General tips and guidelines on applying for Disability Allowance Benefit (DLA)

General tips and guidelines on applying for Disability Allowance Benefit (DLA)
Completion of Section 1 of the DLA form
Completion of Section 2 of the DLA form
The Decision

General tips and guidelines on applying for Disability Allowance Benefit (DLA):-

Apply without delay, benefit can only be considered from the date the application is received.
Answer all the questions in the claim pack. Questions that are applicable to the problems you have require further information and you should give a full and complete answer.
Keep a diary for a week before completing Section 2, logging each of the activities you do and how long and how often you need help for with each activity. Some questions ask you to say how long you need help for and how often. You can make an honest guess at times and frequencies and you should be able to explain how you arrived at your answer should you be asked by the Benefits Agency. If you have good days and bad days, log times and frequencies and put an average number or a “from and to” range. For example, on average 40 minutes per day or ranging from 35 minutes to 45 minutes per day.
Some of the boxes on the form are very small, even those that aren’t may not be sufficient for the detail you need to include and you can use additional pages where necessary. If you do this remember to put your name and national insurance number at the top of each additional sheet. Also, to avoid any delay and confusion by the Benefits Agency, write the Page number and question you are referring to and attach the additional sheet to the sheet in the form.
You will notice that the type of questions in the claim pack seem to be repeated many times. Appendix 1, Section 2 Questions in this pack goes through these questions and ways in which to answer them.
Do not be afraid to repeat answers yourself. If you have a disability which affects how you do more than one of the activities in the questions then you should repeat the information — common threads running through your claim are important. For example Walking Outdoors, Falls and Stumbles and Moving About Indoors are areas where you might need help, support or supervision because of the same disability. The side effects of medication are also an important factor — again repeat information where necessary and consider the side effects of all medication that is taken.
Claiming for DLA is a long process. Keeping a record of your claim is important and can help you track at what stage the application is at. It means that if your claim is turned down and you appeal then you have all the relevant details to hand. Also, if you have to re-apply for DLA following a review further down the line then having your original claim will help you with the next one. Photocopy your application form and any additional sheets; keep copies of all letters or correspondence sent to you regarding the claim; keep a diary so you can record the date you sent information in, the date you received letters/correspondence back, details of any phone calls and any other events relating to your claim. If you have a conversation with anyone from the Benefits Agency you should record who you spoke to and what about, if they don’t give their name then don’t be afraid to ask.
Use a black pen and if you make a mistake cross it through but they ask that you don’t use correction fluid.
There are many useful agencies, like the Citizens Advice Bureau, who able to help in completing applications and giving advice on decisions. Your Renal Social Worker should also be able to assist you. See Appendix 4 for further details of agencies that may be able to help.
The application form is in two sections and both need to be completed. It’s a good idea to read through the forms a few times to become familiar with the questions and you might want to use a pencil so you can review what you’ve written and make any changes before completing in black biro. As the form is so long you may want to do a little at a time to ensure that you give the best possible answers — whatever is best for you and the way you feel.

Completion of Section 1 of the DLA form

The following guidelines on completing section 1 of the claim are laid out in the same format as the application form with the title of each questions highlighted in bold print.

Page	Section 1
1 to 12	About you Information about who you are and where you live, making payments to you, what other benefits you receive and if you are now, or have recently been in residential care or hospital.
13	About your illness or disabilities Include information on all illnesses and disabilities, for example you may have renal failure and diabetes or arthritis. List all prescribed medicines, tablets and other treatments. Record how long you have been taking it, if it’s a repeat prescription and what the dosage and frequency is. Then list all of the over-the-counter medication that you take. Remember, other treatments include dialysis and any special diet and any dietary supplements. If in doubt — include it.
14	Who would you like to tell us about your illness The form gives some examples of who this could be but doesn’t mention a specialist or consultant — if this is who you would like to be contacted then enter their details. Remember that you should tell the person that you have used their name. Explain to them in detail the problems you have in relation to day to day activities. Don’t assume that they know all of this information, even if you have discussed it before it may not be written down and it can do no harm to update them on your condition.
14	Your family doctor or GP The Benefits Agency may contact your GP. Make an appointment to see him to explain the process you are going through and give him an update on all of the problems you have. Include things like walking, dressing, cooking, eating, washing, etc. You might not have discussed these aspects and effects of your illness before and even if you have, the GP may not have recorded these problems so it is always prudent to make sure he has a complete overview of your situation before the Benefits Agency contact him. Doctors should be aware of the importance that their recorded opinions will have, if important information is omitted or if the doctor does not fully state the range and severity of your illness it may result in the Decision Makers making a decision not in the patient’s favour. *Click here for notes in this pack regarding DLA Section 2, Page 23 “Statement from the person who knows you best”*
15	Your hospital doctor or specialist List all hospital doctors or specialists you have seen in the last 12 months, include appointments for all conditions.
15	For people on kidney dialysis Complete this section with details of the hospital who arranges dialysis for you — the Benefits Agency will write to you about this.
16	Claiming under special rules This section relates to terminally ill people where death is expected within six months.
16	What to do now If you can fill in Section 2 now, it is better to do so and send both Section 1 and Section 2 together. If you can’t send them both together try to get Section 2 in as soon as possible to avoid the Benefits Agency making a decision on your claim without it — whichever it is, do not delay in sending in Section 1. There is an option where, if you do not want to fill in section 2, you can ask for one of their doctors to visit you. Remember, it’s better if you can fill in the forms than to ask for a Benefits Agency doctor to visit you, although they may arrange this anyway regardless of which box you tick! Note the statement at the bottom of this page which says “Remember — if you leave Section 2 with someone else so they can fill in the statement on page 23, send Section 1 to us straight away. Do not wait to get Section 2 back. We will tell you when we have received Section 1. If you do not hear from us within 2 weeks from when you send us Section 1, please get in touch.” To ensure you can do this, keep a note of the day you submitted section 1 and make sure you call them if you haven’t heard from them.
17	Declaration Read this page carefully before you sign it.
18	Statement from someone who knows you Give the details of someone who knows you well and knows the extent of your illness or disability.
19	How we collect and use information Statement on information collection by the Benefits Agency — no action required by you.

Completion of Section 2 of the DLA Application Form

Section 2 is about how your illnesses or disabilities affect you. As the introduction on the form states, illnesses and disabilities can affect people more on one day than another and also can vary over a period of time or in different conditions.

One of the ways people manage an illness or disability is to focus on the positive aspects. They tend to adopt an “I can do it” attitude and indeed, this approach and independence is widely recommended and encouraged in helping you deal with the psychological aspects of kidney failure. However, when applying for DLA, you need to put this attitude and approach to one side and look at activities and how you cope with them from a different angle — one which focuses on the help, assistance or care you need from someone else, regardless of whether there is anyone there to actually help you.

When you complete the application do not minimise your illness and disabilities and do not underestimate the amount of time or how often you need help. The answers you give have an impact on the claim being awarded or turned down. Kidney failure causes problems for the rest of the body and it is important to mention everything that affects your well-being. The more information you provide the better.

Page	Section 2
1 & 2	About you You are asked for information about you so they can tie up Section 1 with Section 2 and also some summary information about your illnesses or disability.
3 to 18	This section is all about your illnesses or disabilities and how these affect your ability to carry out certain tasks and activities. The questions in this section are repetitive, the same kind of questions are asked about each different activity:- Do you have problems....? Does someone have to tell you, remind you or encourage you....? Describe in your own words the problems you have and the help you need.... Tell us about any equipment/aids you use to help you with.... How long on average do you need help....? How many days/nights a week do you need help....? How many times a day/night do you need help....? To assist you in completing this section see:- Appendix 1, Completion of Section 2 Questions, which takes you through each of questions above and how they are answered. and Appendix 2, Do you have problems....? which gives a table of examples and some specific information about the questions that may be relevant to how your illness or disabilities may affect you in carrying out the activities in question.
19 & 20	Help you need when you go out during the day or in the evening This question refers to the help you need with social, hobby and leisure activities. It should include the things you would do or places you would go if you had help or assistance. It is difficult to fill in because these activities may be ones that you carry out only occasionally, but don’t be put off by this.
21	More about the way your illnesses or disabilities affect you This page is for information about any ways your illnesses or disabilities affect you that you haven’t been able to put anywhere else on the form. Through questions 3 to 18 you have included times and frequency that you need help. On this page you could give a typical daily summary of this help showing all the activities you need help with, for how long and how often. If you do this, take care to make sure the summary matches the answers you gave in the individual questions.
22	When your problems started This question asks for dates when your problems started. It asks for an exact date if you have it or a rough date if you can’t remember exactly when. This could have been a long time ago but as far as DLA is concerned, it is only payable when your condition has lasted for at least 3 months and you expect it to last for at least 6 months.
22	Declaration Complete declaration box.
23	Statement from the person who knows you best *Click here for notes on Section 1, Page 14, Your family doctor or GP and Appendix 3* If possible get your GP/Specialist Doctor to fill this in for you. Take a photocopy of the blank page from the form so you can review the statement copy before you include it. Make an appointment to see your GP or Specialist and, as mentioned in the notes under Section 1, Page 14, explain the process you are going through and give him an update on all of the problems you have. In Appendix 3 of this pack is a copy of a Briefing Paper, written by Dr Simon Jenkins MBE FRCGP, himself a renal patient, to assist doctors in completing DLA forms and in providing medical evidence for renal patients. Take this copy along to your doctor for his information. If they can fill in the statement for you there and then, all the better. But remember, Consultant are busy people, if they don’t have time then or if they want to write a report for you, ask them when it will be done and if you can collect it or have them send it. Remember, you may have to send Section 1 before you receive the statement, see Section 1, Page 16 What to do now.(click here to move up to that section) If you are not happy with what the person has written, speak to them about what you disagree with and ask if they will re-write the statement. If they refuse, you can ask someone else to complete a statement. When you have a completed statement that you are happy with, attach this to your claim.

The Decision

You will receive a letter explaining the decision made by the Benefits Agency. If your claim has been successful it will explain what level of each component has been awarded and it will also say for what period of time the award will be made.

If your claim was unsuccessful or if you are not happy with the award given then you can appeal. You must do this within one month of the date of the decision letter. It is worth noting that if you do ask for an appeal, your award could be increased or decreased or even stopped.

The National Kidney Federation cannot accept responsibility for information provided. The above is for guidance only.

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Page created: 20 July 2002

Last updated: 29 April 2009

General tips and guidelines on applying for Disability Allowance Benefit (DLA)