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DLA580 renewal “short” forms: still exist??
Just fishing for info ref DLA renewals (and having a right old whinge at the same time!)
Is it just me or are clients who’s existing DLA renewals due are no longer receiving the DLA580 “short form” and getting a complete new claim form instead.
Every DLA renewal client I have seen in the last few months are coming in with complete claim packs, rather than the 4 page DLA580 form that just asks if they feel their needs have changed.
As a result i find the DWP are refusing these renewals on a much greater frequency than those who used to send in a DLA580.
More revision/reconsideration requests from yours truly now due to the quantity of disallowances. I honestly feel like sending them blank forms with a letter stating that its pointless filling them in as they dont seem to get read anyway. My last client had a stroke and was judged “not to be at risk of falls” when i stated on the form he had fractured his spine the previous month, and had spine surgery due to this.
Anyone else experiencing a higher percentage of renewal refusals?
My understanding is that the short DLA renewal form was always a regional pilot. They were never issued in many areas. Is that right?
I’m not sure that they were a positive thing, I think it reduces the opportunity people have to explain their care needs etc and also lulls people into a false sense of security that if they put ‘no change’ their award will get renewed easily.
Jane
My understanding is that the short DLA renewal form was always a regional pilot. They were never issued in many areas. Is that right?
I’m not sure that they were a positive thing, I think it reduces the opportunity people have to explain their care needs etc and also lulls people into a false sense of security that if they put ‘no change’ their award will get renewed easily.
Jane
That’s my understanding also. I don’t think they were happy with the form and doubled its length to 8 pages for the Sept 2010 version. Still, I think they’re now phasing them out if indeed they’re now issuing them at all. Though I only do appeals nowadays so can’t say for certain.
I don’t think we ever had the short DLA form at all. We used to get a specific renewal form (can’t remember the number ) but that seems to have stopped some time ago and we just get an ordinary claim pack now.
To echo what Jane has said: I just happen to be looking at an appeal at the moment for someone who is a 21 year old with a learning disability. He had DLA for many years [initially HRC/LRM then MRC/LRM] before renewing on a short form at the end of last year. DLA refused. We appealed and he has had an award of LRC/LRM. We have appealed again in order to try and get MRC back. Had it been a longer form there would probably have been enough info for an award of his previous award and that’s probably what would have happened. The short forms were [are?] definitely a mixed blessing!