DLA. APPEAL. Help and advise needed !!!!

[lavenderheart]

ApplieD for DLA last year which got no no straight away as they wrote to my GP who said I manage to get to surgery ok ( my husband drives me there) and I manage to look after my children ( my husband does this also) honestly feel gutted by her comments as I now feel she thinks I am swinging the lead - have been self employed since 1990 and neverclaimed for a sick day at All but been very ill since xmas so in desperation asked this same GP for sick note which she gave me but had to ask “ why what do you do ” !!!!!! This is the GP who apparently knows how my fibro affects my life but never even bothered to ask what I do for a living !!!!!!!!!! ( I have ran my own vintage shops since 1990 but had to close in 2010 as frankly I can no longer do it ) anyway DLA was thrown out seems they have sent me papers for a court appearance for an appeal on 16th April but I don't remember doing this thing is I can't go as I also have a veeerry long waited for hosp appt that day about my arms and hands which keep going nunb so really don't want to cancle this - has anyone else had an appeal they didn't turn up to ????????????

I sent the sicknotes in for a claim for ESA and seems I'm not getting that either !!!!!!!! I am quite stuck - I have been self employed since 1990 and paid nat ins etc I can't carry on with the job as I restored and painted furniture etc which I quite simply cannot carry on doing but seems I can't claim sick money so what is the point of me keep getting sick notes - all veeeerry confusing and if anyone else has been in similar situation any advice would be very gratefully received - thank you x

[angib53]

Hi x I have appealed dla I went to citezens advice and they are helping to get things together , iam calling them this week . Iam still waiting for the tribunal date. Iam going on a atos medical in a couple of weeks , just wish these people we come up against were more understanding of us , the stress just brings more pain. Sorry I cant give advice on dla just learning myself but good luck xxx warm hugs x angie

[Fibrofoggiest]

I'm not sure I can give you any advice on this, as its not something I've experienced, but I would rather cross with a GP who advised that you were able to get to surgery and look after children, without even knowing what it is that you have been attempting to work at !!

As angle has said, I think a visit to the CAB would be good course of action to take and hopefully they can give you some pointers to help you move forward,

Best wishes. Foggy x

[lavenderheart]

Yes I am rather upset with my gp to be honest I find it very hurtful that at no point in the past few years of seeing her (since my long standing GP retired) has she evr asked what I do for a living how it affects my home life etc - I had to see another GP for renewal of my sicknote last month as she was off on hol and the first thing the new GP asked was what do I do although even she wasn't helpful apart from giving me even more antidepressants to try ...... I may very well look round for another GP to be honest - I have an appt with CAB in 2 wks for financial matters I will certainly mention all this to them see if they can help in anyway .......... Feel I am banging my head against the wall with most of the GP's at mu surgery to be honest - I havnt changed as we are currently waiting assesement for ADHD for my youngest child which is another stress in itself so didn't want to mess the GP's up just yet .......... Aaaahhhh all veeerrry stresful !!!!!!!!!

[lavenderheart]

Yes I am rather upset with my gp to be honest I find it very hurtful that at no point in the past few years of seeing her (since my long standing GP retired) has she evr asked what I do for a living how it affects my home life etc - I had to see another GP for renewal of my sicknote last month as she was off on hol and the first thing the new GP asked was what do I do although even she wasn't helpful apart from giving me even more antidepressants to try ...... I may very well look round for another GP to be honest - I have an appt with CAB in 2 wks for financial matters I will certainly mention all this to them see if they can help in anyway .......... Feel I am banging my head against the wall with most of the GP's at mu surgery to be honest - I havnt changed as we are currently waiting assesement for ADHD for my youngest child which is another stress in itself so didn't want to mess the GP's up just yet .......... Aaaahhhh all veeerrry stresful !!!!!!!!!

[nannyjenno]

my gp has done exactly the same to me. Her comments to dla left me devastated, so ive changed surgeries and the new gp is just as bad, telling me the tramadol cause the pain and if I stay off them my fibro will go!

I also have a dla tribunal coming up in a few weeks, and quite frankly I feel as its going to be a complete waste of my time. Whithout supporting evidence from my gp, I don't think I stand a chance.

[LindseyMid]

The information below on benefits may help. If you don't have the Benefits & Work guides, we recommend getting them (you can get them for free through FibroAction by emailing [e-mail])

fibroaction.org/Pages/Benef...

With GPs and benefit forms, it is worth making an appointment just to discuss this. We so often go into GPs just about symptoms, rather than the impact they have on us, that our own GPs don't have a clue! Giving them some key points relevant to the benefit you are applying for can be helpful. E.g. for DLA, tell them exactly how far you can walk without help without severe pain or an increase in symptoms. Tell them if you need help to get anywhere. Tell them if you need help at home. Tell them if you are unable to cook a meal for yourself or your children. Be really specific and ideally get it down to a few key points so that the GP can actually write it in your notes and use it as the basis of their report.

With regard to your appeal, have you tried contacting DWP/ATOS to say you are unable to make that date because of an important hospital appointment?

[justmai]

May I suggest that if you are having issues with your go supporting you that you get yourself a social worker not only can they help with care issues support for DLA but put things in place such as occupational health And they can fund small adaptions you might need to your home. You haven't said why you can't get sick pay if you have been paying your stamps you should get SSP. Can you ask them to change date of appeal send them your hospital letter saying you want to attend so could another date be arranged if you Dont attend you are less likely to win appeal. Get your go to refer you to you nearest fibro clinic you also mention hospital apt for hands and arms get the consultant to write a letter stating how these are affecting your health every piece of information and letters and appointments help