× Members

DLA and War Veterans

More
12 years 5 months ago #70974 by susananne93
DLA and War Veterans was created by susananne93
My son fought in the first Gulf War Desert Storm and has been suffering with Gulf War Syndrome and PTSD. We fought for DLA and he has been getting High rate Mobility and Higher Rate Care for ten years. The latest Renewal he was turned down for everything. The GP wrote a terrible report "not as far as I am aware" through the whole form! He has had little help with his PTSD - the NHS trust turned him down for suitable treatment on cost grounds and the GP sent him to the local hospital to see an IRAQI woman psychiatrist who could not help him other than to give him a diagnosis of PTSD as he could not speak to her about anything that he witnessed in the war. He has a 20% war pension with accepted conditions - when he rang the DLA and questioned the fact that he has accepted conditions they just said that it is a different department. He has been treated appallingly by the NHS, the benefits agencies and his GP. He has tried to better his life by doing a degree and trying to work which he finds extremely difficult as most days he can hardly move. Now he has lost the DLA mobility he no longer can get around. They have looked twice and now we will have to Appeal. How can I go about this with all these new rules and decision makers - he says he cannot face it again so I have taken it on - they also a few years ago tried to accuse him of fraud and dragged him in under caution as they said he had not informed them he was trying to work (which he had) some nice person had got it wrong and assumed he was claiming income support and working. No apology or anything - he was suicidal. Sorry to waffle on and on but I cannot bear to see him so dejected as he cannot get to his work now.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • pete17971
12 years 5 months ago - 12 years 5 months ago #70978 by pete17971
Replied by pete17971 on topic Re:DLA and War Veterans
susie_o wrote:

My son fought in the first Gulf War Desert Storm and has been suffering with Gulf War Syndrome and PTSD. We fought for DLA and he has been getting High rate Mobility and Higher Rate Care for ten years. The latest Renewal he was turned down for everything. The GP wrote a terrible report "not as far as I am aware" through the whole form! He has had little help with his PTSD - the NHS trust turned him down for suitable treatment on cost grounds and the GP sent him to the local hospital to see an IRAQI woman psychiatrist who could not help him other than to give him a diagnosis of PTSD as he could not speak to her about anything that he witnessed in the war. He has a 20% war pension with accepted conditions - when he rang the DLA and questioned the fact that he has accepted conditions they just said that it is a different department. He has been treated appallingly by the NHS, the benefits agencies and his GP. He has tried to better his life by doing a degree and trying to work which he finds extremely difficult as most days he can hardly move. Now he has lost the DLA mobility he no longer can get around. They have looked twice and now we will have to Appeal. How can I go about this with all these new rules and decision makers - he says he cannot face it again so I have taken it on - they also a few years ago tried to accuse him of fraud and dragged him in under caution as they said he had not informed them he was trying to work (which he had) some nice person had got it wrong and assumed he was claiming income support and working. No apology or anything - he was suicidal. Sorry to waffle on and on but I cannot bear to see him so dejected as he cannot get to his work now.



Hi,

Speaking as a veteran of the same conflict I do sympathise with both his and your plight. Please get him to get in contact with the National Gulf Veterans & Families Association:

www.ngvfa.org.uk/default.asp

who have a helpline

0845 257 4853

or you can contact them yourself.

As well as offering practical support, they do provide benefits help and advice for Gulf Veterans. Failing that, the Royal British Legion on legionline:

08457 725 725 who again can help with his benefits.

Either will go through his claims in some depth and can represent him at any appeals etc.

Pete
Last edit: 12 years 5 months ago by pete17971.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • pete17971
12 years 5 months ago #70979 by pete17971
Replied by pete17971 on topic Re:DLA and War Veterans
Hi,

Just to further add, he may qualify for priority help with his PTSD.

For help obtaining this, please contact Combat Stress who are the leading organisation in this field for all veterans.

Details here:

www.combatstress.org.uk/index.php

Regards

Pete

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
12 years 5 months ago #70985 by susananne93
Replied by susananne93 on topic Re:DLA and War Veterans
Hi Pete,

Many, many thanks for the quick reply as time is short for Appeal I will suggest the above - he does belong the NGVA but had a bad experience with "help" at his first war pension tribunal so he might not. He did have a visit from a really nice person from Combat Stress - they might very well be the best people. My son did say to the GP he thought he was able to receive priority help but was laughed at. He also asked for different help with the PTSD but the GP refused saying that she had sent him to the best that was available and he shouldn't take the fact that she was Iraqi to heart!!! I cannot understand why the GP will not support him as he wrote to her when he filled in his renewal form.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • pete17971
12 years 5 months ago #70987 by pete17971
Replied by pete17971 on topic Re:DLA and War Veterans
susie_o wrote:

Hi Pete,

Many, many thanks for the quick reply as time is short for Appeal I will suggest the above - he does belong the NGVA but had a bad experience with "help" at his first war pension tribunal so he might not. He did have a visit from a really nice person from Combat Stress - they might very well be the best people. My son did say to the GP he thought he was able to receive priority help but was laughed at. He also asked for different help with the PTSD but the GP refused saying that she had sent him to the best that was available and he shouldn't take the fact that she was Iraqi to heart!!! I cannot understand why the GP will not support him as he wrote to her when he filled in his renewal form.



Hi,

If time is short for appealing his DLA, do download a GL24 from (which requests an appeal) from here:

www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/gl24dwp.pdf

or ring the DLA unit on 0845 7123456 and ask for one to be posted. However if time is very tight, downloading maybe better.

In completing it, he only really needs to put brief details of why he thinks the decision is wrong and further evidence can be sent in at a later date. However the really important thin g is to get the GL24 returned within a month of his 'non award' letter.

I am sorry he has had a bad experience with the NGVA help. They are normally excellent for veterans in your son's position. However he does have the option to use the services of other ex service organisations such as the Royal British Legion, RAFA (if exRAF), SSAFA etc. Alternatively he can make use of The Veterans Welfare Service:

www.veterans-uk.info/welfare/contact.html

Obviously not having a supportive GP is not the best of situations. Is there any chance he could change GP's as that is a right of every patient. This could be a much better option than being laughed at when seeking help. Could he enrol with your GP or ask around if other GP's are known to be supportive, particularly to veterans?

In anycase he should be entitled to priority help with his War Pensionable condition, infact any conditions relating to his service. If you would like later today I will dig out the necessary paperwork with regards to veterans and priority treatment. However if he (or yourself) contacts Combat Stress, they do know about how he can go about obtaining this help. They are really excellent in dealing with veterans PTSD.

Pete

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • pete17971
12 years 5 months ago #70991 by pete17971
Replied by pete17971 on topic Re:DLA and War Veterans
Hi,

Just to further add, If you are in England, the following sets out his right to priority healthcare.

It also explains how one can enrol to be in the Medical Assessment Programme (MAP) which can be done external to ones GP.

www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Militaryhealthcare.../Pages/veterans.aspx

Pete

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Moderators: GordonGaryBISCatherineWendyKellygreekqueenpeterKatherineSuper UserjimmckChris
We use cookies

We use cookies on our website. Some of them are essential for the operation of the site, while others help us to improve this site and the user experience (tracking cookies). You can decide for yourself whether you want to allow cookies or not. Please note that if you reject them, you may not be able to use all the functionalities of the site.