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Date: 11.05.2011
From: Gillian

Subject: DLA

As well as recently being diagnosed with seronegative RA I suffer from severe asthma. Almost two years ago I applied for DLA. I went from appeal to appeal and through the tribunal stages and finally a couple of months ago was finally turned down with no right of appeal. But since filling in the form two years ago my joint stiffness and pains have increased and few weeks ago got a diagnosis of RA I am wondering it its worth trying again. It was a long road trying for my asthma and going to appeals/tribunals I am wondering if its worth trying again or not. Perhaps if I were successful I wouldnt need to work full time and manage my health a bit better. What do you think? Thanks Gillian
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Date: 11.05.2011
From: mads

Subject: Re: DLA

Hello Gillian, I am thinking the same, i have got ra too, work full time and am finding it sooo hard to walk or do much else. From what i have read here, it appears that you definetly should as the RA is limiting your ability to move around and caring for yourself. The other advice that is evident from the forum is that it is more beneficial to seek help from the CAB than go through the whole thing yourself again. Hopefully someone else can give you more advice than this newbie who has neither got DLA or filled the form in (yet)!!
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Date: 11.05.2011
From: marlene

Subject: Re: DLA

Hi Gillian, Re-apply i know its all a bit depressing but i feel if we give up they dont care. I am appealing at the moment its so tiring fighting for what is our right and the goverment dont help. I read on this forum every single day about the DLA and the way they refuse people, it doesnt make any sense to me. Fill in the forms again and wait and see i wish you all the luck in the world,take care.
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Date: 11.05.2011
From: marlene

Subject: Re: DLA

Sorry Mads, forgot to say you go for it as well.I wish you luck also.
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Date: 12.05.2011
From: rachel

Subject: Re: DLA

hi gillian you need to give it a go at applying,my husband is waiting for a reply,we did the form ourselves and then got help from cab they helped as alot of things you forget about and encouraged us to continually repeat things of importance,good luck x
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Date: 12.05.2011
From: Gillian

Subject: Re: DLA

Thank you all for your encouragement. You are very kind. When I next see my consultant in June I will ask him if he will support an application.
Gillian
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Date: 13.05.2011
From: rachel

Subject: Re: DLA

hi gillian you dont need to ask consultant dla will just contact them you dont have to do any of that,and with the blue badge we just downloaded a application form from our local council web site x
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Date: 14.05.2011
From: Gillian

Subject: Re: DLA

Will I need to go to the council offices to put my application in for a blue badge or can I just download and post it?
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Date: 14.05.2011
From: marlene

Subject: Re: DLA

Hi gillian, just fill in the form, send two passport photos, and job done. Hope your council is as good as mine. They were so helpful and i had my blue badge three weeks later. Good Luck with BB,( not that i think you will need it). Take Care
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Date: 15.05.2011
From: Gaynor

Subject: Re: DLA

Hi Gillian. I support people all the time with DLA and blue badge applications. One thing I will say about DLA, try to get as many letters of support as you can in advance from as many different type of medical people as you can. E.g., contact social services vulnerable adult team and get a home assessment so they can make adaptations etc (and get a letter to prove it); ask for a referral to physio (and get a letter from physio referencing your biggest problem areas)and definitely get a letter from your consultant and from your GP. If you send these in with your DLA form it speeds things up considerably and may well prevent you from having the trouble you had last time. While they can prevent you from more appeal - they can't do a damn thing about a new application. Don't feel bad about it. You deserve the help. By the way, when filling out your blue badge form make sure you explain about needing to be close to the shops etc, PLUS that you need to be able to open the car door full width to be able to enter and exit the vehicle. Good luck hon.
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Date: 15.05.2011
From: Gillian

Subject: Re: DLA

Thank you Gaynor. I have trouble getting in and out of my car if a car has parked too close to me. Although I do not abuse disabled bays I do hold my hands up and admit when I am feeling tired and not walking too good I park in a parent/child space. I just hope it does not stop me from getting through those pearly gates!!
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Date: 16.05.2011
From: Jess

Subject: Re: DLA

Gillian, I dont think its appropriate to park in child/parent bays. They are there for a reason as are disabled bays and im sure disabled people would have a lot to say if a parent/child car parked in a disabled bay!!!! And yes I do have RA and also small children.
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Date: 16.05.2011
From: Lynn B

Subject: Re: DLA

Gillian, I to use the child/parent bays!!just like other disabled people use them, I was told to use them if there were not any disabled spaces left and yes it was a traffic warden who told me as long as I displayed my badge!!
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Date: 17.05.2011
From: Gillian

Subject: Re: DLA

I can understand your comment Jess and hope I have not upset. I do actually go into the supermarket and say I am parked in a parent/child bay and am told at customer services that it is fine and if anyone should complain they will explain why. Not a bad person honest !!
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Date: 17.05.2011
From: mads

Subject: Re: DLA

Hi Gillian
Did you apply for DLA, i decided that i am going to. i have great problems with getting in and out of the car as well and moving my foot from accelarator to brake is a pain (literally) and getting to be impossible - if i could get the car modified it might be better. So i have made an appointment with my local citizens advice bureau to help me with the form - it is long and detailed. Let me know how you get on.
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Date: 17.05.2011
From: Gillian

Subject: Re: DLA

Hi Mads, no not yet but I am going to. I want to see the consultant again first tho and have a chat to him. I go on June 2nd so not long to wait. Sounds really painful for you driving. Perhaps you could pop in to your local garage and see if they can suggest something for the pedals to make it less painful for you. I have had to change my car from a landrover to a smaller lighter car. Over a period of time it has been getting more and more difficult to drive because of its heavyness and also getting in and out was getting worse. I did enjoy my freelander tho and had it for 8 years. The steering wheels are chunkier as well and I found I couldnt grip it so good with my sore hands.
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Date: 17.05.2011
From: mads

Subject: Re: DLA

i was looking at those big 4x4's with envy thinking how easy it would be to get in and out of them - didn't think about the steering - my wee car is an automatic 8 years old. i went to see about 2nd hand mobility cars that were sold to the public and was asking one of the garage men if he could modify my car and he told me it would cost more than my car was worth and that he wouldn't be keen to do it in such an old car - he automatically assumed i was on mobility and asked why i wasn't going down that route as the car is modified to your needs exactly and thats what kinda got my ball rolling. Because i work i feel a bit uncomfortable about applying for this practically it would help enormously - i can't afford a modified car or a new car, and i know that i have more expenses now than when i wasn't afflicted - tell me i am being silly or maybe not
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Date: 18.05.2011
From: Gillian

Subject: Re: DLA

Hi Mads, sometimes it feels like we cant win either way doesnt it. Makes you feel like going off to a desert island with no cars, no phones, no work................but I daresay we would get bored !!
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Date: 11.06.2011
From: jay...

Subject: Re: DLA

hi guys Im 27, just diagnosed RA and finding it increasingly difficult getting to work and carrying out ,y duties there, what benefits can I apply for?? So confused?? the care component or mobility?? any comments would be great :)
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Date: 12.06.2011
From: marlene

Subject: Re: DLA

Hi Jay, get in contact with citizens advice bureau, they are the best people to put you on the right road. You should get forms from DLA and fill it all in. They are not always easy to deal with if you read all the posts on here about it you will get the gist. Secondly sorry to hear about your diagnoses and the difficulty you have Chin Up and Take Care.
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