Hello Everyone. I'm Anxious about my Atos medical

It's on THURSDAY.

I suffer from Depression, anxiety, social phobia The list goes on really. I have claimed DLA before I was awarded HRC LRM. I had moved house back in December last year and although I told all the relevant departments of my new address it appears DLA Hadn't changed the address (strange I know and when my husband later called them they had the correct new address on their system). Then what happend was my husband was sent a carers letter to him explaining why he wouldn't be able to carry on claiming CA. By my calculations I wasn't expecting to re-new my claim because the date on the award letter was until 17th October 2010. So there was massive panic stations here in my house, This all happened back in April. So after alot of confusion it appears that I should have compleated and returned my DLA claim by the 17th April. They had sent out a new claim form to my previous address back in December. This confuses me as I had the keys to my previous address until January 10th and I did not receive a claim pack in that time because had we we wouldn't be in this mess I suppose

Anyway I have filled in the relevant form and sent it off but now I have a medical on Thursday. My husband is taking time off work to be here with me. {He had to go back to work when we found out the bad news and has been working since to make ends meet, and these last 2 months have seriously taken it's toll on me and him too.)

My post is probably a mumble of confusion and mess and I apologise for that, I can't think straight. But I am so worked up and anxious about this medical I don't know what to expect. I have had a medical before but I think that was for Incapacity Benefit claim back in 2006.

What's going to happen? is my claim worth perusing with my husband working? Will the doctor think that I am not entitled to DLA because he is working. He works local and pops home about 3 times throughout the day (he is a delivery driver) Also he calls me on my mobile often through out the day, Not the house phone though because I don't know who is on the other end of that!

Arrgghh! I just need this to be over.

Thanks for reading if you got this far well done you!

Awww no advice as yet?

A shameful bump from me me

As it would appear that your DLA claim is now progressing following the initial difficulties, you may wish to refer to the members guide entitled "70 Questions You’re Likely To Be Asked At Your DLA Medical" in the DLA resources section HERE.

On the question of whether your DLA claim is worth pursuing because your husband works, it is based upon the help you reasonably require and not whether you actually receive that help. In this regard, people who live alone often qualify for the allowance. So if you need continual supervision and/or frequent attention throughout the day and watching over at night, you could qualify for the higher rate of DLA, as long as it can be shown that the conditions are satisfied and help is reasonably required. In essence, you shouldn't necessarily be denied the allowance on the grounds that there is nobody actually continuously present with you.

This is always a difficult area where mental health is concerned, especially if you are claiming you need continual supervision throughout the day without the need for attention. If you require both supervision and attention during the day, you should make it clear at your medical assessment on Thursday. Satisfying the night time conditions and the mobility criteria, should prove less troublesome if indeed you intend to reclaim these components?

Unfortunately, it is impossible to second guess the approach of the examining medical practitioner and what he may write in his report, but the guide as mentioned in the first paragraph will give some insight as to what to expect from the EMP.

Thank you very much for replying. I have read the guide which is excellent but I am still very uncertain and unsure. I guess really I will have to ride it out and see what happens.

It is nerve wrecking and i'm not sure if I can cope with going through this again.

Thanks again.

Oh no, time is approaching. I am feeling dizzy, I haven't slept, I haven't eaten, I need the toilet all the time. I'm shaking, hyperventallating all over this medical. Why am I allowing it to effect me like this. 3.5 hours to go. I don't know if I'm going to make it...

This is unreal, the fear of someone I don't know coming into my home to evaluate me, asking me questions I don't want to discuss with someone I don't know or trust. The face to face honesty that I have trouble talking about. I don't know how I am going to do this.

Help.

O.K

The medical has been and gone.

Does anyone know how long it takes for me to know the decision from DLA?

Thanks all.