I have client, survivor of the asian tsunami where his partner and her child were killed, he has been turned down for DLA. Client is clearly very disturbed and suffering flashbacks, nightmares and gets aggressive easily - he has been turned down for DLA. Does anyone have any experience of post traumatic stress in relation to claiming DLA, are there any helpful decisions??
julie

I've had a few PTSD cases - all succesful. I'm not aware of any decisions relating specifically to the condition. Then again, I'm not sure that you need them.....

It should be enough that at 19.7.5 of the Disability Handbook there is the following;

(viii) Anxiety and other symptoms may briefly follow any traumatic event. Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a specific condition which may arise as a result of direct exposure to an extremely severe, life-threatening traumatic event such as a major disaster or similar catastrophe. Severe physical assault may also result in PTSD.

(ix) PTSD needs to be distinguished from milder forms of stress reaction. Characteristic symptoms are vivid "flashbacks" in which the person relives the traumatic event; avoidance of situations which remind the person of the event; and personality changes such as irritability or blunting of the emotions. These, and symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, are particularly intense and prolonged. Symptoms must have been present for at least one month for a diagnosis of PTSD to be made, and they may last for up to two years; in some cases they will be lifelong. Confirmation of the diagnosis, and an opinion on prognosis, should be sought from the hospital or other specialist providing treatment.

(x) The effects of PTSD will depend on the features of anxiety and/or depression which are found in the individual person. Reference should thus be made to the relevant sections of this chapter.

So, there is no doubt that the condition is real and severly disabling.

If you have a diagnosis, it seems to me that all you then need to establish are the specific care needs, their frequency and duration - eg, your client suffers flashbacks - presumably these cause him both distress and disorientation, for which he needs calming, reassurance and re-orientation? Severe/vivid flashbacks might each easily result in an hour plus of required attention. Such flashbacks might well be occuring during the day as well as by night...And that leaves aside the effects (and attention needs resulting from) the depressive side of the illness.

Hope this helps.

A link to the DWP's Disability Handbook is available via the toolkit area of rightsnet.