DLA higher rate mobility w/ psychosomatic problems

Hi

I spoke to my local council's welfare rights team about representation for a DLA appeal regarding mobility earlier today. She said that to qualify for the higher rate, you must have a physical disability that restricts mobility, rendering you unable or virtually unable to walk.

However, my disability has been diagnosed as being psychosomatic, i.e. it is a mental issue that triggers strong leg pain that prevents me from walking more than ~20 metres without being forced to stop due to the intensity of the pain. My GP confirmed to the DWP that my problem is psychosomatic but stressed that it does affect leg function.

Do you know if psychosomatic problems are covered under the higher rate criteria if they restrict mobility to ~20 metres and result in physical pain, even though there is no direct physical cause?

I didn't have chance to ask her today and I won't be able to talk to them for another 4 weeks.

Thanks for any insight.

See also A-Z of Medical Conditions which is used by DWP Decision Makers, Medical Assessors and First-tier Tribunal Members to assist them to assess care and/or mobility needs.

Hi again,

Today I received a new diagnosis from my GP of cold urticaria as being responsible for the leg pain when outdoors. This means that the problem is not psychosomatic, as previously thought. As my DLA claim has already been passed to HMCTS (although no date has been set yet), please may I ask what, in your opinion, is the best course of action to take now, as my form was originally filled in with the previous psychosomatic diagnosis?

My new worry, however, is that the only form of evidence for this new diagnosis is a prescription for some antihistamines. Somehow I think that won't be enough, but I don't know what else to do because my GP charges too much for a special letter to confirm the diagnosis. During the original claim process, the DWP sent a form for the surgery to fill in, but my GP wrote that the problems were psychosomatic; although my GP is satisfied that this is now no longer the case, I don't know how to disprove it unless the DWP can be convinced to re-send a new copy of the form to my GP to fill in. I simply can't afford to pay upwards of £30 for a new doctor's letter.

Does anyone know if there are any past examples of the symptoms of urticaria being used in a successful claim for HRM? Unlike 'psychosomatic problems', urticaria is at least mentioned on the page that Jim provided, so I am somewhat hopeful that they consider it to be a 'physical problem' unlike a psychosomatic diagnosis, although the page doesn't state what the DWP consider the disabling effects of urticaria to be, nor does it elucidate on the DWP's perceived impact that urticaria has on one's ability to get around.

Thanks.