British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

To be honest, most types that abuse the system ham it up I expect.

It seems that it depends on how restricted you are in doing everyday things. I just filled in the form honestly, which was probably a bad idea LOL. As you say a little help for genuine problems after a lifetime of paying in isn't much to ask, when some people have made a career out of being 'professionally disabled'

I know that my hands are effected due to nerve compression, and I just can't do somethings when they are bad......shirt buttons are a nightmare, plus dropping things in supermarkets :oops: I think when applying for these things do it as your worst ever day.....
Did they write to your GP? I think if you have a decent GP they will approach it from the 'getting the patient any help they can' angle.

Yeah, I know how you feel with the 'becoming useless' thing :cry: And the Govt. wants us to pay more and work longer LOL :roll:

Damp weather does seem to make things worse too....not exactly good for the mind either!!!

Oh well, adapt and survive :)

Good luck Mountain,

I hope you have better luck then I had. On top of my osa and breathing problems I also have ostoe arthritus in my hands whitch at times affect my job, ...yes at 52 I'm becoming useless lol

I too have paid in all my working life, have good and bad days, just asked for a little help, but powers that be say NO, or as we say in work 'computer says NO'.

Please forgive spelling, hands not working too well at pres...I blame all this rain lol :lol:

GJ

How about us with both :D

I've just applied for DLA (Why not, I've paid in for 30 years!). I can't do a lot of things that I used to which has taken me a while to come to terms with.

This is mainly due to my multilevel cervical disc disease & myelopathy, but I put down OSA as well as the two problems exacerbate each other. Note being able to sleep due to discomfort & pain doesn't help the OSA & vice versa.

I do work. Always have. I'm signed off at the mo though and it will be my first long term sick leave ever and I'm on the urgent list for my first discectomy and fusion :( 3 need doing one at a time so I'll be having an op, recovering, going back to work & then going through it all again for a few years.

I also need to fix my car exhaust but I can't at the minute :D

Certainly from my own experience, what I can do varies from day to day. I usually start feeling better after resting up, get bored, do to much and then suffer and can't do much- then back to square one..resting..boredom...

So, some people may just be doing stuff on a good day.

However, there are a lot of people that just play the system as we all know. :evil: Unfortunately, they always seem to get away with it whilst those in need struggle to get the help they both need and deserve.

I applaid as I have sleep apnea and a 40% tracheal stenosis { narrowing of the windpipe}, due to scarring from a trachiotomy when i was a child hospital says they can do nothing and i just have to learn to live with it.....

DLA say I dont qualify for any help

Wot I want to know is how poeple get it with a bad back etc so cant work yet I then see them out working on cars and lugging heavy loads around!!!!!!

We are commonly asked about Disability Living Allowance (DLA) eligibility by sleep apnoea sufferers. We contacted the government directly asking for a definitive statement. They replied as follows :

[color=#404040][i]"The Decision Maker makes a decision regarding the needs that arise from a disability rather than the disability itself."[/i][/color]

An additional supplied document on eligibility read as follows :

[b]Disability Living Allowance - eligibility[/b]

You may be able to get Disability Living Allowance if you are aged under 65 and you have needed supervision or help with personal care, or had walking difficulties because of a physical or mental disability for three months, and you are likely to need this help or have these difficulties for at least another six months.

[b]If you have care needs[/b]
To get the care component of Disability Living Allowance, your disability must be severe enough for you to either:
[list]
[*]need help with things such as washing, dressing, eating, getting to and using the toilet, or communicating your needs
[*]need supervision to avoid you putting yourself or others in substantial danger
[*]need someone with you when you are on dialysis
[*]be unable to prepare a cooked main meal for yourself (if you had the ingredients), if you are aged 16 or over[/list]

There are three rates of care component depending on how your disability affects you:

[list]
[*]the lowest rate, if you need help or supervision for some of the day or you are unable to prepare a cooked main meal
[*]the middle rate, if you need help with personal care frequently or supervision continually throughout the day only, or help with personal care or someone to watch over you during the night only, or someone with you while on dialysis
[*]the highest rate, if you need help or supervision frequently throughout the day and during the night [/list]

You can get Disability Living Allowance for your care needs even if no one is actually giving you the care you need, even if you live alone.

[b]If you have mobility needs[/b]
To get the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance, your disability must be severe enough for you to have any of the following walking difficulties, even when wearing or using an aid or equipment you normally use:

[list]
[*]you are unable or virtually unable to walk, or you have no feet or legs
[*]you are assessed to be both 100% disabled because of loss of eyesight and not less than 80% disabled because of deafness and you need someone with you when you are out of doors
[*]you are severely mentally impaired with severe behavioural problems and qualify for the highest rate of care component
[*]the effort of walking could threaten your life or seriously affect your health
[*]you need guidance or supervision from another person when walking out of doors in unfamiliar places [/list]

There are two rates of the mobility component depending on how your disability affects you:
[list]
[*]the lower rate, if you need guidance or supervision out of doors
[*]the higher rate, if you have any of the other, more severe, walking difficulties [/list]

You may be entitled to only the care component or only the mobility component, or you may be entitled to both.

[b]If you are claiming for an ill or disabled child[/b]
Your child must need a lot more help or supervision than other children of the same age.
You can claim for care needs before a child is aged three months, but benefit will not be paid before the child reaches the age of three months unless they are paid under 'special rules' (see below).
You can claim for mobility needs from:
[list]
[*]age three, if your child is unable, or virtually unable, to walk
[*]age three, if your child is assessed to be both 100% disabled because of loss of eyesight and not less than 80% disabled because of deafness
[*]age three, if your child is severely mentally impaired with severe behavioural problems and qualifies for the highest rate of care component
[*]age five, if your child needs guidance or supervision when walking out of doors[/list]

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CaringForSomeone/CaringForADisabledChild/index.htm

[b]Special rules - if you are terminally ill[/b]
If you have a progressive disease and are not reasonably expected to live for more than another six months, there are special rules to help you get Disability Living Allowance more quickly and easily. You can get the highest rate of the care component immediately without waiting until you have needed help for three months.

You can make a claim for someone under the special rules without them knowing or without their permission. If they satisfy the relevant conditions, they will get a letter saying that they have been awarded Disability Living Allowance, but special rules will not be mentioned.

[b]Your circumstances[/b]
There are certain conditions about your circumstances and your residence and presence which you need to meet to get Disability Living Allowance.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Disabledpeople/DG_10012424

You can contact the Disability Living Allowance/Attendance Allowance Helpline on 08457 123456 from 7.30am-6.30pm Monday-Friday or if you have use of a text phone (if you are hard of hearing) call 08457 224433.