Money problems, big problems!

Replies

By diesel_dog

Re: Money problems, big problems!
Mon 14 Apr 2008 22:37

Oh and just to update that post, we are appealing but have been told that it could take 2 years to get an appeal!

By marie66

Re: Money problems, big problems!
Tue 15 Apr 2008 20:21

Hi Jamie, what's wrong with your mum, is there an organisation for her illness i.e. Epilepsy Scotland.

If that's not an option, what abour Age concern, they can sometimes help with hardship.

There is also a Carers releif fund you can access from your local Carer Centre, I think it's mostly for equipment or things to releive stress on the Carer, you can apply for upto £400.

Sorry, that's all I have at the moment if i think of anything else I'll post again!

marie x

By kerry.

Re: Money problems, big problems!
Wed 16 Apr 2008 12:27

hi Jamie
what is your mothers disability?

are you keeping a written record of everything that passes between you and the officials dealing with all this, e.g. job centres, DLA, MPs and so on?

I know they can drive you totally barking these people at times, i sit there, biting my knuckles and silently screaming when im on the phone(good job it aint video linked!- theyd be carting me off too)
but try to keep your cool as much as is possible; when youre repeating ypurself for what seems like the 100th time to some bureaucrat behind a desk, count to 10 (or a million if thats what it takes lol)

why have they put her money down anyway?
when you guys filled the form in, did you have the old one to work from?
you can request this you know, or you could maybe photo copy them yourself for future ref.
also get doctors/consultants/social workers etc letters to back up your claim.

good luck

By big moma

Re: Money problems, big problems!
Wed 16 Apr 2008 19:00

sometimes the gods that be are so useless. a very good luck in your fight with them

By diesel_dog

Re: Money problems, big problems!
Fri 18 Apr 2008 20:49

Hi peeps thanks for your help!! We have kept as much info as we deemed neccesary!! I kind of lost my rag the other day on the phone to some useless jobsworth and said maybe i should have come into this country illegally then they might help us!!

My mother has: Spinal fusion gone wrong back in 1993, screw through nerve in leg resulting in various nerve damage issues, Cervial Spndylosis which means if she goes out for anything other than a 5-10 min walk she cant use her crutches she has to use a wheel chair, she has chronic leg pain, constant pins and needles in arms, severe depression, sleep apnea and acid reflux.

Its not 6 months since the first forms were filled in for renewal!! we have been told it could take 2 years to do the appeal, i am no member of any carers group other than this one and i am on anti depressants too, well was till the doc took me off and said maybe Cognitive behavioural therapy might work, so im battling too with various things and waiting for appointments!! My mother even has a PA now for 15.5 hours a week but yes it helps but theres still these money issues.

By diesel_dog

Re: Money problems, big problems!
Fri 18 Apr 2008 20:52

Sorry forgot to mention we were told yesterday the forms have gone off to be photocopied so it can go to appeal!! we were also told that the only evidence they used was a EMP visit where a ponce of a doctor came out and spent ten minutes with my mother, complained cos my mum asked him to pass her her crutches!! he says because she can dress her top half she doesnt need care, although she cant make a meal herself, i cant leave her alone due to the depression and because i need to wipe her when shes done on the toilet!

Ya know i wish these job worths would come and spend a day with us to see what lifes really like!

By loopy

Re: Money problems, big problems!
Fri 18 Apr 2008 21:18

dont get me started on that one diesal. I have had to fight to get my daughter a social worker. She came out and asked me how i coped, so i said the following.......
"I get up at 4 am with her cos she cannot be left on her own. The she goes to the loo and i have to clean her up. Then we go downstairs and i have a cuppa whilst she plays on her computer. At about 7 am she has her brekky and then is washed and dressed. At 8 am the school bus comes. Then when i have seen her safely on the bus, i tackle the housework and endless washing she creates me. Then most days i have to phone her school for various reasons also sometimes doctors and clinics. Then i grab another cuppa before dashing off to my part time job. After that its back home to prepare the tea for them all (oh before that its shopping and another load of washing). Then she is home from school and i have to bathe her and get her undressed. Then she watches cbeebies (shes 16, mind of a toddler). Then she is fed. Few hours later she is in bed. Then i dash off to college. Then after that i am back home exhausted and ready to collapse. Then its bed for me and the whole thing begins again at 4 or 5am." her mouth was gaping by this time!! i have had my fill of jobsworths over the years!!

By ozzy

Re: Money problems, big problems!
Sat 26 Apr 2008 10:17

have you had a carers assessment and 2 yrs seems a long time for an appeal sure there not trying to fob u off

By saratoga

Re: Money problems, big problems!
Sat 3 May 2008 21:25

Hello, I am new on here but I do know what you are going through!My husbands Benefit was stopped for no reason and when I phoned up they said that I had not filled in a renewal form on time.I had,but they had lost it! So we had to go through the whole process of claiming again,I was lucky I kept my carers allowance because I care for my son as well,but they have put my husband on a lower rate which I am in the process of appealing,so we will see what happens!

By moonstar

Re: Money problems, big problems!
Sat 3 May 2008 22:48

Hi Jamie

My appeal for my 11 year old's DLA went on for 19 months - they took his benefit away on renewal too. I was lucky that my appeal was successful (this was my second appeal - his first application was refused and that appeal took 18 months!)

At the second appeal as soon as I walked in they reinstated his low mobility and within 10 minutes they had reinstated his middle care. The Chairman of the Appeal Panel apologised to me for putting me through the whole thing and they gave the award till he is 16 when he applies for himself (although I will actually have to deal with it for him)

The reason mine went on so long was that after 13 months someone realised that they hadnt asked for a GP report! Then they ignored that anyway!

They refused my son's application based on the form the school filled in - and then totally ignored information I had given on the form and near enough accused me of not giving my son enough attention cos his behaviour different at school !!!

They push you to the limit - but please hang on in there.

Have you requested a review of the application - you can ask them to look at your application again whilst your appeal is ongoing, It means that someone different looks at the application and they can change the original decision, and if they dont amend it, you still have the appeal.

All the best to you and your mum - she is very lucky to have you.

Take care