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AIBU?

DWP removed child disability

184 replies

Aj9612 · 27/10/2017 07:13

Hi,

Wondering if anyone else has has had an experience like ours and if anyone has advice. Our youngest has dyspraxia and got the middle care component last year and I believe lower mobility. We submitted the claim again in good time and added a lot more information as we knew more about his condition and more experience with the form now. Due to a delay on their side we had to wait an extra 8 weeks so the decision was the day before the next set of payments. This year they rejected the whole claim. I asked what had changed from this year to last. They said they don't look at last years decision so there's no consistency. They also said "we expect children to be able to manage their condition as they get older" he's 7.

We basically lose anywhere between 600-1000 a month as my wife is no longer eligible for carers and all his other payments. He can have sometimes 4 or 5 different appointments for his health a month as well as other needs.

I spoke to Step change in the interim as we have to work out what to do now and even emailed our mp.

It's hard as it's frightening and it shouldn't be about the money, but their cold and vile attitude to this and no consistency to assessment makes me wonder how many other people have been hit like we have.

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Sirzy · 27/10/2017 07:15

Have you done the mandatory reconsideration?

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TestingTestingWonTooFree · 27/10/2017 07:18

You could also try CAB for advice. Your application for mandatory reconsideration needs to go in within a month of their decision. See if you can add any evidence to your claim.

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Aj9612 · 27/10/2017 07:19

We've appealed, but it's 4 weeks and as the new cycle starts today they've basically shafted us due to their delay so yes we've appealed but have still got to do stuff in the interim to try and mitigate the hit as best we can.

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Slartybartfast · 27/10/2017 07:19

what sort of appointment does he go to 4 times a month? that sounds a lot

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Slartybartfast · 27/10/2017 07:22

do you have a consultant who diagnose the disorder? can they do a letter?

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Aj9612 · 27/10/2017 07:22

He has various for things like speech, physio, eyes, pedietrician and dietician. Sometimes it will be one in that month sometimes can be all and multiple times.

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Aj9612 · 27/10/2017 07:23

We included the letter and the same letter we sent last year too.

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Sirzy · 27/10/2017 07:25

It’s more the day to day stuff you need to show than the appointments. You need to be able to prove his day to day care needs are significantly more than those of a peer

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Holdtightdontletgo · 27/10/2017 07:26

Does he have other conditions apart from the dyspraxia?

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Aj9612 · 27/10/2017 07:27

We did that in the form. I honestly think they just didn't read it and are trying to throw as many claims out as possible.

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Slartybartfast · 27/10/2017 07:27

can the school help?

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gingerh4ir · 27/10/2017 07:28

it's about his care needs. Have his care needs have changed? to get middle rate care (and thus CA), he will need constant help and support throughout the day. The odd appointment here and there does not count as a 'care need' for that purpose.

have you send in all his doctors reports? if he needs constants care, I suppose he has a statement of SEN/EHCP. I always send a copy of those in.

you really need to show and evidence that he needs ongoing support. To get middle rate care is not easy (I had to appeal to get that for my child with ASD and severe learning difficulties).

I also don't understand how you can lose £1000/month. your DLA rates and CA don't add up to this. Seems odd as we get far less for our 10 year old severely disabled child.

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Aj9612 · 27/10/2017 07:28

And there's speech impediment and delay. It's a tough one as we had a few concerns at our last 6 month appointment but they are very much saying everything's dyspraxia so it seems to encompass a lot of things

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Holdtightdontletgo · 27/10/2017 07:29

What do you mean in your op when you say all his other payments?

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Aj9612 · 27/10/2017 07:30

I'm estimating as haven't seen impact on other payments yet. We know if removed carers and monthly payment. We has submitted drs reports etc.

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cornerstoned · 27/10/2017 07:31

does he have 1:1 school support? can you get school to. write a supporting statement. any other conditions?

TBH, I don't see how dyspraxia alone would require a level of care needed to get middle care DLA (I have a child with complex needs on DLA).

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Ktown · 27/10/2017 07:31

Can you speak to the GP or School about the support they think he needs and get a letter from them.
That would independently reinforce things.?

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Sirzy · 27/10/2017 07:32

What extra support does he need on a day to day basis compared to His peers?

You can find the decision makers guide online which I found useful when doing ds recent renewal

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gingerh4ir · 27/10/2017 07:35

It's a tough one as we had a few concerns at our last 6 month appointment

this doesn't sound very severe though if there only been a few concerns at your last appointment.

Not trying to be dismissive but it takes a bit more to get DLA than to have a few concerns. how severe is his speech delay?

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Falconhoof1 · 27/10/2017 07:36

It's really worth going to a tribunal of the MRN is unsuccessful. Get a representative (CAB, welfare rights). A lot of decisions are overturned at a tribunal.

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Fairylea · 27/10/2017 07:37

The appointments and diagnosis won’t really make a difference, they will be looking mostly at support in school at this age as this will tell him how much care a child needs (as well as what you write on the form). Does he have support in school / an ehcp?

I understand what a worry it must be. We are in receipt of High rate care for ds aged 5 who has autism and learning disabilities and we would be absolutely lost without it. Thankfully when we recently renewed it was renewed until he is 12. I think the fact he attends a special school made a huge difference. I am on several dla forums on Facebook and it seems like the support at school is the key thing they seem to be looking at currently. (If you search for dla on Facebook you will find a lot of groups which can be very useful).

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Fairylea · 27/10/2017 07:39

(I can easily understand how it can add to so much- we are a low income family and with dla, carers and tax credit dla credits we receive easily an extra £1000 a month).

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Aj9612 · 27/10/2017 07:41

His speech in tone is toddler like and he has a severe speech delay where the vowels can sometimes be repeated up to ten times in a sentence. He gets physio at school and daily speech and language too. We wrote all this in the form.

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cricketballs3 · 27/10/2017 07:41

DLA for children gets more difficult as they get older as with every part you have to demonstrate the impact on your DC against a non disabled child of the same age.

As a PP has said it seems like you got far more than others in your previous claim; DS2 needs 24 hour care at 18 and we get no where near that amount

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Sirzy · 27/10/2017 07:43

What extra does he need at home?

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