Thursday 20 March 2008

Some happy news.

I have heard from two people who have maintained their DLA at the level it was originally awarded.

In one case from the initial letter (DBD551) to the decision following the DLA556 submission. The time frame was 5 months.

Also the polls indicate that slightly more are "staying the same" than face a change. However the number able to fill in the poll is small at the moment. Many applications are currently undergoing the review process. So please fill in the polls at it give us all a snapshot of what is happening.

Please share your stories with us as it may help others.


6 comments:

Anonymous said...

GREAT NEWS! there is hope. I so would like to think that both your contributions & incredible efforts have been instrumental in bring about these results.

Well done! & all the very best to the two who have been successfull.
It would be good to hear how they did it.

John said...

There is always hope.

Thanks, hopefully it is doing no harm.

Thats the thing. There is not common answer as everyones medical situation is different. It can also depend on the interpretation of the DWP.

Thanks for your message.

John.

Anonymous said...

John I was wondering if you knew weather the "new" awards where granted indefinately or will they be subject to this torture again in 3 years time?

Anonymous said...

Hi to everyone,
Im a hiv women age 38, i was diagnosed in 1989...19 yrs ago..to cut a long story short, i am also being reviwed..im currently in reciept of high rate care dla and high rate mobilility dla, when i was 19, i got the benefit straight away via special rules..the last 8 weeks have been very stressfull to say the least..and i have been very depressed and worried that i wont be able to cope if they take my benefit off me...i also feel that i have been made to look like a benifet cheat..which i am certainly not..what i would give to be hiv negertive and have a job( i used to be a hairdresser) i would be getting more money working that's for sure...i have been on every hiv drug going...and there are not many ,more options available to me now..im on a trial drug at the moment...anyway i filled in the dla form..but they was'nt happy with that they also wanted to come out to see me for a medical examination..anyway she came out on wensday, she asked me a few questions about the care i need..i have lipodytrophy wasting, kidney problems, muscel weakness...and mental health probs..that goes with being a long term surviver..anyway all she seemed to be interested in is how i aqquired the virus, she didnt ask me any questions what im like outdoors..she also tried to put words in to my mouth by saying you can turn in bed without help..i pulled her up on it( and told her i felt that she was putting words into my mouth, and know i cant move properly by myself in bed as i have a buffelo hump on my back..she didnt look at the hump..i got the impression she didnt want to touch me..anyway i feel its a disgrase the way longterm survivers are being treated..i would like them to live just 1 week of my life and see how it bloody feels..they havent got a clue...they are just looking at blood results, my blood results are good but i feel like crap most the time due to the side effects of the meds... long term survivers really need to pull together and fight for our writes, sadly those who fought for our writes in the early eighties mostly gay men..are no longer with us..i feel like we are being trampelled all over and nobody as any compassion for hiv people...im sick of hereing..its no worse than being a diabetic( bullshit) this disease can still kill..THERE IS KNOW KNOWN CURE FOR THIS GOD FORSAKEN ILLNESS)if my meds stopped working, i have become resistant to most..i would proberly die in 6 months as there are not going to be any options for me...this as become a nightmare with the added threat i will loose my benefit..and would have to survive on income support alone...does anyone know how long it takes after the medical examination for them to make a disision?..im very stressed out worrying about it..i dont feel like they are not looking at the full picture of somone living with this virus and the damaging effects it as on the body and mind...and the stigma( what employee would hire somone if they knew they was hiv posititve) not many i can tell you.most people who are fortunate to work, are in the closet about there status.

John said...

I will find out for you.

Ta,

John.

John said...

"John I was wondering if you knew weather the "new" awards where granted indefinately or will they be subject to this torture again in 3 years time?"

Scroll back to the blog to find the legislation.

A few years ago legislation was introduced that changed all claims from "for life" to "an indefinate period". As I understand it currently that means a review at least once every 5 years though still trying to clarify that one. Basically the govt want to be able to review all benefits at some point in time.

Both the cases here. Were told that they were getting the right amount. Nothing more.

John.