DLA reconsideration decision.

I asked for reconsideration for my DLA award of LRC and LRM because I felt they'd ignored my Fibro and physical problems and awarded it purely on my mental health problems.

They have again totally ignored the Fibro and kept my award at LRC and LRM. They have ignored the fact I can't take a bath without help , dress without help and can't walk at all outside without support. Ignored the fact I suffer dizzy spells , in fact ignored every single thing.

They have awarded me DLA indefinitely , but as PIP is coming in next year that means nothing. I know for a fact they intend to take everyone on the lower rates off it altogether so I'm pretty annoyed.

I've had the lower rates for 8 years and during this time I've gotten progressively worse physically but despite using the benefit and works guidelines they are not prepared to accept Fibro as a disability it seems.

There is no point me appealing as I can offer no further evidence than I already have, my GP sent a letter and I don't have a specialist at present . In any case I can't get to an appeal because of my agoraphobia.

To say I'm upset is an understatement.

[Extremelygrumpy]

I know how you feel I am only getting lower dla and the only reason I get that is for my arthritis they totally ignore my fibro .. And despit walking on two sticks and now unable to drive due to meds and can't turn my neck to the right they won't give me any mobility... Now you have said that they are going to do away with lower rate next year I don't know how we are going to cope financially... Oh joy I can feel my stress levels rising..... Now I know why my last dla letter said to be reviewed June 2013.... Maybe they just want all us fibro mites to top ourselves and save money that way and keep the jobless numbers down.

Yours sadly VG xx

[SootyB]

What can we do to sort out this ridiculous situation, folks? I don't claim benefits at the moment, but that's a choice I have made because I'm still able to be in work and am lucky enough not to need them to survive. So many of the people on this site are not that lucky, and it infuriates me that the symptoms we battle with on a daily basis are ignored by people who cannot even begin to imagine what we go through.

I'm in the mood for a fight, despite not having the energy to go past round 1, today (boss is extracting the urine again)!

Sara xx

[Hidden]

VG, I've read the new descriptors for PIP and they have moved the goal posts so far that it will be impossible for anyone on the lower rates to get it.

If you can self propel a wheelchair for 50 feet , even if you don't have one, you won't get any points . So what they are basically saying is if you have the use of your arms , even if your legs don't work at all , you score no points.

It will be a similar assessment to the present WCA and I think we all know how that is.

[Extremelygrumpy]

Ha, I might have found the loophole then .... I CAN,T propel myself in a wheelchair as that motion of my arms sends my neck into spasm... Tried it when I was wheel chair bound for 3 months when the arthritis hit. Had to get a gp in to give me something for pain and spasms couldn't get out of bed let alone to an assesment. Of which I have no intention of ever going to one they can come to me and cut my benefits off I am not forcing myself to any appointment to have them cut off... Gahhhh I am in a very grumpy mood today... After learning all this... Sorry

VG xx

[Hidden]

I'm not in the best of moods myself VG as you can imagine. My hubby has been on the phone all morning trying to find somewhere I can find legal advice ( from home as I'm agoraphobic and can't get out ) and is hitting a brick wall every time.

I can't say all of this is doing my mental health much good to be honest and it's not improving my stress levels or my low mood.

I won't be attending their assessments either , they will have to come to me .