Mobility denied for 3yr old ASD child? WTF??

[mamadadawahwah]

got a form letter today saying that my boy will not get mobility component of DLA. No reason, no nothing. So i lodged an appeal over the phone.

My question to others who have received mobility for their asd kids, what was your secret?? We have full DLA/carers allowance for him.

I must have included 5 or 6 extra pages in the form outlining my boys mobility problems. I also know of other children his age with the same mobility problems and the same abilities who got full mobility.

How do they make their decision and does anyone have any tips what I should do now?? They say to just write in re-explaining any changes. But there havent been any. My boy still cant go out on his own, still cant climb stairs and still would run in front of a car!!

How do they get away with it?

Does anyone think I should refer to those people i know whose kids got mobility ? dont those kids set some sort of a precedent? Or will they just say they cant discuss other cases?

Why is everything such a struggle.

[coppertop]

I think the general rule is that they will only award mobility to those under-5s who can't physically walk, eg they are in a wheelchair. Their argument is that lots of 3yr-olds run into the road, can't go out alone etc. It's a really sh*tty rule IMO.

Otherwise they generally seem to make up the rules as they go along. It's worth mentioning the other cases but they will no doubt say that they can't discuss other cases etc.

[coppertop]

Forgot to add that 3yr-old ds2 has ASD and has been awarded the higher rate care component but no mobility. I could've re-applied for ds1(nearly 6) to get the mobility component when he turned 5 but couldn't face the forms tbh.

[Hattie05]

It is always down to the technique of the way these things are written. (i complete them for people as part of my job).

It is important to spell out that whatever difficulty your son has is not the 'norm' for another child of the same age.
As coppertop says, as your son is only 3, with regard to mobility, you are not needing to supervise him anymore than other three year olds when out and about, as no three year old can go out alone.

The only grounds you really have is moving up and down stairs so i would really focus on that when re-writing. Do you live in a two storey house? is the bathroom upstairs? ... Also gather evidence from all professionals who know your son and his development.

Many cases i have seen go to appeal are successful, but i have to say i wouldn't feel overly confident with this particular scenario. In a couple of years time then yes, but not aged 3.

[SparklyGothKat]

My DS get mobility and has had since he was 3, but he has CP and can't walk far. I thought that under 5's only get it if they have a physical disability.

[PinkKerPlink]

my dd could walk before 3 and we still got full rate mobility


as far as I am aware it is to do with distance able to walk and supervision required

[misdee]

at the age of 3 you are going to find it hard to get mobility. if appeal doesnt work then reapply when he is 5. how log has he been awarded HR care for?

we are struggling to get dd2 any rate of dla atm.

[mamadadawahwah]

Hi thanks for the all the responses. He has a mate same age as him same problems and same abilities and he got high rate.

Only difference is that this child is in nursery. He got a report from the OT and teachers at the school. I am wondering whether they find it hard to take a parents "word" for it and wont award unless "professionals" get on board.

There has to be a standardisation of rules in making the decision, i would have thought. If one child gets it, who can walk, why dosent another child?

We have DLA awarded until 2011 i think.

[misdee]

my dd cant do stairs, can walk alone, (falls over all the time, 42 falls in one day ), has no road sense, rarely sleeps, is on vallergan for sleepi9ng, has speech delay, sensory problems, food issues, walking problems, allergies, eczema errrrrrr think thats it. still no dla. they awarded it to her at 18months for vomiting and eczema. then stpped it when we reapplied.

[macwoozy]

I agree with what's already been said, to get mobility under 5 you would have to show that your child can't physically walk or can walk short distances but over a long period of time. My ds who gets high rate care has only just been awarded low rate mobility, and he's just turned 6 years old.

[SparklyGothKat]

every case is different, they can't say 'well, we awarded that child XXX so better give it to this child'

[Hattie05]

I know its frustrating but having a professionals opinion is important, otherwise think how many people would lie? (i have met some of them .

Of course i'm not saying you are which is why i suggested getting a professional to write about your child's development.

[tobysmumkent]

I had to reapply for my DS2, and we did get the mobility. I stressed both his lack of awareness of danger (which it sounds like you've done) and also the fact that he "overloads" and then "is unable to move" - he refuses to move, rolls round the ground, headbangs/headbutts/self-injures. He also has obsessions (vertical lines) so although he is physically able to walk, covering 300yards can take well over 30 minutes if he's fixed on the lampposts/telegraph poles in the immediate area! Also if he expects to be going to a certain destination from the route we take (eg. library) but I actually need to go to the bank, then I can't get him to vary his route (we often go to places that we don't actually need to visit.....).
I know there have been threads on mobility DLA before, might be worth searching....and my HV was very keen on phrases like "...is unable to..." "...refuses to..".
Hope this is some help (I could rant on and on about how inconsistent the mobility element is....but will just wish you good luck, ) - just remembered, I also made the point that as he is getting bigger, physically moving him to safety/anywhere! is getting more difficult...HTH!