DLA

Hi, can anyone tell me if I should claim DLA when I am appealing ESA. I have rheumatoid arthritis, 4 prolapsed discs, growths in my adrenal glands and a doggy liver due to the toxic drugs I have to take. I am wondering as ATOS carryout the DLA medicals too and because I was turned down for ESA and have submitted an appeal, I wont get DLA.

I have also heard of someone who had their DLA removed because they also failed an ESA medical. I thought DLA was a non means tested benefit, or have things changed?

compactgirl wrote:

Hi, can anyone tell me if I should claim DLA when I am appealing ESA. I have rheumatoid arthritis, 4 prolapsed discs, growths in my adrenal glands and a doggy liver due to the toxic drugs I have to take. I am wondering as ATOS carryout the DLA medicals too and because I was turned down for ESA and have submitted an appeal, I wont get DLA.

I have also heard of someone who had their DLA removed because they also failed an ESA medical. I thought DLA was a non means tested benefit, or have things changed?

There is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't claim DLA. Please see my reply in this thread about the status of ESA and DLA medical reports HERE.

It would not be unknown for DLA to be reduced/removed on the strength of an ESA medical assessment, in the current climate of trying to reduce benefit entitlement at every opportunity, but as the qualifying criteria for each of the allowances is completely different, this would provide grounds for the basis of an appeal against the adverse DLA decision.

I recently applied for DLA and was awarded the lower rate of the Care component and nothing for mobility. I am now appealing against that decision. I've just received all my paperwork from DWP. The doctor's report was one that Altos did for an ESA medical last year. I was annoyed that they'd not obrained an up-to-date medical report from my GP, but when I read the Altos doctor's report, he'd actually told the DWP that my condition was such that it would only degenerate further as time went on. He also went on to say that it was, in his opinion, highly unlikely that I would ever be able to return to normal work. So it makes me wonder why the Decision Maker put me in the work focus group instead! Had I seen that report I'd have appealed against that decision as well! Its too late now for me, but I'd advise anyone to get a copy of that medical if possible.

The only trouble is though that the rest of his report doesn't help me at all in seeking the mobility component of DLA. Jenny