I posted a few weeks ago about the problems I was having getting my father's DLA looked at.
Ironically it was someone from the DWP who told me to do it.
They turned it down. Apparently my father is 'not a danger to himself or others, does not need constant attention, is perfectly capable of washing, dressing and managing his toilet needs, and is not at risk of harming himself'!
I'd love them to spend a weekend with him.
Anyway, I'm going off subject. Obviously I disagreed. A friend suggested I try the citizens advice bureau, so down I went, in work hours, to talk it through with them.
They refused to help, practically accusing me of fraud in the process.
They did give me Age UK's phone number though.
So this morning I rang Age UK. Guess what? They refused to help too. Apparently they will not get involved unless they made the original claim. Then the woman suggested I didn't need the money anyway as what dad gets now is about equivalent to AA. That's okay but my father is also physically disabled! I pointed out, firmly, that making the claim was not my idea in the first place, then I am afraid I hung up.
I am pretty much out of options now. Dad has no social worker, little monetary support from the council (as he is just over the limit), and no CPN, after they all disappeared in the last few months. What little paperwork and physical evidence of his condition I have is from last year and wildly out of date. We had a visit from a nurse a while back for his 6 month MMSE but she failed to even tell me the result of it. Dad went to the doctor's to have his Aricept prescription renewed a few months ago but there was no assessment, so even if I try and get evidence from the doctor's surgery it's not necessarily going to be in my favour.
I have put in a request for reconsideration with the DWP. I did that this morning before ringing Age UK, but I have no idea how I am going to change their mind. There seems to be some conspiracy between all the agencies to deny us help.
Ironically it was someone from the DWP who told me to do it.
They turned it down. Apparently my father is 'not a danger to himself or others, does not need constant attention, is perfectly capable of washing, dressing and managing his toilet needs, and is not at risk of harming himself'!
I'd love them to spend a weekend with him.
Anyway, I'm going off subject. Obviously I disagreed. A friend suggested I try the citizens advice bureau, so down I went, in work hours, to talk it through with them.
They refused to help, practically accusing me of fraud in the process.
They did give me Age UK's phone number though.
So this morning I rang Age UK. Guess what? They refused to help too. Apparently they will not get involved unless they made the original claim. Then the woman suggested I didn't need the money anyway as what dad gets now is about equivalent to AA. That's okay but my father is also physically disabled! I pointed out, firmly, that making the claim was not my idea in the first place, then I am afraid I hung up.
I am pretty much out of options now. Dad has no social worker, little monetary support from the council (as he is just over the limit), and no CPN, after they all disappeared in the last few months. What little paperwork and physical evidence of his condition I have is from last year and wildly out of date. We had a visit from a nurse a while back for his 6 month MMSE but she failed to even tell me the result of it. Dad went to the doctor's to have his Aricept prescription renewed a few months ago but there was no assessment, so even if I try and get evidence from the doctor's surgery it's not necessarily going to be in my favour.
I have put in a request for reconsideration with the DWP. I did that this morning before ringing Age UK, but I have no idea how I am going to change their mind. There seems to be some conspiracy between all the agencies to deny us help.