Just got the DLA forms!! quick question....

[anniebear]

we haven't got the mobility forms. Are you meant to get them together?

Both run out in August

should I ring and ask for one (we do get mobility at the mo)

[dizzy34]

we only filled the one form out and got both awards

[macwoozy]

I might be wrong as before I was only awarded the care component and not mobility, but isn't the mobility section the first couple of questions on the DLA form?

[coppertop]

Isn't the mobility bit on the same form? IIRC there is a question at the beginning of the form where you describe the difficulties your child has with getting about. I think you only fill it in if you are claiming for mobility but unofficially you are advised to fill it in anyway IYSWIM.

[anniebear]

right, thanks

will take a look

I thought we got a separate form last time

But Ellie was only 3 and we got it for 2 years. Maybe thats why

is it different as she will be 5 when it changes again

Have just e mailed a place called Dial House in chester, they apparently help you fill in the forms.

I know we won't get high rate mobility this time so I want to amke sure we get high rate care

we got put down to middle last time as they said she could be like any other 3 year old at night

Yeah right

I didn't appeal as on the phone the lady said "well they will take another look at your mobility you know and you could lose that " (blackmail!!) so I left it

But not this time lol

[buzylizy]

make sure when you fill in the form that you put that she wakes in the night ect. First time I filled in the forms I didn't and dd got the middle rate. I knew this was wrong as she has such sever problems. Know from your posts that she does so write all that in.

[anniebear]

I did last time, but they said as she isn't having seizures anymore she is just like any other 3 year old

well they will be told of the blood on the walls now (although she hasn't for a while)

But if we leave her at night she does start to hurt herself

I know she doesn't have as severe problems as some but she is blummin hard work !!

I am not having any of it if they say she is just like any other 4 year old at night!! She has a twin sister so I know!!!!

[SqueakyCat]

we get middle rate, so I don't know much about getting higher. From what I understood the higher rate is for if they need much night-time supervision /attention. I found the pdf frequently recommended on here very useful (if you don't have the link, I or someone else can post it). It says how much night-care you'd need to give for it to count (something like 'several times' or over 20 mins most nights).

I think thay you'd need to write something like (assuming this is all true - or whatever is true) "Ellie wakes several times (at least X, usually Y) every (or almost every, or whatever is the case) night. When she wakes, I have to go in to her to resettle her. I also need to check that she has not soiled herself / removed her clothes / whatever might have happened. This usually takes XX minutes each time. If we don't go into her, she would XXXXX. Most 5 yr olds would sleep all night without disturbing their parents or needing assistance, and if they wake, would be able to resettle themselves back to sleep." If Ellie and Grace room share, add something about impact of Ellie's waking on Grace (actually, even if they don't you've said, I think, that you need to attend to Ellie quickly or she does disturb Grace). You also have separate sections on the form on toilet needs during the night (does she wear nappies at night - do they need checking / changing?). Also eating /drinking, therapy and medication at night, if relevant. Then another section on when child is in bed at night (can't remember what difference this is - repeat what you've put earlier if that makes sense).

Once they are >5, they can get lower rate mobility, which I don't think you can get at under 5. I can't remember any other changes at 5.

HTH

[anniebear]

Thanks everyone for your help

am going to photo copy the forms this time and fill it in then go and get help from somewhere. I usually make it really scrufy and messy with lots of mistakes!!!

[coppertop]

Ds2 gets higher-rate care. Remember that they only seem to take into account the times when a child is awake for 20mins+ at a time. It's a good idea to do as SqueakyCat suggests and include details of what you have to do each time Ellie wakes up so that they can see that it's not just a case of Ellie waking up, you saying "Back to sleep" and Ellie dozing off again.

The MN archives are also a great place to look for advice on what NT children of Ellie's age are doing. Hopefully it will be slightly less painful than having to keep comparing her to Grace. :(

Good luck. xx

[anniebear]

Thing is, when we tell her to get back to bed, she can start to hurt herself. And that is not the behaviour of an average 4and a half year old.

Se hasn't slept through since she was ill. Annoyingly a friends little girls slept through every night, had to even be waken at times and she got high rate

[coppertop]

Definitely add lots of detail then about how Ellie hurts herself if she is not supervised while she is awake. Add specific examples.

Keep repeating all the way through the form "A normal child of Ellie's age does/doesn't do XYZ." It's an awful sentence to have to keep writing but sadly it seems to be necessary. :(

[anniebear]

thanks CT