Has anyone with secondaries been refused DLA and successfully appealed?
Hiya Allicat?
Im sorry that I can’t answer your question, but can I ask if you have been refused?
Im due to see someone from cancer support on Tues to go through what benefits I will be entitled to now I have liver secondaries. I currently get Incapacity Benefit and have been told I should be able to get DLA now.
Im concerned now!!!
regards
Julie x x x
Hi Allicat and Julie,
The best route to go, if you have drawn a blank so far is through either your oncologist, bcn or macmillan nurse and ask for a DS1500 Special Rules. I also found that the Hospital Social Welfare officer was extremely helpful. The DS1500 Special Rules is given to those who have a terminal illness where they MAY NOT survive more than 6 months. The DWP are aware that many survive much longer than this and will probably recheck after 3 years. By going this route you have a lot less form filling to do. My oncologist at the Royal Marsden says they will sign this form generally for those with 2ndaries because no one can really predict their life expectancy.
dawnhc
hi there
i too have secondary bone cancer, i tried for dla. and my breast nurse even helped me fill the forms in. she also said it was classed as terminal because nobody can predict what will happen, but i have been turned down, because evedently i dont need as much care or am not as disabled as they expect, it is really frustrating because who is going to employ someone when they dont know how much time we may lose.
i havnt appealed because sometimes i can do things for myself at the moment. but when im having chemo i need a lot of help for that week. but it seems such a fuss to get any help. i am now trying for incapacity benefit, see how i get on there.
hope you work it out
HI all,
If you have to appeal a decision for DLA, there is a 40% chance of success with a paper hearing, and a 45% chance with an oral hearing. It is best to go for the oral hearing if possible, it shows the panel what you are really like. Your local CAB should be able to help you prepare the paperwork for your appeal, to the extent that they write to the specialists for supportive comments etc, and let you just get on with your life pretty much.
It’s worth remembering that DLA is based on your worst days. If you can’t even get out of bed on your worst days, then that’s the type of day you report when completing the forms.
All the best to everybody with their claims and appeals.
Hi
I just want to confirm what WestsideSue has said. It is so important that you report how you are on your worst of days. This is an acceptable method of filling in the form and in no way reflects on you. in the sense that you may feel as if you are ‘putting it on’ because your feeling better at other times.
Hi everyone,
I filled in the form myself and told them that I feel crap after the first week of chemo.I didn’t fill in any of the walking part of it though, as I can walk ok just a bit slower and I get tired easily.My Chemo has finished for the time being since I sent the form off.Apparently DLA people get in touch with Onc to ask for the report.I was told this by Onc’s secretary.
Do any of you think it’s worth appealing or can I re-apply when I start having more Chemo?
I feel a bit guilty applying for it when most of the time I feel ok but then I think about all the bums who are getting benefits and shouldn’t be when I’ve paid my tax’s all my life!
Alli x
Alli - you can only appeal within a short time of the original decision. However, if you start a new claim you will have to wait until you have had the condition for at least three months and expect to have it for a further six months minimum, unless you are claiming under special rules. Would recommend if you are within the appeal time allowed you take that course of action if possible. Your local CAB will help you sort it all out.
If you make a new claim PLEASE fill in EVERY part of the claim. You get money for both mobility and care. “They” may decide you don’t have mobility claim, but at least you will have tried!
All the best with your claim, Sue xx
The Macmillan Nurse filled in the form for me and Disability Living Allowance was approved within a couple of weeks (I have brain mets).
I would definitely suggest that you get the Macmillan Nurse to take over your application - mine’s wonderful!
Love, Lynn
Hi everyone,
i have secondaries to bones and am receiving top rate dla mobility and lower rate care component. I have recently applied for a change to the care component as i feel i should at least get the middle rate and if i do i can have my husband claim for carer allowance for himself. He does so much for me, bless…waited now about 9 weeks and not heard anything from dwp, spoke to my oncol sec. and gp both have not had dwp been in touch for any reports etc.
Just wondered if anyone else is going thru similar…
i am on monthly infusion, and exemestane daily, scans c.t. every 4 months, bone scan every 6 months.
kind regards,
Hi all
I echo what dawnhc says: if you’ve got secondaries, DO get your onc/GP/? (probably onc is the most appropriate person) to sign DS1500 Special Rules as you automatically then get DLA higher care component. You still have to make your case for the mobility component though, and as others have said, use your WORST days as the guide for filling in the form. I got help from my Macmillan/CAB advisor - see Macmillan website for the nearest in your area. They will do all the form filling for you, are experienced in completing the forms in the ‘right’ way. Mine was brilliant and made the whole ghastly process so much easier.
Alison x
Hi Chrystal,
I am really puzzled how you get full mobility rate but only lower rate on care. The money you receive does not have to be seen to be spent on care either! If it happened because you didnt go through the DS1500 route I would suggest that as you are under regular care of a hospital that you make an appointment to see their social welfare person. At the Marsden the man there is just so helpful. He will check things out for you and if you are not applying thru the best route will hopefully put you right.
Dawn
xx
I really urge people to apply for DLA using from 1500 Special Rules.If this is completed by a medical professional you will not be turned down because completioon of form 1500 means you may not survive 6 months (as Dawn has explained.) YOu should automativally get DLA care component at higher rate. WHether you get higher rate mobility will depend on how you filled in the form.I said that on my worse days I could only walk 50 yards without stopping (which is quite true…though nearer 20 yards!) and got higher rate.
Jane
I didnt actually get the mobility part originally because i didnt think I was bad enough to qualify but as the next 2 years went by I was progressively getting less mobile so i decided to contact them again. On the form where I was not happy to answer their question as they put it - I answered it my own way. So with regard to how far I could walk I gave them the full details from my bone scan reports over the years - and that sounds pretty grim. I explained that even though I might be able to walk further I was very unwilling to do so because of the damage I might cause in the process. It seemed to work and I got it backdated 2 years!
Dawn
xx