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The only thing missing now is the ‘statement’ - and it’s the familiar rule of
‘my credibility/ qualification’s bigger than yours’ that applies here. The
statement doesn’t HAVE to be completed by a medical person, but the more
impressive sounding their qualifications, the more likely the DWP are to take
their word for it and make an award without requesting further medical
evidence/examination.
In the grand scale of things an Approved Social Worker (Mental Health) carries
more weight than an ordinary Social Worker and Health Service professionals seem
to be considered beyond suspicion!
COPY THE FORMS AND KEEP A NOTE OF WHEN YOU POST THEM
You should get a standard letter of acknowledgement very soon after posting the
forms but the actually decision can take weeks if not months to arrive. Wrong or
bad decisions are made, even on forms completed by the most experienced pen
pushers! Bad decisions need challenging through ‘revision’ (an automatic right within one
month of the decision and on limited other grounds if you miss the deadline!)
and if necessary on through appeal. A revision is an internal second look at the
claim by the DWP. An appeal for AA or DLA is heard or looked at by an
independent tribunal.
The decision to request revision is easy to make when no benefit is awarded. It
is IMMEDIATELY far more complex if a smaller award than you feel is appropriate
is made, as the mere process of revision could jeopardise existing entitlement.
The same applies where an existing longstanding award of DLA doesn’t reflect
your needs. In this case a request for ‘supersession’ can be made at any time,
on the grounds that your condition has deteriorated. Again, it is vital to
remember that awards can be decreased as well as increased through requests for
supersession. UNTIL YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENT OF YOUR OWN JUDGEMENT IN THESE MATTERS,
ALWAYS GET ADVICE FROM A WELFARE RIGHTS SERVICE/ CAB etc. FIRST!
AND GOOD LUCK!
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