DLA renewal turned down

I have been waiting for my DLA renewal decision for sometime. I telephoned today for an update and was devastated to learn that my DLA benefits will stop completely when it ends next month. I received high rate for both components and my condition has deteriorated dramatically since my last claim 2 years ago. I had supporting letters from my CFS nurse specialist, my husband and also copies of letters from ESA stating I'm in the support group as I'm not fit for work and also from my old employment stating I am now receiving a tier 2 pension as I am to disabled to work. I am just so angry and confused as to how this could happen, I didn't have a medical. I don't know the reasons behind the refusal yet but I'm after any advice so I can prepare for appeal. I suffer with Chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, arthritis, degenerative discs in my spine for which I've had recent surgery, IBS, problems with my bladder meaning I have to self catheterise, depression and anxiety, hypertension, hypocalcaemia and low Vitamin D levels and various gastro complaints including hiatus hernia.
Thanks in advance, Heather

Heather McCrae-Smith wrote: I have been waiting for my DLA renewal decision for sometime. I telephoned today for an update and was devastated to learn that my DLA benefits will stop completely when it ends next month. I received high rate for both components and my condition has deteriorated dramatically since my last claim 2 years ago. I had supporting letters from my CFS nurse specialist, my husband and also copies of letters from ESA stating I'm in the support group as I'm not fit for work and also from my old employment stating I am now receiving a tier 2 pension as I am to disabled to work. I am just so angry and confused as to how this could happen, I didn't have a medical. I don't know the reasons behind the refusal yet but I'm after any advice so I can prepare for appeal. I suffer with Chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, arthritis, degenerative discs in my spine for which I've had recent surgery, IBS, problems with my bladder meaning I have to self catheterise, depression and anxiety, hypertension, hypocalcaemia and low Vitamin D levels and various gastro complaints including hiatus hernia.
Thanks in advance, Heather

Hi,

Welcome to Benefits and Work

I am really sorry to hear this.

Are you sure that the information given to you over the phone is correct ?

HRM & HRC to nothing is a massive downward jump !!!!

We have heard of members who have had "fit for work" decisions in their ESA assessments having an adverse affect on their DLA Awards, as the DWP DLA DM has used the ESA Medical Report in coming to a decision on the DLA award.

If anything, an award of ESA in The SG should be helpful, as many of the criteria in ESA are much stricter than DLA, e.g. The mobilising test in ESA includes the use of a manual wheelchair, whereas the mobility test for DLA is purely on your "walking" limitations.

I would wait until you receive this decision in writing, but you may wish to query it again beforehand.

If this information is correct, you will obviously need to know what evidence The DM has used in coming to this decision, if you have not had a DLA Medical ?

See : DLA Medical – What forms to ask for?

Even though you have not had a medical, there will still be information as mentioned in the above FAQ.

You can also take a look at our : DLA Guides to prepare for the worse, there is a DLA Appeals Guide there as well.

See also : DLA FAQ’s , and our : Appeals FAQ’s

Did you request copies of your ESA Medical Report, if not, you may wish to do so, see :

ESA medical – what forms to ask for?

ESA Forms

You will then be able to see if there is anything adverse in the ESA Reports, that could have been fatal to your DLA Awards.

If you have any problems obtaining the above you can make an official request using a SAR, which can be downloaded, filled in and printed off from this link :

www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/request-for-personal-information.rtf

From this page :

www.dwp.gov.uk/privacy-policy/data-protection/

See also : Sending Documents to the DWP or ATOS

&

Where to get advice?

Finally, just in case your forum name is your real name, you may wish to change it, as the forum can be read by the general public. : My full name is showing, how can I stop it?

If you have any further queries, please repost to this topic, and please keep us updated.

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