I saw my psychiatrist today and tried to discuss my DLA claim with him. I asked him if he would support a claim and he was decidedly evasive. Firstly he went off on one about how DLA goes against his patients helping themselves to get better, then when I tried to pin him down, he said he'd see when he got the form to fill in.

He gave me examples of the sort of questions that he gets asked but he didn't ask me any questions that were relevant to them.

Yet he said something about my having been ill for years, as if this was enough.

How much reliance does a DM place on what a consultant says?

A Decision Maker has to take account of all medical evidence they receive, be it from a claimant's GP, a Consultant or from one of the DWP's EMP's or from a friend or family member, or just as importantly from the claimant themselves.

DLA is paid not because of having a particular illness or disability, but because of any care and/or mobility needs likely to reasonably arise from that condition.

From my experience, your GP is the most likely medical professional to know about your needs, as they tend to see you more than a Consultant. Other medical professionals likely to know about your needs are physiotherapists, OT's or for those with mental health problems CPN's.

Also family, friends and carers would tend to know more about your care and mobility needs than a Consultant, as normally they'll see you most days, if not everyday whilst a Consultant will normally only see you every few months.

Jim

Another question, then. I'm planning to submit seven letters of support (they've all been written and I'm just assembling my paperwork now). Is it possible that with all this information, the DM will just go on that and not contact a doctor?

Also, don't they prefer to ask the consultant rather than the doctor because they don't have to pay a fee for it?

It's impossible to say not having read them. It really depends upon the Decision Maker and whether or not the letters of support detail clearly any care and/or mobility needs that you may have.

As far as I'm aware the DWP have to pay a fee to both Consultants and GP's if they request a report which has to be written specifically for their purpose.

That's really helpful, thanks, Jima. It gives me some hope, and in the throes of completing my DLA paperwork and feeling a bit desperate about it all, just a bit of hope is all I need.

mine was renewed without any new medical reports (nor did i submit any supporting evidence from anyone), i have no idea what old reports they had though.

in my experience psychiatrists are really reluctant to support claims in case it removes the incentive to go back to work....nm that going back to work too soon makes thigns worse in the long run.