DSP reviews

[godhelpme1]

Hello, I have only just joined to find support and info . re ..dsp reviews . I am terrified of this process . I have dreadful anxiety . Depression , Chronic pain , chronic fatigue . IBD . Gerd . A hernia that is pushing my stomach up into my chest . Causing heart burn and acid reflux . Sadly I am very overweight . I have a prolapse that has had surgery but is now failing again . I suffer from chronic hives and hay fever . I have fybromyalgia . Migraine . Edema . Hypertension and on it goes . I have now received a review letter . I am 59 yrs old and was medically retired from my job over 20 yrs ago . I have been on dsp for aroung 8 yrs . I can never work again . I can hardly get out of bed . What should I do to prepare for this review . I am so scared 

[Banjo]

Welcome to the forum.

I think the first thing you have to do is make an appointment with your doctor.
Take the letter and talk it through with him.

[godhelpme1]

Yes, I have done that . And thankyou for welcoming me . Dreadful though . I feel so vulnerable x

[laneonivy]

Hello there, I'm new too but I just wanted to say hello and that I hope the process is not too daunting for you. From the sounds of things you've got a lot on your plate! All the best.

[tasjo]

One thing I would recommend (I have fibro, RA and a stress/depression disorder) would be to focus on the conditions that you have had for at least 2 yrs... also check that any mental health condition has been 'appropriately' diagnosed by either a psychiatrist or a clinical psychologist. I believe that may have changed since you were granted DSP but the review will be against the current tables.

[godhelpme1]

thank you guys . I will take the advice given and focus on the last 2 yrs . It is just so confusing . My illnesses all blend together . I can't even remember the reasons I received the benefit in the first place as my memory is going . Is fybro acknowledged by c/l ? I was diagnosed with that nearly 2 yrs ago. I just seem to be getting sicker and sicker So stressed right now . This could finish me off to be honest 

[tasjo]

Fibro is generally recognised under Table 1, due to it's fatigue and chronic pain. I'm not sure about a review (I was a new applicant) but with mine they went through what I had been diagnosed with, whether it had already lasted for 2 yrs and then looked at what impairments I had as a result.
The thing I found difficult was to realise how much I couldnt do, I have always been proud of still being able to do things in spite of my diagnosis. But that probably didnt help me with Clink.

[brent62]

Hi mate. I went through it last year so I know exactly how you feel. When I was in your shoes I felt hopeless and read all the news stories of how they are reviewing people in hope of dropping a few. Before this new focus by the government, towards DSP, I don't think a review would have triggered the stress they do now. Take a deep breath and follow the advice here as it saved me. But you just don't read you need to take a very proactive attitude and get your ducks in a row and if your prepared the stress settles..

[godhelpme1]

Thank you again . Tasjo did c/l accept your diagnosis ? I have read the tables and I have read all of the threads on here . I am inspired by your stories but also so saddened . This world is so upside down . There is very little I can do any more . I am a recluse . I even time my trips to the post box so I don't run into anyone . Traumatised by life events and in so much pain that I cry a lot . I can't even list the amount of things wrong with my body . A lot of it auto immune . I have lost all my siblings to these illnesses . Thank you all again . I just hope I have it in me to keep fighting x

[Deleted]

godhelpme welcome to the forum

Banjo, tasjo's and brent's good advice is all you need for now. From the conditions you have I feel sure your doctor will support you.

All the best, cheers bear 

[godhelpme1]

I wonder if they accept copper toxicity which I also have ! Oh dear ..this is overwhelming

[tasjo]

Feb 28, 2017 4:07:31 GMT 7 godhelpme1 said:

Thank you again . Tasjo did c/l accept your diagnosis ? I have read the tables and I have read all of the threads on here . I am inspired by your stories but also so saddened . This world is so upside down . There is very little I can do any more . I am a recluse . I even time my trips to the post box so I don't run into anyone . Traumatised by life events and in so much pain that I cry a lot . I can't even list the amount of things wrong with my body . A lot of it auto immune . I have lost all my siblings to these illnesses . Thank you all again . I just hope I have it in me to keep fighting x

Yes, they accepted my fibro diagnosis and assessed it against Table 1. My biggest issues have been with having a few conditions that in clinks eyes are classed as moderate, partly because I respond relatively well to medication. Clink also struggle with the concept of a person going from working full time to being unable to reliably work at all (which is what happened to me). They also seem to have made massive changes to the dsp application and assessment process without considering if those changes were workable.

But, if you are prepared and understand that it is 'just' a process, and have medical support for how your conditions impair you, it should be ok

[godhelpme1]

Ok thank you so much .  I was seeing a psychologist but I have just made an appointment with a clinical psychologist to start the process . And I am so grateful for all the advice . If we must fight then we will . I will keep you all posted . And let us hope sanity prevails for us all 

[Deleted]

For these reviews over the next two years , l think they are choosing 90,000 people out of around 600,000 that haven't been reviewed under the new tables, so the odds are that you wont be chosen for a review, l guess its a one on six chance, but as people here said we should be prepared.