 pages long and is a complete mare to fill out. As Elise says, you need to say everything at your worse so it's such a downhearted, depressing thing to do. It leaves you feeling completely worthless. Is WBA a benefits advisory place? I had always been refused in the past and last time, I went to a benefit advisor who helped me fill out the form, he was ace and I got it. This time, I just remembered the various tips and managed to do it myself.

I'm a welfare rights adviser in real life. I like filling in forms ?

DLA is a *** and I would always advise getting professional help with it if you can access it. Most LAs have benefits advisers, or try local charities or the CAB. I work for a Centre for Independent Living and most areas will have one of these who may have someone who can help.

And if at first you don't succeed, keep trying. Many claims that are turned down are successful on review or appeal. Something like 50% of cases that are represented by an adviser at an appeal are successful, which just goes to show the poor level of decsion making by the Disability and Carers Unit.

Good news Madge. Motablity is a great scheme!