That is a very good point about being careful taking part in races etc. if you are claiming the mobility part of DLA, I hadn’t thought about how that would be perceived. My MacMillan nurse filled my form in for me, she asked me to describe how much I felt on the worst day I had had. I described how my hip joint can be agony and I can hardly walk without holding on to something. I felt a bit uncomfortable at first claiming for this, as I have many days when I walk and function normally, but if I overdo things my left leg is very painful and for the next couple of days I hobble around and experience quite a lot of pain. It is little things like difficulty putting socks on, picking things up that she said were relevant.
She reassured me that I was entitled to claim for the mobility part, as I can’t guarantee that on any specific day that I will be completely mobile.
I do still suffer with guilt and worry that somebody will ‘catch me out’ on a day in which I walk normally, but I try to balance this with the knowledge that it will get worse and when I have to go ahead with the hip replacement.
Good luck with anybody who is still waiting to claim, I also see it that if I didn’t have all of the DLA I would have to be working full time still, so my leg would still be in the bad state it was in before I gave up full time work and was on my feet all day.
I’m not sure if anyone has mentioned that anyone with a life expectancy of less than a year can apply to have their private pension fund as a tax free lump sum now.
I called my pension provider who told me they’ll send me a special form to be completed by the oncoloigst or nurse and the payment will then be sent.
Clearly you need to think about the implications if you have a family and intend for them to claim your pension after you’re gone but to me it will mean the fredom to give up work as soon as I need to.
Hello Ladies,
A bit confused re the Blue Badge application. I have applied for DLA with the DS1500 and should therefore get the higher rate. When I looked at the Blue Badge application form, it aks:
Do you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance?
Please supply evidence.
I presume that this means you need to have filled in the mobility section of the DLA form?
I personally don’t need it at the moment but who knows what the future holds…
xxx
I had to send a copy of my DLA award letter with my application for my Blue Badge. AT the time I applied I was stuggling to walk due to spine mets but although that has improved I can’t walk far with shopping so I still have my blue badge and use it when I need to. I generally use it to get free parking, especially at hospital as I there every week at the mo, I don’t usually take up a disabled space as I am not in a wheel chair and others are far worse than me.
I don’t know if things have changed with regard to getting the Blue Badge. I applied for mine in 2005 and had not heard of DLA at that time. So obviously no questions were asked about DLA or I would have been aware. The one question I remember having to answer on the application was how far I could walk comfortably. No ‘choices’ were given so I said less than 100yds. I sent my application to Kingston borough (Surrey) and was given the Blue Badge without any further request for confirmation from GP or my consultant. I did put in the form that I had very extensive secondary bone mets affecting my spine and hips. Someone told me that the criteria re distance one could walk has been changed - maybe some of you have recently seen the form can let us know, but I think they are looking for a distance of less than 50 yds/metres. I have heard that it is easier to get the Blue Badge from some boroughs. (Post code lottery again?)
A couple more things some might be able to get, in addition to DLA under DS1500, and ESS (by the way, if you get DLA under DS1500, you should also get ESS at a higher rate provided you have paid contributions)
(1) Council tax discount. They might try and send you a huge booklet of very complicated incomprehensible forms to fill in, so make sure you tell them you are claiming as a disabled person - because the form is then just a simple single sheet. All you need to prove is that you have a bedroom set up for your sole use.
(2) Warmfront Scheme. This entitles you to free modifications such as new roof/cavity wall insulation, and new central heating system. You must be in receipt of DLA under DS1500, and your existing insulation or central heating system has to fall below a certain energy standard.
(3) Motability Car leasing Scheme: Allows you to use part of your DLA to lease a car. For many cars no deposit is required, and servicing is included.
Thanks Dawn and Lemongrove,
Just been told that I have been granted DLA at the highest rate. This will certainly help as I’m on a contract which expires end of August this year and there is no guarantee of it being renewed…
Could someone please tell me what ESS stands for?
I have also asked for my private pension provider to send me information re the possibility of a tax free lump sum. Will keep you all posted.
You must be feeling quite relieved :). Did you just get the Care element of DLA or was it the Mobility part as well? Originally I only claimed the care element back in 2006 but 2 years on I felt ok about applying for the mobility part and was amazed when they backdated it to the original claim for Care! I just did a bit of googling and this CAB site is very helpful
Hi Dawn,
Oh yes, very relieved! I only claimed for the Care element as I am still quite mobile. I was told over the phone so haven’t got the award document yet to see what it says.
Thank you for the link below - very useful!
I have also made enquiries re Council Tax benefit and am waiting for them to send/email the form through as the on-line one doesn’t work!
Thank you all so much for this thread - it’s been a godsend.
xxxx
The Warm Front Scheme: Currently the scheme is unable to accept new applications. This is a temporary measure. The scheme will accept applications again at a given date after 1 April 2011.
Sorry, I meant to say ESA, not ESS.
I know there is a backlog with Warmfront, because we were promised a new central heating system six months ago now. Just hope that I’m still around next winter to take advantage of it. Our antiquated system is next to useless, so we rely a lot on our log-burner.
Made enquiries with my private pension company re the option of tax free lump sum. They need a letter from my doctor stating that in his/her opinion my life expectancy is less than 12 months.
Even though my Doctor has signed my DS1500 form (which implies less than 6 months), he now says he needs a letter from my onc stating the above. My onc is saying that he can only confirm that my life expectancy is 2-3 years or possibly 4-5…
I have had payouts from all my pension pots after my GP signed the relevant forms. All I had to do was contact the pension provider and they sent me a statement explaining how much I was entitled to as a lump sum payout due to my diagnosis and a form for my GP to complete and sign. I just sent them in to my GP with an envelope to return to the provider and it was all sorted out very quickly.
I can’t remember the wording on the form but it does ask if you are likely to die within the next 12 months. I am now nearly 12 months on from my payouts but I know that I am unlikley to survive long enough to have collected my pension. It is much better for me and my family that we have the money now so that our lifestyle has been maintained despite me no longer working - this means that life continues the same for our children.
I hope you are able to get someone to sign your form for you.
Has anybody else had trouble accessing the Macmillan welfare advisor. I have been waiting to see someone for about 8 weeks and every time I ring up I am told she is out on visits or gone home. I spoke to someone who assured me she would tell her that my case was urgent but that was two weeks ago and I still haven’t got an appointment which means I’ve had to make my claim for esa without any help. I just hope I answered the questions correctly. I don’t want to sound like I’m moaning because the service is free and I know a lot of people have benefited from it but I can’t say they are helping me. I think I’ll have to go elsewhere because we are desperate for money and can’t wait any longer. Does anyone know of any other organisation that can help.
It took me a bit of to-ing and fro-ing before I managed to speak to mine as well back in 2008, but when I did get hold of her she was absolutely brilliant.
I applied for ESA over the phone- saved dressing over forms + the advisor was on hand to explain questions where necessary. It took about 40mins. I was only eligable for contributions based ESA not the means tested bit coz hubby got a decent job etc. But it’s still £90 pw due to me getting disability living allowance also (think it’s £65 if no dla). It was really straightforward + they even back paid me for 3months from the date of my recurrence/ secondary diagnosis.
Give them a call I got the number out the yellow pages. Fone ur job centre for it alternatively.
Good luck x
Gingerbud, I have made my application for ESA now. I made it on line and then they rang me back and as you say it took about 30 minutes. It was a very straight forward process so it wasn’t too bad. I feel a bit more nervous about making a dla application but I may have to do that independently as well as things are dire financially and I can’t wait any longer.
If you have secondary bc (stage 4) you dont need to fill out the long-winded dla form. Your doctor/ bcn/ onc can sinply fill out a special form which fast tracks you (cant think of the name of the form). The bcn where I had my radiotherapy did mine for me and I got my 1st payment within 10days. It is autometically paid at the highest rate (around £120) and it qualifies you for the higher rate of esa (mine went up from £65 to £90) and a blue badge for 3yrs etc. Get onto your gp/ bcn and get them to do the special circumstances form for you.
Good luck x