Oh the joy!!! DLA finally see sense

[cktwo]

After intially refusing DD1 DLA, they have now given her top rate for everything. I nearly cried down the phone with relief when I found out. It'll really help us financially especially having to transport DD1 to a multitude of hospital appointments.

So where does this leave us now? Are we now eligible for any other help?

[Yummymum1]

Well done cktwo i am so pleased for you.We are currently going throught he appeal process after being turned down twice.
I believe you can now apply for carers allowance if you have high rate which is great!!

[Joggeroo]

That's some change, well done.
you may be eligible for Carers Allowance depending on your income, also need to inform the Child tax credit people if you receive it as they as depending on your household income it might increase the amount of child tax credit.
depending on you DD's age you might be entitled to a blue badge if you don't already have one.

[Joggeroo]

can apply for carers if you have middle rate or higher.

[cktwo]

Got the Blue Badge already thanks. That's the lone thing that has been straightforward in applying.

And I didn't know about the Carers Allowance. I am freelance so I mainly look after the kids and only work about 6 hours a week. I will look into it on t'internet.

Many thanks everyone and good luck Yummymum1 - why have they turned you down??

[cktwo]

only, not lone

[Yummymum1]

Apparantly ds doesnt meet the criteria in any area!!! I cant believe they actually read the form tho as ds clearly does meet their criteria as he needs personal care for at least 2 hrs a day,he cant go out unaided as he has no sense of danger or direction even in places he knows well,he needs help at night and is often still up and around at 11pm and as he isnt safe we also need to be up too!!!The paed is outraged and has written an excellent letter which may or may not make any difference.We will go to a tribunal if we have to,it has become a principal thing thing now as a frind whose ds has as and is very similar to our ds gets middle rate!!Dont think there is any sense to it at all.Will keep you posted!!

[cktwo]

We were originally turned down as they felt DD1's need were not too different from an average 3yo. So in my appeal evidence I put it down very very plainly in stupidly simple language "DD cannot talk unlike a normal 3 yo, DD cannot walk on the pavement unassisted unlike a normal 3yo... and so on".

I also described a scenario, in this case ga trip to the park and decribed what DD1 would do at each juncture and what average 3yo (whatever THAT is!!) would do. I also got the nursery to send in evidence and the physio/OT team too.

And if all that wasn't going to make a difference I was going to go to my MP. Might be worth a go.

[Yummymum1]

That is pretty much what the consultant has written in her letter (2 sides typed A4) so i will see what comes of that.I think the problem is that they really dont understand the type of children they are dealing with.Our consultant despairs and wants to send ds to them for a week and then see if he meets their criteria!

[Seuss]

It all seems very hit and miss. I put some of the things Yummymum1 mentioned - not able to go out alone, supervised at night - and we got middle rate no probs. Go figure!

[PeachyWontLieToYou]

ds3 was refused first, then awarded higher on same evidence- barmy! he gets middle now, but until he turns 16 which helps. ds1's forms go in today for renewal, suspect that will be more of a battle. He gets higher atm as he has AS / hfa but needs constant supervision as he is very aggressive.

Definitely speak to wtc- they can backdate until start of dla (when you got the form) and you will get severe disability allowance as well as disability credit

[Joggeroo]

I think it just depends on who opens the envelope and what mood they are in..........

[MetalMummy]

If you get tax credits make sure you tell them you have been awarded DLA because your tax credits will go up too.