can anyone help with info for above topic also disability working tax credits ,im type 1 and work full time .people have said that you can claim these even if you work is this true
disability benefit
- Thread starter anne 37
- Start Date
Anne,
I suggest that you make an appointment to see an adviser at your local Citizen's Advice Bureau. They are experts at claims of this sort and have all the latest information at their fingertips. They will be able to tell you exactly what you can claim, how to claim it, and will even help you complete the necessary paperwork.
I suggest that you make an appointment to see an adviser at your local Citizen's Advice Bureau. They are experts at claims of this sort and have all the latest information at their fingertips. They will be able to tell you exactly what you can claim, how to claim it, and will even help you complete the necessary paperwork.
I have never claimed anything as a Type 1 diabetic apart from prescriptions. I'd be interested to know what is available. I have been type 1for 30 odd years.
I do have a full time job though so that probably rules me out of anything.
I do have a full time job though so that probably rules me out of anything.
totsy
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i do get disability for a different illness and you are allowed to work and claim,
i have to say i do not get any benefits for being diabetic, the only way that would happen is if you were suffering complications through diabetes that either affected your mobility or made you need personal care, if you need to know anything else plz ask
i have to say i do not get any benefits for being diabetic, the only way that would happen is if you were suffering complications through diabetes that either affected your mobility or made you need personal care, if you need to know anything else plz ask
Hi Blackadder
You really do need to see someone who is proficient in the benefits system but a quick run down is
You can claim disabled tax credit if you work more than16 hours a week have less than 16000 in savings and restricted in the type of work you do because of your disability ie,have to work less hours.
You can claim disability living allowance (DLA) even if you are working and is not means tested, not for being a diabetic but for complications associated from having diabetes ie, feet problems can effect mobility, eye sight etc.
DLA is split into personal care and mobility components with 3 rates for personal care and 2 for mobility. You dont have to physically have someone looking after you to get DLA it is based on the amount of care or assistance you need to make your quality of life to the same standard of living as someone who doesn't have any disabilities. The form is complicated to fill in dont let it put you off, get help to fill it in.
Hope this helps
Juliexx
You really do need to see someone who is proficient in the benefits system but a quick run down is
You can claim disabled tax credit if you work more than16 hours a week have less than 16000 in savings and restricted in the type of work you do because of your disability ie,have to work less hours.
You can claim disability living allowance (DLA) even if you are working and is not means tested, not for being a diabetic but for complications associated from having diabetes ie, feet problems can effect mobility, eye sight etc.
DLA is split into personal care and mobility components with 3 rates for personal care and 2 for mobility. You dont have to physically have someone looking after you to get DLA it is based on the amount of care or assistance you need to make your quality of life to the same standard of living as someone who doesn't have any disabilities. The form is complicated to fill in dont let it put you off, get help to fill it in.
Hope this helps
Juliexx
Julie is absolutely right - having diabetes does not itself qualify you for any benefits, apart from free prescriptions and eye tests if you are on medication. But you may qualify if you are suffering from a diabetes complication such as retinopathy or neuropathy. I would always recommend that you seek advice on this from your local Citizen's Advice Bureau. They are experts on this type of thing and their service is free.
Hi Dennis
Oh your so much more articulate than me, i couldn't spell the correct words for the eyes and feet thing!!!!! (only joking)
One other peice of information i would give to anyone applying for disability benefits and this is only MY opinion is not to use the free service offered in some solicitors.
The reason for this is that although most are benefit trained they usually donot represent you if you have not been awarded a benefit and have to attend the appeal process. The CAB does have the advisors who are trained to do this.
Juliexx
Oh your so much more articulate than me, i couldn't spell the correct words for the eyes and feet thing!!!!! (only joking)
One other peice of information i would give to anyone applying for disability benefits and this is only MY opinion is not to use the free service offered in some solicitors.
The reason for this is that although most are benefit trained they usually donot represent you if you have not been awarded a benefit and have to attend the appeal process. The CAB does have the advisors who are trained to do this.
Juliexx
Hi Julie,
I couldn't agree more about the solicitors. One of the other advantages of using a CAB is that each branch generally has access to a local solicitor who has agreed to donate a limited amount of free advice to CAB clients. These are always solicitors who have been approached by CAB because of their excellent reputation, not solicitors who approach the CAB to offer free advice.
I couldn't agree more about the solicitors. One of the other advantages of using a CAB is that each branch generally has access to a local solicitor who has agreed to donate a limited amount of free advice to CAB clients. These are always solicitors who have been approached by CAB because of their excellent reputation, not solicitors who approach the CAB to offer free advice.
being a solicitor i also agree that we can give assistance in advising on what benefits you can claim but we don't generally have the expertise or funding to take cases to appeal or tribunal
i also agree with the advice here that Disability benefits are only available if you have a disability Diabetes in itself does not count it is the problems which come with it that qualify someone
best wishes Jacqui
i also agree with the advice here that Disability benefits are only available if you have a disability Diabetes in itself does not count it is the problems which come with it that qualify someone
best wishes Jacqui
would like to thank all who replied to my question ,l know diabetes in its self does,nt qualify me for benefits ,the problem is l do have problem with pain in my feet and legs ,l work full time and do have to sit down for spells when im at work ,l contacted and spoke to some guy at benefits office who told me they only pa benefits to people who can only waqlk a few steps or not at all .my cousin is type 1 and suffers leg pains and recieves full mobility payments,has anyone got any advice about this for me please ,
Hi Anne
I can give you some general advice for claiming DLA as i used to be an advisor for the CAB and also represented at appeal tribunals, they do have specific guidelines on walking distances etc, but when you fill in the form you need to describe how your problems effect you on your worst day, is it worse in the morning, evening, type of pain, is it worse walking after resting, what type of pain, does anything ease it, medication you are on, alternative treatments which may help, how far you can walk till it restricts you, also some think that filling in the mobility section just applies to walking outdoors not so, this also has a knock on effect indoors also.
You also need to fill the details regarding meals times and personal care, some when filling these complicated forms think this just applies to just walking, but it also takes into account standing whilst attending to your personal care needs, can you stand in a shower, or is a bath easier, also can you get in and out of the bath, do you have any aids to assist your mobility ie walking stick, bath chair,etc. do you have a chair in the bathroom to sit at the sink etc, how many times do you get up to use the loo during the night how does the walk effect you is the pain worse after you have rested whilst asleep, is ur bathroom downstairs.
Each question is worded for everyone, but as everyone is not the same you have to make the question individual to the person thats where the probs are as not enough info is put on the form or the wrong type of info, dont trivialise you sypmtons but be honest about them.
Also preparing meals, can you stand to prepare meals, how long can you stand for, does sitting down make it easier, how about walking are you unsteady on your feet because of the pain, will this effect you carrying hot pans etc.
What i suggest to anyone who is attempting to complete these forms is keep a diary for 2 days and jot down everything from how far you have walked to describing your pain, how many meds you needed etc then use this to complete the form. I also advise stating how having this pain makes you feel, does it depress you, does it restrict you going out, are you not able to do things you used to do before you had this pain etc.
Also when you have finished the form take a copy of it for future referrence if you need to appeal against the decision. Also dont be affraid to write everything down even going out the boxes, using separate paper if necessary, the more information you can give them the better for them it is to make a decision.
Another tip is do you already have a blue badge, you can apply for one of these even if you dont get DLA, you can get a form from you local council and your gp or specialist can support your claim. Although this DOESNOT automatically entitle you to any benefits, but it is another point towards your claim for DLA.
Hope this helps, and dont be put off by the long form it is very repetative but the extra hour you take to fill it in at the begining will mean the difference of being awarded the benefit or not.
Juliexx
I can give you some general advice for claiming DLA as i used to be an advisor for the CAB and also represented at appeal tribunals, they do have specific guidelines on walking distances etc, but when you fill in the form you need to describe how your problems effect you on your worst day, is it worse in the morning, evening, type of pain, is it worse walking after resting, what type of pain, does anything ease it, medication you are on, alternative treatments which may help, how far you can walk till it restricts you, also some think that filling in the mobility section just applies to walking outdoors not so, this also has a knock on effect indoors also.
You also need to fill the details regarding meals times and personal care, some when filling these complicated forms think this just applies to just walking, but it also takes into account standing whilst attending to your personal care needs, can you stand in a shower, or is a bath easier, also can you get in and out of the bath, do you have any aids to assist your mobility ie walking stick, bath chair,etc. do you have a chair in the bathroom to sit at the sink etc, how many times do you get up to use the loo during the night how does the walk effect you is the pain worse after you have rested whilst asleep, is ur bathroom downstairs.
Each question is worded for everyone, but as everyone is not the same you have to make the question individual to the person thats where the probs are as not enough info is put on the form or the wrong type of info, dont trivialise you sypmtons but be honest about them.
Also preparing meals, can you stand to prepare meals, how long can you stand for, does sitting down make it easier, how about walking are you unsteady on your feet because of the pain, will this effect you carrying hot pans etc.
What i suggest to anyone who is attempting to complete these forms is keep a diary for 2 days and jot down everything from how far you have walked to describing your pain, how many meds you needed etc then use this to complete the form. I also advise stating how having this pain makes you feel, does it depress you, does it restrict you going out, are you not able to do things you used to do before you had this pain etc.
Also when you have finished the form take a copy of it for future referrence if you need to appeal against the decision. Also dont be affraid to write everything down even going out the boxes, using separate paper if necessary, the more information you can give them the better for them it is to make a decision.
Another tip is do you already have a blue badge, you can apply for one of these even if you dont get DLA, you can get a form from you local council and your gp or specialist can support your claim. Although this DOESNOT automatically entitle you to any benefits, but it is another point towards your claim for DLA.
Hope this helps, and dont be put off by the long form it is very repetative but the extra hour you take to fill it in at the begining will mean the difference of being awarded the benefit or not.
Juliexx
candy1567 said:
I have arthritis in all joints, osteoarthritis in the spine, ibs, tinitus, asthma, angina, pancreatic stone which is the cause of my diabetes. When I applied for DLA back in 2007 I was not diabetic but could hardly walk and could not stand long enough to prepare my own meals, could definitely not drive and was too scared to go out on my own in case I had another angina attack. I waited about 6-7 months onlyh to hear that I do n ot qualify. I appealed and asked to be informed of the date of the hearing so that I could arrange for someone to take me there, next thing I know I get a letter of refusal saying that if I can't stand up long enough to cook I could sit down while cooking.
The only way to get DLA now is to be completely bedridden, have both legs amputated ABOVE the KNEES or have a mental disability. It's more then likely that with the recession they'll cut down even further.
I went to the local council and was told no unless I qualify for DLA.
Hi
Sorry for your bad experience with applying for DLA and you are not in the minority i can assure you over 60% depending on which illness you have get refused on first application, obviously i cant comment on your case and can only give general info,the information i gave is for guidance only and is what i used when completing DLA forms (there is a different procedure for mental health issues can pm if anyone wants some advice) but i hope you didn't leave it there and challenged it. If you had the medical evidence to back up your case then the independent appeal tribunal is the way to overturn the decision and you are told the decision on the day after the hearing.
Have never heard of being told you can sit down to cook meals to prepare meals yes but not to cook them, only in the case of your home being specially adapted for this purpose ie, as if your in a wheel chair and you have the right equipment for this or the risk of accident and burns to yourself whilst cooking is dangerous. And one would assume you would need an Occupational Therapists Home Assessment to provide equipment to minimise the risks involved. This is very dangerous for someone from DLA to say this!!!!
Below is an extract for the Govt website about the blue badge scheme full site address http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeo ... DG_4001061
Who can have a Blue Badge
You are automatically eligible to apply for a badge if you are over two years old and either:
* receive the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance
* are registered blind
* receive a War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement
You may also be eligible for a badge if you are over two years old and either:
* have a permanent and substantial disability which means you cannot walk, or which makes walking very difficult
* drive a motor vehicle regularly, have a severe disability in both arms, and are unable to operate all or some types of parking meter (or would find it very difficult to operate them)
If you are a parent of a child who is less than two years old, you may apply for a badge for your child if they have a specific medical condition which means that they either:
* must always be accompanied by bulky medical equipment which cannot be carried around without great difficulty
* need to be kept near a vehicle at all times, so that they can, if necessary, be treated in the vehicle, or quickly driven to a place where they can be treated, such as a hospital
The second section is the one i am referring to, you automatically qualify for a blue badge if you are awarded the higher rate of care component, but can still be given if medical evidence is provided which makes walking difficult. I have also checked the govt websites for Scottish, Welsh and irish blue badges and the application procedure is the same you do not have to be awarded DLA to get a Blue Badge, but you will have to provide medical evidence to prove you have a disability which substantially affects you ability to walk.
So the person who gave you the information on the blue badges is wrong!!
From my experience many get refused DLA due to the fact of the complexity of filling the form and when you are refused you have to go through their process of first getting them to look at your claim again then if still refused you can go to appeal and you usually get the choice for either a paper hearing or oral hearing.
Hope this clarifies some of the points you raised,
Juliexx
Sorry for your bad experience with applying for DLA and you are not in the minority i can assure you over 60% depending on which illness you have get refused on first application, obviously i cant comment on your case and can only give general info,the information i gave is for guidance only and is what i used when completing DLA forms (there is a different procedure for mental health issues can pm if anyone wants some advice) but i hope you didn't leave it there and challenged it. If you had the medical evidence to back up your case then the independent appeal tribunal is the way to overturn the decision and you are told the decision on the day after the hearing.
Have never heard of being told you can sit down to cook meals to prepare meals yes but not to cook them, only in the case of your home being specially adapted for this purpose ie, as if your in a wheel chair and you have the right equipment for this or the risk of accident and burns to yourself whilst cooking is dangerous. And one would assume you would need an Occupational Therapists Home Assessment to provide equipment to minimise the risks involved. This is very dangerous for someone from DLA to say this!!!!
Below is an extract for the Govt website about the blue badge scheme full site address http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeo ... DG_4001061
Who can have a Blue Badge
You are automatically eligible to apply for a badge if you are over two years old and either:
* receive the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance
* are registered blind
* receive a War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement
You may also be eligible for a badge if you are over two years old and either:
* have a permanent and substantial disability which means you cannot walk, or which makes walking very difficult
* drive a motor vehicle regularly, have a severe disability in both arms, and are unable to operate all or some types of parking meter (or would find it very difficult to operate them)
If you are a parent of a child who is less than two years old, you may apply for a badge for your child if they have a specific medical condition which means that they either:
* must always be accompanied by bulky medical equipment which cannot be carried around without great difficulty
* need to be kept near a vehicle at all times, so that they can, if necessary, be treated in the vehicle, or quickly driven to a place where they can be treated, such as a hospital
The second section is the one i am referring to, you automatically qualify for a blue badge if you are awarded the higher rate of care component, but can still be given if medical evidence is provided which makes walking difficult. I have also checked the govt websites for Scottish, Welsh and irish blue badges and the application procedure is the same you do not have to be awarded DLA to get a Blue Badge, but you will have to provide medical evidence to prove you have a disability which substantially affects you ability to walk.
So the person who gave you the information on the blue badges is wrong!!
From my experience many get refused DLA due to the fact of the complexity of filling the form and when you are refused you have to go through their process of first getting them to look at your claim again then if still refused you can go to appeal and you usually get the choice for either a paper hearing or oral hearing.
Hope this clarifies some of the points you raised,
Juliexx
Hi Julie, thanks for taking the time to reply.
After the appeal I did leave it at that because I believed that I had no chance. I have all the medical evidence and listed all my illnesses with dates, tablets, Doctors names, Hospitals and everything else but still they refused. I have all the letters and a copy of the form that I filled in. After my pancreatectomy I plan to reapply again. Hopefully this time they will not refuse but I won't hold my breath, especailly now that they have started to hastle my disabled son as well. The cutbacks of this government has affected a lot of people who otherwise would have recieved DLA without much trouble, but that's another story.
Thanks again.
After the appeal I did leave it at that because I believed that I had no chance. I have all the medical evidence and listed all my illnesses with dates, tablets, Doctors names, Hospitals and everything else but still they refused. I have all the letters and a copy of the form that I filled in. After my pancreatectomy I plan to reapply again. Hopefully this time they will not refuse but I won't hold my breath, especailly now that they have started to hastle my disabled son as well. The cutbacks of this government has affected a lot of people who otherwise would have recieved DLA without much trouble, but that's another story.
Thanks again.
Hi Eric,
Don't loose hope, I applied for DLA for my son who is T1, and was refused, i went to appeal where after many tears on my part and utter frustration he was awarded the minimum available, i went away like the preverbial cat until 9months later when i spoke to other parents with T1 children and realized i'd been shafted. So i was in the prossess of writing to them when my son was diagnosed with coeliac disease, a real blow to us but further down the line and after many sleepless nights i made a phone call to our head DLA office in Belfast. You'd be amazed what happened next, i spoke to a lovely young man who promised me it would be looked into, 3 wks later to my astonishment i received a letter saying not only would he be granted DLA @ low rate for mobility and medium rate for personnal care but it would be back dated by 3 months. This at the time meant that the paltry £64 a month grew to £241 a month, it has made a hugh difference to our lives and i now get a carers allowence as well £202 per month and can still work up to 16hrs a week, but only do 5hrs a week.
So hang in there, i know its a different ball game for adults, but try and perservere.
Good luck,
Suzi x
Don't loose hope, I applied for DLA for my son who is T1, and was refused, i went to appeal where after many tears on my part and utter frustration he was awarded the minimum available, i went away like the preverbial cat until 9months later when i spoke to other parents with T1 children and realized i'd been shafted. So i was in the prossess of writing to them when my son was diagnosed with coeliac disease, a real blow to us but further down the line and after many sleepless nights i made a phone call to our head DLA office in Belfast. You'd be amazed what happened next, i spoke to a lovely young man who promised me it would be looked into, 3 wks later to my astonishment i received a letter saying not only would he be granted DLA @ low rate for mobility and medium rate for personnal care but it would be back dated by 3 months. This at the time meant that the paltry £64 a month grew to £241 a month, it has made a hugh difference to our lives and i now get a carers allowence as well £202 per month and can still work up to 16hrs a week, but only do 5hrs a week.
So hang in there, i know its a different ball game for adults, but try and perservere.
Good luck,
Suzi x
Hi Suzi
Well done you for standing your ground, as you know it is a minefield to apply for DLA, but when you are awarded it, it is a passport to other benefits.
I would honestly luv to find out how they award DLA, my own opinion is that it is a points scoring exercise and how you fill in the form is whether you get onto the next phase of the selection process.
I have first hand experience of this, as back to when i worked in the CAB which is not so many moons ago there was a group of ppl who knew the benefit system and claimed it all and where awarded it.
To Eric
Dont give up Eric, apply again, i wouldn't wait till you have had your op, apply now as you have been having new problems for over the last 6 months, get the CAB involved let them do the work for you, take the pressure off you.
Also get everybody involved, its not wrong to hold your hands up once in a while and say look i cant cope and i need help, i did it a few weeks ago to the wonderful Karen (chocfish). There are many voluntary groups out there who do tremendous work for eg, help the aged, red cross etc and please dont take it the wrong way if your not in this age group as there are others organisations. Every little helps and they to can help your case for your claim.
Juliexx
Well done you for standing your ground, as you know it is a minefield to apply for DLA, but when you are awarded it, it is a passport to other benefits.
I would honestly luv to find out how they award DLA, my own opinion is that it is a points scoring exercise and how you fill in the form is whether you get onto the next phase of the selection process.
I have first hand experience of this, as back to when i worked in the CAB which is not so many moons ago there was a group of ppl who knew the benefit system and claimed it all and where awarded it.
To Eric
Dont give up Eric, apply again, i wouldn't wait till you have had your op, apply now as you have been having new problems for over the last 6 months, get the CAB involved let them do the work for you, take the pressure off you.
Also get everybody involved, its not wrong to hold your hands up once in a while and say look i cant cope and i need help, i did it a few weeks ago to the wonderful Karen (chocfish). There are many voluntary groups out there who do tremendous work for eg, help the aged, red cross etc and please dont take it the wrong way if your not in this age group as there are others organisations. Every little helps and they to can help your case for your claim.
Juliexx
Hi suzi,
Well done you, I wished I had the same perservierance as you but I do give up easily, flying high on "hard drugs" prescribed by my GP at the time didn't help much either.
To Julie,
I have a disabled son and am his carer. I joined the Carers Association and a lady from there came to help me to fill in the forum but she left half way through without finishing it because she had another appointment. I didn't go to the CAB because they don't make appointments and there was no way I could sit there for hours and wait.
The bigger problem I have right now is that when I go in to hospital for my op, they will stop my Carers allowance which probably means that they will also stop my income support as well as housing benefit and I haven't a clue what to do about it or where to go and ask. Any ideas please?
Thanks.
PS: Is there a time restriction when I can apply again after a refusal?
Well done you, I wished I had the same perservierance as you but I do give up easily, flying high on "hard drugs" prescribed by my GP at the time didn't help much either.
To Julie,
I have a disabled son and am his carer. I joined the Carers Association and a lady from there came to help me to fill in the forum but she left half way through without finishing it because she had another appointment. I didn't go to the CAB because they don't make appointments and there was no way I could sit there for hours and wait.
The bigger problem I have right now is that when I go in to hospital for my op, they will stop my Carers allowance which probably means that they will also stop my income support as well as housing benefit and I haven't a clue what to do about it or where to go and ask. Any ideas please?
Thanks.
PS: Is there a time restriction when I can apply again after a refusal?
