Hi has anyone received disability living allowance following a transplant? I was already receiving this BEFORE my transplant last year.

[Dan68]

I had hep c and cirrhosis and then liver cancer one after the other also I had ascites. Following the transplant I now have thrombolitis a blockage or clots in the smaller veins in the calfs. The benefits office are now calling me in to stop the benefit one year after transplant.

[AyrshireK]

Hi Dan68, DLA is being phased out and replaced for claimants by the new Personal Independence Payment (PIP). It doesn't matter what your diagnosis or condition is but you do have to qualify as regards various factors in a 'How does your illness/disability affect you form?'. Sadly it is a pig of a process.

My hubby who is being assessed for transplant as we speak applied in August last year and got called for a face-to-face assessment (ordeal by interrogation) by ATOS in May of this year then got a decision letter through the door the day we found out that hubby was being sent for assessment saying hubby was fine and scored zero in every category. We are currently challenging that decision as every word of the decision letter basically called us liars and it contradicted everything that was said at the face-to-face assessment.

We've just been told today that the tranplant unit social workers can help with further support should DWP stick by their decision after we have asked for a reconsideration. Hopefully the don't drag us out to appeal just as we are coming to terms with matters as they stand.

Next thing that is due for us is hubby's ESA renewal, I bet that will be waiting when we get home from transplant assessment.

As you are post transplant but still unwell in the manner that you mention, when they come to change you to PIP ensure you get help filling in the form and get the support of your transplant team who are still there to support you (for life). Fill any forms in as per your worst day and take it from there.

All the best with it, it is terrible that such poorly people are having to fight for a miserly amount of money yet an essential one when your still fighting a condition.

Katie

[Dan68 in reply to AyrshireK]

Thanks AyrshireK, I received a letter last week saying they want to speak to me regarding an alleged fraudulent claim as someone has contacted them saying I shouldn't receive any benefits. I have to go next Tuesday and will see what they say. Who has told them this I've no idea. When the doctors done my report the DWP said my entitlement is indefinite due to all that I had going on but now someone has said something they say they have to act. I'm not worried as the medical team at Birmingham will explain my case.

I feel a lot better now after transplant but have put a lot of weight on and can't walk far due to my legs not liver.

Hope all goes well for your hubby and the assessment goes ok to. I'm 45 and was given 6 months to live and had a transplant within 6 days of being on the urgent list.

[AyrshireK in reply to Dan68]

Dan, that is awful, take as much detail in as you can, there are some evil folks about. Surely your medical evidence will knock the allegation on the head and hopefully you get it sorted. It's stress like this that folks like yourself and my hubby don't need. We are still waiting the result of our request for a reconsideration of hubby's PIP decision.

We are back off to the liver transplant unit tomorrow, he got the go ahead to go onto the transplant list but they found some splenic artery aneurysms during the CT scan so he has to have an operation on those this Wednesday and once they are dealt with he'll get listed.

All the best to you with getting your benefits restored.

Katie

[Tracy0512]

Did you get this sorted Dan? Happy new year to you and Alison by the way xx