Disabled parking badge and High rate mobility (DLA)

[craigstubbs]

Really need some advice on this as I have had both taken off me, I have CMT Type 1a and was visited at home by an Atos Origin Dr. for the medical. He reported back that YES i have a condition but I don't meet the new criteria for the blue badge or DLA - Please advise !!!

[Alioops78]

I am sorry that this has happened to you and it has become my fear as well, unfortunately I don't have any knowledge for you apart from trying your local councils welfare rights department to see if they will appeal for you.

Good luck

Alioops x

[sarajayne]

You need to ask them to look at it again and keep asking to review it dont let them say no get your doctor /it to back you

[kazza45]

Hi,

I would appeal to them, and get as much support from your GP, I know it's upsetting when they stop it and only say because you don't fit the criteria.. as this condition can affect you differently on different days... I hope you get some better news from them keep fighting.

[curlyburli]

Get you consultant to write. I guess the doc doesnt know a thing about CMT. When I applied for the DLA I was refused first time and on second time the DLA sent a doc to assess me and I got it.

[John1945]

Hello craigstubbs..... Sorry my reply is so long ! I get very angry when I hear of cases like

your own!

First of lets look at our 'political masters' who are totally "out of touch" with the medical needs, and financial assistance required by the citizens of the UK ! Incredibly they decide to award a £100 million contract to a FRENCH company (Atos) to re-assess DLA recipitants:

LET US WITH C.M.T NOT FORGET THIS COALITION GOVERNMENT AT THE BALLOT BOX

You now require to request an appeal/review of this recent case decision : Request letters of support / confirmation of your disease (remember Cmt is a DISEASE) from your G.P. and your Neurologist : Research into CMT will highlight the following important points>>>>

> Cmt is an Inhertited Neurological Neuro-Muscular DISEASE? (do not call it a condition):

> Their is NO known cure for this PROGRESSIVELY WORSENING disease:

> HIGHLIGHT your own PERSONAL CARE/SUPPORT difficulties e.g. Bathing / Walking /

Walking stick / Assistance required 24/7 / Meals provided / Filled kettle / Filled pots are all

too heavy / Require Orthotic muscle support devices / Balance difficulties / lack of normal

reflexes / Cannot rise after a fall without assistance / Lack of control/fine finger dexterity in

hands (if applicable) :

You must sit down and assemble a written case of appeal : Download a copy of the current DLA Application form as a guide, and use it ! read it ! to provide/ remind yourself of all the important points that will increase your points qualification:

Always bear in mind that any DWP, DLA Application form is not seen by any health professional! It is a decision decided totally on clerically assessed points awarded basis, to each answer you provide on the application form : The higher the better decides on whether to award the applicant the Higher / Middle / Lower rate :

Best of luck to you, check the internet, as there maybe specialist companies who could appeal more professionally than yourself ?

Finally whilst you receive DLA you have an automatic right to a "Blue-Badge": However, you can still apply to your local council for a "Blue-Badge", with the support of your G.P. or a Consultant !

Question 1 >>>"how far can you walk without difficulty " ? ? ?

Answer is amaximum 25/45 yards :

John, Glasgow

[CMT2012]

Hi craigstubbs, I have DLA high/med. High mobility, medium care. I don't drive but was offered a blue badge. My husband has a blue badge and he has a motability vehicle.

Can I encourage you to find out first what 'criteria' you did not meet. This will help you understand why this decision was made. Definitely take John1945's advice above as you need to get your consultant/gp/physio etc. to write to you so you have a complete picture of their assessments of you. By the way, the ATOS Dr. did not make the decision. His assessment went to an office where a clerical person decided whether or not you would be awarded any benefit.

The blue badge point is important. As long as you receive DLA, the high/med-high criteria, you will be entitled to a blue badge. You must meet the high mobility award criteria at the very least.

Can I encourage all of you to attend the meeting with the ATOS doctor and do not invite them to your home. Yes, it will be almost impossible for you to attend but they will see for themselves just how difficult it is for you to do this. If they attend in your home, they see how 'easy' (pardon the term) it is for you to get about at home if you have things set up to help you. It gives them a false impression that you are better than you really are. I know it will be a real pain in the backside but I encourage you, if at all possible, to attend the meeting.

I went for that very reason. By the time they got around to seeing me in my electric wheelchair, my ankles and feet were so swollen, I was in a bit of pain. My back was hurting because I had to sit for so long without any real movement and could not lay down to help with this. The doctor asked if I could walk without assistance from her desk to the bed/couch and I told her to wait, that I could get out of the chair and did, with great difficulty. Shuffled very slowly along her desk and there was open ground between her desk and couch of about 3.5feet. Looked at her, looked at the space, looked at the couch then back at her and she immediately realised that if I had tried, I would have fallen. She encouraged me to disregard her request and get back into the chair.

I hope you find that there is remedy in the not too distant future, craigstubbs. All the very best for your success! Kind regards ~ Jean

[steveshawx]

I'm dreading the new PiP (DLA reformed), as I will have to reclaim when it comes in next year. Going back to my first application pre 1990, it was turned down because I could "comfortably" walk around at home. when I reapplied encouraged by and helped by a colleague at work in 1996 was awarded indefinite high rate mobility and mid rate care, to be reviewed after a major dorsal wedge osteotomy on my right foot, when DLA decided I would be miraculously cured......until my surgeon stepped in (I'm considerably worse now, than then), and they took the mid rate care deciding I could look after myself. Now having the hr mob award and a motability car since 1996, I am fearing government reform into looking at how much they can save.

Going with the above comments, and working for DWP, I would seriously recommend the following;

ATOS are employed to report facts, that they can see. You might have a good day on your assessment medical and not a true representation of your disability you are seen to be able bodied = you have met the agility part

DWP can only take those facts when applying an award of benefit - good day = no award.

I would appeal, if you aren't too happy with the process alone, get a social worker / CAB rep to help you. (your DEA at your local JCP may even be able to help you with some support).

Make sure you stress your bad days into the equation and back it up with as many medical qualified references as you can in your appeal

Take another person who knows you well into the medical if allowed - don't do it alone!!

Write a well phrased letter to your MP - complain about the indignity you seem to have suffered - Your MP is the only one who can make appropriate noises in Parliament.

Chin up and FIGHT!

[CMTUnitedKindom Partner]

Appeal, appeal, and appeal again! That's the best advice I can give you!

Also, for more specific advice, go to benefitsandwork.co.uk and check out their resources - if you need to log in as a member to access anything, use our details - username: cmt

Password: frame2

Best of luck, and as others have said, try to get as much corroboration as you can. Don't let them win!

Karen

[Whiterose]

Hi everyone, especially Craig for raising this subject. I have applied for the second time for DLA and have been refused. I have appealed and am waiting to have a meeting with the appeal panel. The comments you all have made have been very useful. Thank you once again.

[Pam49]

Hi Craigstubbs

I was always under the impression that the blue badge scheme was a separate issue to our DLA? Maybe it's all changed like everything else this so called government want! I had an appointment on the 11/07/2012 for a medical even though I had sent them all the info about my HNPP, nobody perhaps understood what it is, hence the call for a medical. Anyway 2 days before I was due to go and had got myself all in a tizzy they rang me to cancel my appointment saying that the DWP have requested that a doctor see me and not a nurse, so I am now still waiting fora new appointment!!! I was quite annoyed though as my daughter's partner was at my house yesterday and informed me that his mum had received a phone call from the DWP saying that she will not lose her benefit!! The reason I was angry is that although she has Rheumatoid Arthritis really bad she still does craft work at home, ie, making cards, crosstitch sewing etc etc and she has not even had to go for a medical, but because NO DWP person knows what our condition is they pass the buck to a G.P whom is as much in the dark as them! what chance do we have with all the knowledge less doctors working for ATOS??? sorry for ranting everyone who reads this but the government are just a pain in the A--e and do absolutely Jackl S--t about us! Just do what we all will end up doing Craig APPEAL APPEAL APPEAL!!!!! Good luck!

[steveshawx in reply to Pam49]

From a near date in the future all DLA recipients can be linked to the Blue badge application service at local governments who deal with you. As can the housing benefits at the moment link to Income Support, DLA and JSA.

When universal credit kicks in everything benefit related will be linked! On a positive note it will kick off those who don't need a blue badge (my biggest pet hate).

Rant on Pam49 - without Rants people just ignore you - especially those who need to take notice...

[craigstubbs]

Hi, thank you everyone for taking the time to reply to me.

The whole process makes you feel like a scrounger which is completely WRONG, we all have a Disease that we didn't ask for and have to live with on a day to day basis. I have typical symptoms for CMT Type 1a i.e. no balance, no reflexes, high arched feet, week ankles, hammer toes, muscle wasting on the calves and signs off it starting in my hands.

I have good days and bad days but also do as much as possible to exercise and strengthen the muscles that do work to help support the ones that don't. I didn't lie when I was asked what I do as I do not want to be a victim of a newspaper trying to catch people out, yes I exercise to help me manage my condition as Doctors have told me this is a good thing in moderation however this means as far they are concerned that being proactive also stops me receiving any support for my condition.

I can't get physio through my Dr as when they refer me I get 3 or 4 sessions at the local hospital then they discharge me with the same exercise and stretches form to do myself.

Also by the time I am referred and get an appointment I have had to go private anyway as when I need physio I need it that day due to the high pain levels normally in my back, hips and sides of my upper legs.

I am lucky that i work and do not rely on the DLA for my mobility but that is not the point as DLA is NOT related to how much you earn but what support you need. As it stands just now I can manage without a career but certainly cannot manage without a car !

Also whilst Yes i can walk (painful) I can also trip over my own feet stood still at any point but how do you show this in a medical with out faking it for there benefit ???

CMT as far as the Government is concerned is invisible, it doesn't exist and therefore they don't support people with the condition.

Maybe I am to honest but the thought of being labelled a fraud or a cheat makes me feel sick.

I really do feel for people who rely on the support and are having it taken away from them,

Thanks again for all your answers, I certainly have some reading to be getting on with.

Craig,

[steveshawx in reply to craigstubbs]

Craig, you ARE NOT LUCKY, you are "fortunate" that your disease hasn't progressed on to have you solely rely on DLA - however, to be entitled to DLA, or PIP as it will be called soon, you have to have a debilitating condition that renders you disabled enough to require support from the government to go to work to continue to input your valid contribution to the economy.There are some who are incapacitated too much to be able to work, and the powers that be haven't recognised that people like you and me need that extra support because public transport is such an enormous challenge.

I was denied DLA in 1994, I reapplied after i suffered a significant decrease in my mobility, and was asked why, by the decision maker, I hadn't applied earlier.......is there no way of winning? - I think now with hindsight it's all in the detail, and how you word the application / appeal - it's how the decision makers do what they do, alongside their guidance (it's not the departments fault).

Go for It, and get someone to help with you appeal, good luck!

[Amanita]

A late addition to the debate.

My mobility has deteriorated considerably in the last year or two. Various friends have advised me to apply for a Blue Badge, so I looked to see what the criteria are to qualify. It is just my bad luck that in September 2012, they tightened up the criteria in Scoltand quite ferociously (don't know what happens south of the Border). A friend who works for the Citizens' Advice Bureau sees many people who badly need a Badge but have been refused, and he is sure I'd have no chance whatever of getting one under the current rules. So I continue to struggle .

But it really is annoying to be frequently overtaken by the folk who park legitimately in the disabled places- who use a stick, and whose walking is certainly impaired, but can go much further and faster than I can.

[Exhausted101]

Amanita, having read some f your posts surely you would be awarded a blue badge if you got your GP/other health care professional to provide supporting information. If you haven't already why don't you at least apply - what have you got to lose?

Kind regards, Fiona

[Amanita]

Thank you, Fiona (Exhausted)

I applied for my Blue Badge in mid December 2013, with the backing of my neurologist and physiotherapist (i.e. health professionals for them to contact) . I also consulted my C.A.B. friend - who helped me with filling in the intimidatingly long form. For example, among other advice, he said I should fill in the bit about severe disability in both hands/arms; on reflection i realised some parking machines expect you to pull on a tiny bit of ticket sticking out - and there was the fact that I was likely to drop the coins due to my poor grip, especially in cold weather- and at least one hand was occupied with a crutch and my mind occupied with balance. I amended "severe" to "moderate". But without that prompting I should never have thought of filling that bit in.

I just wrote truthfully what the situation was for each question - and was immensely relieved to receive my B. Badge just before Christmas - with no personal examination or interview.

I couldn't possibly manage without it now, and wonder how I kept going as long as I did.

Just for information I never had DLA/ Motability as I had never head of either until after the cut-off age, having managed to keep going by being self employed with a pretty sedentary job.

[Exhausted101]

Ah, apologies. I hadn't realised that you already had one (the post being so old)

Note to self: read posts properly and note dates!

[Juliej51]

Omg I'm not surprised there st all from the new assessors who are not qualified or have any knowledge of CMT.

It happened to me twice but I know have 10 points for moving around, which still isn't enough for the cat but it does get me my blue badge which is the most important thing to me ,good luck and don't give up!!!