adventures in Momponia

Following two years of Disability Living Allowance, earlier this year I was posted a renewal claim form. I diligently filled this in, keeping the information extremely similar to that given in my original claim, adding only my new arthritic wrist problems. Sent the form back and did not worry: my health problems have only increased in the last two years, despite operation, injections and various other treatments.

At the beginning of April, we were suprised and terrified (in almost equal measure) that my claim had not been renewed – apparently I now only deserve the Lowest Rate of Care. Previously, I was getting both the Higher Rate of Mobility and the Higher Rate of Care, I have no idea why I have been downgraded so utterly and abrubtly. Immediately, I telephoned the DLA helpline and described why the points in the letter (telling me I could do things that I simply cannot) were not true. I asked for a different Decision Maker to look at my renewal claim and was told this process would take eleven weeks. Fine, I thought. I also wrote a letter to the DLA, giving the reasons in writing that I had discussed over the phone and saying that I would like to pursue this to Tribunal level if the decision did not reflect the true nature of my disability.

No reply from the letter, but last week I got the reply from my claim’s re-look: the previous Decision Maker was correct. Now, however, the reasoning wording had changed; instead of “you are able to” do various things, I am now “at your own speed, you are able to” do those same things. NO NO NO NO! I phoned back and told them I would like to take this forward to Tribunal. On Friday I received the (tiny) form that tells the DLA this in writing. Fine. I will post it on Monday.

Now I have the fun job of, with a more disturbing lack of funds than usual, collecting evidence to support my appeal. I get to try to find a representative to put my case forward at the oral hearing. This means a trip to the Citizen’s Advice Beareaux in town to see what they can do to help/if they can advise me of other people to harrass. I have to talk to my GP, to see if she will write something supportive for me: outlining the continued problems I have had, how long they have gone on and how long she thinks they will continue. I need to try to get an appointment with my consultants (and, possibly, get a second opinion, as last time I saw my pelvic consultant, all he did was loudly repeat to me that I “should not be in pain – look at the x-ray, the plating is keeping your pelvis together.”) Why am I in agony, then? There is a problem.

I am still on the same medications I have always been on and I seem to be getting worse, not better. I am always in pain, I still cannot get around without help. I need to follow up the hope of crutches where you do not put all the weight onto your wrists. Next week is going to be a busy time. My mum is coming to visit from Suffolk, on Tuesday to Thursday, on Thursday I have my blood-tests at the hospital for my arthritis medicine (methotrexate). My GP does not work Mondays or Fridays… so I will have to go and queue for morning clinic on Tuesday before my mum arrives to gauge her opinion. I hope she will be as supportive this time as she was with my initial claim.

In short, a lot of pain and stress to come over an odd decision from the Disability Living Allowance people.