What are the problems?

The Disabled Living Grant is notorious for being the most difficult, complicated and complex allowance to claim from the Government. The forms that you have to fill out are long, open to misunderstanding and quite mystifying to a lot of people.

The DLA is the most appealed benefit in the country.

The appeal process seems to be a part of the application process to many, certainly if you have narcolepsy. The appeal is supposed to be independent and is carried out through the ITS, the Independent Tribunal Service.

You should consider this a starting point to further help. Your local Citizen's Advice or Social Services may have a specialist to help. You might find it difficult to ask for help from a stranger especially as you really have to be honest with and about yourself to complete the form. If you don’t want help to complete the form then at least consider someone you don’t know well to review the form. It could make all the difference.

The DLA have their own free-phone number for help in completing the form, however this tends to be basic and a yes - no solution.

A successful application relies more on the paragraphs of personal information you write, rather than knowing the 'keywords' or 'phrases' to use.