hi, i have just got my letter from dwp about changing to pip in the future,i am on the support esa but it tells me i will be called for an interview at some point with an independant doctor, i am concerned yes as is everyone, a friend has been to interview and has lost her dla and other benefits,she is now pension age but i am 11yr at present till that age,if i lose dla i might have to rethink my social life and car,ah well i will sort it out when it happens just another worry as to when,so guys the letters are now going out good luck,dorothy

not sure what happened there!

I hope it goes ok with the DR, my guess is this is for the DLA/ PIP and has nothing to do with the ESA things

its so frightening, i was gnawing my nails!

it was fine in the end but i was really trembling

All the best
and I hope your friend appealed

Jenni

Good luck Dorothy - worrying time, so I hope it all goes really well for you. Sylvia xx

what a worrying time for you Dorothy,

i hope you get the outcome you deserve.

Suzanne x

hi all,got another letter from dwp and i have been postponed for now and they will be in touch,yeh typical,oh well i can relax for now,bet this goes on for ever as per,dorothy

So many people who can walk limited distances are losing their Blue Badges as a result of a clampdown on Blue Badge fraud! It's the same old story, tar everyone with the same brush - remove Blue Badges from all who can walk. When applying for BBs, an ambulant disabled person should always state that they can walk only a small distance with difficulty and pain (provided that is true). In this way, an application or subsequent appeal may be successful. As with everything to do with disability, we are required to look at the negative side of our impairments rather than proudly proclaim our triumphs over adversity.

Good luck to all who are applying for ESA/DLA/Blue Badges. If in doubt, speak with knowledgeable advocates since it would appeear that Agencies are expected to achieve at least 20% from Government Welfare Budgets.

Bob

cheers bob will keep in mind but it really gets up my nose,i have witnessed couples with walking difficulties going into dwp and come out still in a dither then when away from the area they get a new lease of life and virtualy ran to their car,blimey i want what they are on,i get to people watch when on a sit down in town and makes interesting watching when i use the seat opp dwp block,not that i sit long cause get a cold bum,dorothy

I'm nervous about being assessed by an 'independent' doctor as I'm one of the minority of sufferers who don't swell up that much, yet I'm in pain 24/7. My bloods always come back normal, even when my fingers are swollen like blown up rubber gloves. Additionally, as happened very recently, I can spend 3 weeks in a bad flare and the day I have my consultant appointment everything will calm down until a day or so later.

Also, my consultant rarely sees me on my bad days (which always outweigh the good), yet for my DLA application they relied on his judgement rather than the GP who sees me practically paralysed from the jaw down and begging for stronger painkillers while crying my eyes out.

I'm fully expecting a fight on my hands but luckily for me I happen to be pretty good at it.