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Free Nappies & DLA

13 replies

bethpurser · 04/09/2006 10:47

I've been given some conflicting advice recently about whether my four-year old ASD son receiving medium rate DLA qualifies for free nappies. I've been given mixed messages about age, where you would apply, etc. so does anyone know definitively? Is this a service some LAs offer and not others? We've written to our Health Visitor but not had a reply yet and our District Authority didn't seem to know anything. Same old story...

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coppertop · 04/09/2006 10:52

It's one of those things that seems to vary according to where you live. Here you can get free nappies from the child's 4th birthday.

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anniebear · 04/09/2006 11:24

you should be able to from 4

Although we got them at 3

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MrsFio · 04/09/2006 11:29

bethpurser, being in receipt of DLA should have no standing on whether you get free nappies or not as afterall not everyone applies for DLA anynway. If he is four years old and his delayed development is affecting the age at which he will be toileted then you SHOULD get free nappies. Is your health visitor helpful?

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bethpurser · 04/09/2006 13:18

I don't understand if it's the age of the child or the actual service itself that varies from authority to authority. We have written to our health visitor but as yet have not had a reply. We might try our son's consultant when we see her next but I was really trying to find out whether we are entitled or if it's a discretionary service.

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Pixel · 04/09/2006 13:27

It's from age 4 here although I understand some areas supply them from age 3. Our health visitor arranged it all for us and I don't think it was connected at all to DLA (although we get free pull-ups and ds is on medium rate DLA if that helps at all).

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bethpurser · 04/09/2006 13:37

Pixel What are DS? And how did you get these through the DLA?

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Pixel · 04/09/2006 13:40

Ds is short for 'dear son'.

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Dingle · 04/09/2006 13:45

LOL! Amelia was supposed to be entitled to them from the age of 4, but she is 5 in October(shock] and it still hasn't been sorted out.

Our HV was supposed to get this done just after her 4th birthday, and a few months back she came back with yet another form to complete to go the the "Continience Service!" TBH by that stage she was as good as dry during the day (obviously still has the odd accident butI am sure many 4.5 yr olds do!) Have been told that we are very unlikely to get any help with night-time nappies, bed protection...so it has been a complete waste of time and effort for us, simply because no-one was able to advise us of the correct procedures.

From what I know, you should be able to get them at 3/4 (depending on your area) and also dependant on a continence "assessment" which I take it these forms are.

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bethpurser · 04/09/2006 13:48

Dear son, excellent!

It seems from most peoples' comments that we just have to perservere with our health visitor. The depressing thing is that he's 5 in January and we might have been entitled to them since he's been three. Imagine all that money!

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dizzy34 · 04/09/2006 16:27

We got ours from when ds was three. We had no probs what so ever, but dont know if that is because ds will always be double incontinent. Our community paed nurse sorted them for us at the child developement centre.

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theheadgirl · 04/09/2006 21:43

Hi everyone,
New to this site - my DD has free nappies, from the age of 5 and this week I've also heard that some water boards (I'm with yorkshire) have a special "vulnerable tarrif" for families where there's an incontinent child. Its worth looking in to, every little helps. I know we seem to generate a lot of washing, even with regular nappy changes.
ps what a great site, found it cos of unmentionable gf issue!

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coppertop · 05/09/2006 09:50

Welcome to mumsnet, theheadgirl.

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KiddyKats · 12/04/2024 22:14

bethpurser · 04/09/2006 13:48

Dear son, excellent!

It seems from most peoples' comments that we just have to perservere with our health visitor. The depressing thing is that he's 5 in January and we might have been entitled to them since he's been three. Imagine all that money!

Ours is 5 next January too, and due to start primary school this September. The nursery attached to the school are refusing to sit her on the potty between nappy changes. Have been trying to potty train her for more than 2 years.
Haven't got a HV anymore though. Is there anyone else who could refer us for nappies? She's outgrowing them fast too. Middle rate DLA.
TIA
xx

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