October Decision Makers Exchange

18 November 2007

Benefits and Work has now obtained a copy of the October edition (issue 80) of the confidential Decision Makers Exchange bulletin sent out to all DLA decision makers. Issues covered include:

Appointing step parents to act for a child - a step parent needs to have legally adopted the child to be appointed where the child also lives with a natural parent.

Approved Disability Analyst - it is no longer necessary for the person who carries out a DLA medical to be a doctor.
Renewal boarder decisions - considering whether the claimant will still be spending time in hospital/certain accommodation at renewal

Date of onset of needs - how to decide when a claimant's needs began if this is not clear from the DLA form.

Free Personal Care in Scotland - issues relating to who may receive DLA in a private care home in Scotland.

Tribunals and Outcome Decisions/ Liberty to apply - what to do when a tribunal upholds an appeal and refers a case back to the decision maker.

Benefits and Work members can download a copy of issue 80 of Decision Makers Exchange.

© 2007 Steve Donnison