Successes

At DMAC, we pride ourselves on the successes we’ve experienced across our three initiatives. Click on a success story below to read more.

Drumchapel Money Advice Service

Case Study 1

Client’s PIP stopped at start of COVID due to coming to an end, DWP did advise that all benefits would be extended but this was not the case for client. Contacted DWP who advised that due to client winning case at tribunal level, his was not a pip renewal but a new claim and therefor client would go without his PIP until client was re-assessed. This was an unfair rule for clients who had been awarded at tribunal level and was raised as a social policy issue. DWP soon reversed this decision and anyone in this situation would have their PIP extended until assessed. Client’s PIP was re-instated.

Case Study 2

Client has been awaiting an assessment for New Style ESA claim which was made last year. Client had been advised that they were to receive a face-to-face assessment and would have to wait until this was possible. Client has serious health issues and was at a disadvantage to other clients who were receiving telephone assessments and receiving additional payments once placed into their group. Called assessment centre to get this changed to telephone assessment. Client is now waiting for telephone assessment.

Case Study 3

Client approached our services in relation to a Universal Credits claim for Limited Capability to Work. Client is 24 years old and had to give up on her studies at university due to contracting Covid 19 whilst on her placement and developing long covid.
Client had to make a claim for benefits as her Long Covid brought symptoms of fatigue, breathlessness, pain, depression, anxiety and dizziness. Client was awarded the Limited Capability to work but was unhappy with this outcome and requested a review which remained unchanged, we proceeded to Tribunal to appeal this decision.
Tribunal date arrived, DMAC supported her decision and agreed that she should have been placed into the Limited Capability to work and Work related activity due to how debilitating her condition was and that she was still attending the Long Covid clinic for help.
Tribunal panel also believe the client should have been placed into Limited Capability to Work and Work related activity. The appeal was successful.

Case Study 4

Molly is an existing client who we advised to apply for Attendance Allowance for her and her husband Rick. We discussed the descriptors and how her and her husband’s day to day living is affected by their conditions. We completed both forms on 19.03.2024 and received award on 17th May.
Molly was awarded Enhanced Rate, giving a financial gain of £5644.60 per year.
Rick was awarded Enhanced Rate for 2 years, giving financial gain of £5644.60 per year.
Total Financial Gain for Household £11289.20.

Drumchapel Children’s Rights Project

Testimonial from Nadia

“I am so happy my mum got Pauline to come to help me back to school. I was bullied in my old school for a long time. My mum said I could change schools, but the new school said that the third year was full, but Pauline spoke to them, and they offered me a place. She got them to let me have a reduced timetable and build it up slowing to full time. I was so nervous. Pauline came to see me before school for the first couple of weeks. She helped me get extra help in some subjects after the school found out I have dyslexia. I have some health problems that I don’t want everyone to know about – I needed to see the doctor. Pauline came with me to help me talk to the doctor and I got help. I honestly think I would still be hiding in my bedroom if Pauline from the Children’s Rights Project didn’t help me and my mum.”

Testimonial from mother of a service user

“Pauline has been an invaluable support to our family for many years. She attends meetings at school and knows the correct questions to ask. She has also provided information on other support mechanisms for our son. She is articulate, knowledgeable, kind, approachable and empathetic. We can’t thank her enough.”

Drumchapel Advocacy Project

Testimonial from North-West Rehabilitation and Enablement‘s ’Service Speech and Language’ service user

“Danny, I found your support to be invaluable when working together with our mutual client over several months. If you had not been there who would have advocated for him?
Our client had a complex medical background that shaped his life over the years, creating some significant limitations for him. Many people with communication impairments and other impairments such as head injuries find it difficult to regulate their verbal and nonverbal communications. As you know this can result in an additional social barrier and in social exclusion.
The in-depth knowledge you had of our client was so important for someone like me who wants to understand what I can do to help in an area of speech and communication. You provided non- judgmental support and pragmatic guidance. I believe that your input helped to reduce the chances of our client becoming socially and additionally disadvantaged. Many thanks Danny for all your help and input. I hope that you are able to continue to provide our client and others like him with the support that’s needed for them to access the activities and services that the rest of us take for granted.”

Testimonial from a service user

“Danny, and Elaine from the Advocacy Project helped me and my family when being attacked by members of the community because we were different, we are from Latvia and people thought we were Russian. So, my daughter was being targeted at school and my elderly mother had stones thrown at her at our home. Danny and Elaine supported us to make complaints to our housing provider and supported us to fill in housing applications to other landlords to get away from the abuse were being subjected to. I can’t thank Danny and Elaine enough for believing in me and the help and support provided to us to find a place of safety for me and my family.”