Refused DLA

[Ldyalb]

I remember your travesty of a medical report animalhouse. I've rung the surgery and am waiting for them to call back about it. I did write to my GP explaining my main problems so hopefully he will have remembered to consult the letter.

If not I'll have to speak to them and see what can be done.

Here's some info on Psoriatic Arthritis:

http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arth ... ritis.aspx

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Psoriatic-Arthritis.htm

The CAB haven't called back yet so I'm giving them until lunch and then I'll ring and chase.

Mozza - don't feel embarrassed - it's good to know the system works the right way sometimes. You thoroughly deserve your award.

I think one of my main problems was the variability. The DM basically said in the letter that although he accepted I need help he felt that the variable nature of my conditions means that I don't need it enough. I have been honest about the fact that things do vary for me but I also think my forms clearly demonstrate that I do need help most of the time.

It's like he read a different form to mine. I stated I can't cook due to chopping and peeling veg etc and because I struggle to carry pans of water etc. My ESA medical report also stated the same thing. A letter from my carers (albeit they are also my parentals so probs not as reliable as a paid carer, but even so - it would be in their interest to back me up so that I get DLA and they would keep their job) also said the same thing. Yet the DM states I have no problems with this.

I know I did a good job with the forms which is to my advantage I believe - it's far easier for me to highlight all the errors in their judgement. I also have an argument that they requested a medical report from my Rheumy but then didn't bother waiting for it and made the decision 3 weeks later anyway. It seems the decision was suddenly rushed.

When we appeal a DLA decision it automatically triggers off a reconsideration i.e. they have to re-read my form, the extra info and the medical reports. So they may decide to award me something. I'm definitely entitled to LRC and LRM. Not sure if I'm considered bad enough for MRC. We'll have to wait and see I guess.

[animalhouse]

up to my 1st tribunal i had 2 clear points for lrm needing supervision when i go out for ptsd, anxiety, fibro fog but the judge made a comment - you seem to be doing alright here - but i had my oh with me then - if i was on my own i would have been different and probably more honest and broke down like i did at my cbt session yesterday when i admitted i need soemoen to go out with me but am to proud to ask and if my oh has been running aroudn after allt he family i dont feel i can ask him.

also for hrm its the old can/cant walk up to 50m without extremem pain and discomfort - had a letter from old gp confirming this but still no.



holding my breath that you get somewhere without the big fight. take care if you have 1/2 a brain cell and competency it seems a bigger struggle i am sorry to say - i also think demongraphic has something to do with it.

thansk for psor.. info will take a look.

[MonkeyFeatures]

Here's a few photos of my 'suspected psoriasis'

Excuse my strange toes lol!!

I have it mainly on my fingers, toes, feet, knees & scalp. It's quite good at the mo tho & can get a lot worse x


(Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk)

[Ldyalb]

That looks like Psoriasis to me. I had a good friend with it at school and hers looked like that. I suppose now it's up to the Dermo to decide if it's Psoriasis or a severe form of Eczema. Looks painful though. I'm really digging your nail varnish - awesome colour

Pics of mine here:

http://s1177.photobucket.com/albums/x350/Ldyalb/Hands/

Aside from my fingernails the only sign is on the ankle, GP said he's not sure if Eczema or a mild Psoriasis. It's been like that for about 10-8 years now. I definitely had it in the 6th form, just not sure if also had it when doing my GCSEs or not too

I had some between my boobs a few years ago but there was no way to take a decent photo of it lol. It was like a creamy coffee colour and was dry with white flakes, a bit bigger than a 5p. Got a tiny patch on my wrist but it's pea sized and won't show on camera.

[MonkeyFeatures]

Brown, white & flakey sounds very much like psoriosis - defo worth asking GP for a referral instead of waiting ages if that's what rhuemy wants to do.

Yes it is agony to be honest, my GP is stuck as to what to give me as we've tried lots. It's so painful & I get lesions which means I have to bandage the area hope dermatologist can help!! x


(Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk)

[Ldyalb]

I'll definitely mention it to him next time I see him. If he thinks the Rheumy will be able to decide if it's Psoriasis or not then I hopefully won't need one. But if not makes sense to see one sooner rather than later. I think the pitting of the nails may be enough to distinguish the arthritis symptoms as Psoriatic though, providing the Rheumy doesn't look at me and realise it's Rheumatoid or another type. Nail pitting occurs more frequently with Psoriatic Arthritis than with Psoriasis on it's own. And technically nails and skin are the same, so nail Psoriasis counts as skin Psoriasis because they're made of the same material, nails are just harder than the rest of your skin.

But you don't know until you ask so I may as well ask for more info from my GP.

Ouch, I hope the Dermatologist can help you. That's the problem with GPs - once you've gone past the emollient cream level of effectiveness, unless there's actually a bacterial infection or something which can be fixed with a steroid cream or anti biotics then there's not much more they can do.

I guess if it is PsA then you'll be able to treat the cause with a double whammy - a treatment plan from your Dermatologist for the P part and the treatment from your Rheumy for the A part. Hopefully the right treatment will help to minimise the flare ups for you x

[Roseofsharon]

hi I've only just seen that you've been refused . I wonder how it was that I got mine?! NOt complaining though. Definitely appeal, and hopefully in the reconsideration before appeal you;ll get the right decision. and everything else crossed for you.

[bacaloca]

Hi, I am new to this but reading your comments have made me feel slightly better.
I have just had my renewal refused and I was feeling really stressed which in turn was making my fibro' flare.
I am going to appeal.

[Ldyalb]

I'm beginning to see why. My GP didn't actually write me a report - he basically sent them the letter that I sent him and said that he agreed with it and that's the level of care and mobility I'm at. I think it didn't help that it was mainly in my own words. I also just highlighted my main problems for that so maybe they assumed from there that everything else was exaggerated? When I send the appeal letter I'll highlight the nature of the note and why I sent it and explain it is definitely not exhaustive.

The ESA medical report refers to me as male!! several times . It also contradicts itself several times. The lady who assessed me wasn't a native English speaker and her English is very poor. Like the report was written by a small child poor. My 9 year old Niece (English is her 2nd language) has better written quality of English than the HCP. It's easy for me to tell what the HCP means because I was at the medical, for someone who wasn't there though it isn't very clear.

CAB STILL haven't come back to me. I'm not happy, I've left two messages. Tomorrow I'll call again but I won't ask for the lady who helped me with the forms this time. I'll say I've just been turned down for DLA and can someone help me to launch my appeal? Hopefully that way I can get an appointment and some advice.

I'm going to start compiling evidence of why they've got the decision wrong. I'm reasonably hopeful that a reconsideration would see that I should receive help. I sent a lot of extra info, including a report from my Neuropsychologist to my Dr which explains that I have Special Needs. I don't think they've studied it thoroughly at all.

I might also dig out some more in depth info on Dyspraxia as I think that's part of my stumbling block. People don't know much about it and struggle to understand that intelligent people can have severe learning difficulties. These people didn't see x4 by 2 and make 6 at the age of 14 ... but I just don't think the decision maker believed that I can't tell my left from my right, and can't tell the time. I genuinely can't. I can cope with on the hour but anything after that's a lost cause.

I also don't think they get the extent to which Fibro Fog is a pain in the backside either. When I'm foggy I'm in my own little world and need a lot more help.

Luckily the reasons they gave for why they said no are clearly errors - makes it easier for me to fight it and say that they're wrong

Bacoloca - go for it. Don't let the ****** grind you down. for a successful appeal for you. What rates did you previously get?

[shazq]

with your appeal Lydalb.

[Roseofsharon]

Hopefully you can get enough information to show them that their decision was the wrong one. I know when they gave me a wrong decision (initial denial then gave me the correct decision on reconsideration) what I had to do was get every little bit of information that I had together and send it. Get together every bit of evidence on how things affect you. Get your parents to write, another doctors letter, and as many letters from your specialists as you can. Highlight the things that are pertinent to your claim. they are more interested in how it affects you on a day to day basis, tell them what a good, a mediocre and a bad day is like. I'm not so sure that they are interested in generic this is what this condition is like. I have in the past asked for my medical history and I enclosed every detail that I had. Go back to your doctor and ask why he didn't write a proper report, but just used your letter verbatim. If necessary pay for him to write a letter and enclose that with your appeal paperwork, they same with your specialists. Don't take anything for granted, but put every piece of paperwork you have that disproves what they've written about you. It's tough, and it's stressful, but it has to be pertinent to you and how it affects you. Once they have all of that if it they still disagree with you then it is ready for appeal, and you'll have a solid base to work with if it goes to appeal. Generic is interesting but not pertinent for them as they are looking at how you are affected.

I know that you have done more research than I have, and please feel free to disregard me, but having seen my mother go through this process and gone through it myself I'm just saying what my personal experience is. Swamp them with paperwork that proves everything you've said and they won't have any choice but to grant you your DLA. that they only need to reassess to get you the right result. I'm sure that you'll have your DLA soon.

[Ldyalb]

That's a good idea. My parents did write a letter initially but it was brief so I'll see if they'll write a more detailed one. I had my last Counselling appointment on Monday so she'll be writing to my GP soon with her findings - if that's a good letter I'll send them a copy of that as well.

I did explain thoroughly how I'm affected by everything but I think focusing more on a day to day basis may help. Diary style lol. I need to ring my Rheumy, they wrote to her for more info but made the decision before getting a response - so I'll see what she will say to back me up. Hopefully she can send me the report she would have sent to them.

I will speak to my GP as well. I need to see my new GP next week as I'm having problems with my jaw (hurts to talk, laugh and eat - I suspect TMJ) and my left knee so I'll explain about my fall on Monday and my near miss and see if he will write a letter to back me up.

When I eventually see my new Rheumy I'll ask them to write me a decent report outlining my various Rheumatological problems so I've got a good report on record for the future.

It's all a pain but hopefully it'll be worth it in the end. When I sent the Neuropsychologist's report I highlighted the significant bits. She sent me a much longer version but as she intended me to read it she glosses over things. So for example she said 'you had a minor difficulty with X' but on the report she sent to my GP she said 'Ldyalb had significant difficulties with X, with Y falling in the below average range'. I actually had a shock when I first read her version as they were so different. I'll have another read through the one intended for me to read and see if I can pop in the page where she explains about me struggling to navigate unfamiliar places. (she actually suggested on it that I may find crossing the road easier if I look both ways before I cross... like I hadn't *** figured that one out for myself! My problem is speed and distance perception - so if I see a car which is far away it can look dead close to me and vice versa).

Wouldn't life be a lot easier if medical professionals wrote clear reports in the first place and didn't faff around trying to focus on the positives, just clear facts 'they have difficulty with XYZ' etc!?

[fliss]

hi all i too suffer from psoriasis and hav done for the past 19 yrs i started with it at the age of 13yrs.my dermatologist has tried allsorts creams,ointments,sunlight therapy,puva treatment and for the past 3yrs ish he has had me on some tablets named neotigason and when i first started takin them i was overjoyed and in 6 wks my whole body had cleared up,so iv carried aon takin them i hav to hav bloods done every 3 months but last wk i went for my normal appointment and he has told me i hav high choleserol and this is caused by the tablets,anyway i use a shampoo called capasol and its smells but works hope ur all ok xx

[animalhouse]

hi ldyabl,

went and had a 2 hour appointment with cab for the first time for my renewal and need to go again next week for an hour to finish it off.

got some more letters to send of with thi sone, so hopefully will do better than my iniitial appeal and my 2nd set up change of cirumstances so that wil lbe the 3rd one i have on the go.

i hope this one does better becuase i have cab involved. do they put a magic big red cross on so anyone that uses them is guaranteed to pass as my first ones my oh did weren't successful.

take care and sorry you had naff drs report like me they are a complete waste of time they odn't realise how they are messing up our dla claims etc would be better off not putting anything at all.

[Ldyalb]

animalhouse. I think the advantage of having the CAB involved is that they give you advice on how to word your answers, which things to highlight etc. They also know the process very well which is useful - especially for people who haven't had much experience with claiming benefits.

My CAB lady rang me back earlier. I've got my appeal letter written and am going to send that off tomorrow morning with my GL24 form. Then I'm off to my boyfriend's until Monday so I'm going to have the weekend off :D

I've chased up my Rheumy. Aside from dealing with a woman who couldn't comprehend my surname (seriously, it's a pretty common one)I eventually managed to get hold of someone who is going to ask the Rheumy if they can forward me a copy of their report.

Next week I'm going to speak to my GP's secretary again and request that he writes me a report in his own words. If I have to pay for it then I will do - if I can get a decent one to back me up then it's worth having for my records. I'm even angrier with him now that he didn't refer me back to a specialist last year. Maybe I'd have a current Rheumy who could back me up as well.

I've also asked my parents to write me a more detailed letter explaining how they help me and why.

I sent off a lot of evidence initially, when they get my appeal papers they have to send the original form and info to a different Decision Maker for a reconsideration that DM sees sense and will give me an award. If not then I'll go in to the appeal with all guns blazing!