No to DLA

[Regina]

Hi everyone

I found out this morning that I have not got DLA and I am furious. I think the refusal may be based on a doctors report which staes on a bad day I can only walk 100 yards, on a bad day I dont walk at all but my doctor misunderstood me. My husband is getting me the appeal form as I will not stop until I get it.

We are very stressed at the moment, not only did I lose my job in March of this year, I lost my health and my independence, now my husband is the sole bread winner, his earnings have just been assessed by the child support agency and we are now losing a further ?300 per month and we cannot manage as it is, then I get a lovely letter from the DWP saying i cant have DLA. what a great life eh?

I feel like my only option is to get a job, nevermind my health, the catch is, if I dont get a job I will not recouperate anyway because of the stress we are under and going back to work will make me ill, I know I cannot cope with work until I am well.

I am also going through an employment tribunal over being dismissed from my job, I am claiming sex discrimination and disability discrimination. I think if something good does not happen soon I will explode. I cannot take the stress that this disease brings and cannot cope with living on the poverty line. I think it is so hard when you have had and lost. We had no worries, two incomes, just bought a house etc and just like that in one year it has all fallen apart.

I will update you all when I know any more about the DLA but for now I am so angry and dont know how much more stress I can take before I go insane.

Love gina xxx

[jodipat]

Hi,

I am sorry to hear about your really bad time you are having. I have been in a similar situation regarding work because I was forced to leave my job. I was pushed out for taking 8 days off in one year! they made my life so unbearable I had to leave. I realise this in itself made my illness worse. I stupily didn't take them to a tribunual - and regret it badly 3 years later.
I know it can be worrying financially, but trust me you should not worry. I know its probably not what you want to hear, but you and your health are the most important thing. A mortgage, bills etc are nothing to worry about if you are wearing yourself in to the ground getting them paid. I was actually made bankrupt as I could not pay my debts due to illness. It is a drastic step but it made me put things in to perspective. I have a partner I love dearly anda daughter too. I would be nothing without them.

Anyway apart from me gabbling - have you put in for Incapacity benefit? If not IB have you put in for Jobseekers allowance (contribution based) as you are taking your employer to tribunual you are entitled to it and is not means tested. Also if you get long IB you can get reductions on some things like council tax as they class it as you having a disability. You can also get working tax credit under some circumstances. It is really hard to find out what you are entitled to though as they never want to give the money away!

I hope things pick up for you soon, and try and stay strong.
Just out of interest which area do you live, as I live in Birmingham and know of a great charity which can help you with things if you have an illness.

Regards

Jodi

[Regina]

Hi Jodi

thanks for the advice and I know you are right, health is far more important, just feeling like I have had the worst year of my life and just when I thought it could not get any worse, it did!!!!

I am on IB and have just qualified for the next year which is a relief but I believe I should get DLA too and will fight to get it, my husband has already brought me the appeal form home from work, this benefit would really help. I am the kind of person that if I could work I would and always have but at the moment I know I am not well enough but finances are pushing me into it regardless of health.

I am from Manchester so not too far from Brum, I used to live there when I was at Uni, for four years and I liked it, youll have to tell me where abouts so I can tell you if I know it./

Thanks for the reply

Gina

[foreverfriends1]

((Gina)) Please go to your local council Welfare Rights Department & they can still look at your case. Everytime I was turned down I would put in another claim form the very next day.

Having represented so many at these tribunals, I too have been saddened, to see so many of the people, who would openly admit they were not as ill as they looked - Win their cases.

When a Doctor visits you if there is anything you do NOT Agree with - Please, tell him that you will be complaining. Recently, I had a persons case won on these grounds. Some doctors sadly, do write things like "He/she can walk some 100yds" Times have changed and if you are not happy with a visiting doctor always say so.

Citizens Advice is so worn out with all of its cases. You will find Welfare Rights, will fight your case & if they feel it is going wrong in the hearing - they will know, how to get a hearing "set aside" and then, a new hearing can be heard.

Please, do NOT go back to work if you are NOT able. I did this and am now very sick and paying the price. With liver function tests coming back as Enzymes Elevated and Antinuclear Positive, on top of other medical problems - I wonder - had I of not, gone back to work, if things would be a little better today?

DLA does not take the pain away - as I said to somebody else - but it does help you to live with less worry and with the ability to make life easier.

Special thoughts are being sent to you love foreverfriends1xxx :love:

[jude mack]

Hello Gina

I sure hope things work out for you soon. It's bad enough being unwell and in pain
but to have to fight for what you should be getting is really too much.

To go back to work will only make you sicker and undermine the case you have
been fighting for. I know it is not easy, but you know yourself that working is
not an option right now, or you would be doing it.

Sorry your husbands pay is being cut, as if you didn't have enough to worry about.
You shouldn't be forced to live with so much stress, and let's face it, finacial problems tend to stress us more than having Lupus. Good luck to you and yours.

Take Care
Jude :hugbetter:

[Anisah]

(((Gina)))

I am sorry to hear about your situation. :( God willing things will turn around for you and your family soon.

Sending gentle cyberhugs, :hugbetter:
Anisah
:flowers:

[bugsy]

<span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>Please don't give up</span>

[Deborah Rumbles]

:love: Hi Gina, I also was refused DLA the first time and I went to my Gp who wrote a letter for me and explained all my illnesses and how they effect me, I sent this back with the appeal form, and I was granted it for the rest of my life. Good luck, Do not give up, I know how it is with 2 kids, and only your husbands income we were the same, as I had to give up my work 2 years ago. :flowers:

[foreverfriends1]

Dear ((Gina))

Am feeling worn out - not having a Rheumy yet. Please, Please let us no how you are and if there is anything I might be able to help you with. love foreverfriends1 - donna :love:

[Regina]

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/Thanx.gif everyone for all the lovely replies

I know you are all right and that i should not go back to work until I am well, just having the biggest panic because I know that once that ?300 gets taken we are doomed and dont have enough money for food and other essentials. I actually dont think I could get a job at the moment because I have no reference due to my last job.

I am feeling a little calmer now than when I first posted but the situation is the same. My husband has done my appeal for DLA today and he has said that it is important to get the papers back to see what my doctors have written.

I still feel sad and helpless but know that there are people worse off than us but its hard and I just feel like all the studying I did was a waste of time, my life was never meant to be like this and I am just finding it all hard to come to terms with.

It is so nice to know that you all understand and care so style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/Thanx.gif

Love Gina

[Ann2]

Dear Gina

What a terrible worry for you to be faced with the prospect of not having enough money for food and essentials. I dont really full understand the system but surely you should qualify for some sort of income support in this dire situation? You should go to your citizens advice bureau they may be able to look into what you are entitled to. If in the meantime you do qualify for DLA I understand that it is not means tested anyway.

(((hugs))))

Ann
xxxx

[foreverfriends1]

Dear (( Gina ))

Worry will make your symptoms worse. There was a time We as a family were also in your situation & the stress is awful. I am praying that you will get your benefits sorted soon & that you will get all of the help you are entitled to.

You are in the thoughts of so many & that includes me love foreverfriends1 style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wub.gif donna