Sorry - advice again please re mobility element of DLa for a 4yo

[goldenretriever]

Hi
I was awarded middle rate personal care in May, but no mobility rate. I suspect even, ne should have got high rate personal care, tbh. He is definitely at least low rate as he can't go outside the door without having his hand held or he would just run. The letter said mobility would be reviewed when he turns 5 next May. Anyone know if I can do anything before that? TIA.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

High rate personal care just means care is needed regularly during night too...it doesn't mean more.is needed during day

You can apply for mobility before he is 5 but it will be harder to get and will mean they review the care part too so you have to weigh up the risk of losing it.

Not fair I know.

[chocnomore]

before 5 there is only high rate mobility. only after 5 there are low AND high rate mobility. unless you DC qualifies for high rate mobility before 5 you cannot get mobility. hth

[lougle]

Low rate mobility is available from 5 years old, for children who need more supervision or guidance outdoors.


High rate mobility is available from 3 years old, for children who are unable to walk, virtually unable to walk, or have Severe mental impairment with Severe behavioural difficulties (regularly require restraint to prevent injury to themselves or others) and get high rate care component.


The reason low rate mobility is only available from 5 years old is that they deem all children to need high levels of supervision and guidance before the age of 5.

[ouryve]

and get high rate care component.

This bit makes me . DS2 doesn't simply need "supervision" he needs holding onto with a vice like grip by someone with all their wits about them, if there's even the remotest risk of running into a road, or ditch (he escaped DH and almost ran in front of a van, the other week). We're comfortable enough to be able to shrug off not getting at extra money, but I'm sure there's plenty of people who can't.

[lougle]

Under PIP to get 'Enhanced Mobility' (DLA's HRM) you need to fulfil this criteria:

"f.
Cannot follow the route of a familiar 12
journey without another person, an
assistance dog or an orientation aid."

[lougle]

All the other behavioural mobility criteria have a max 10 points and you need 12 points for HRM, 8 for LRM.

However, they are giving a 50% tax reduction for people in receipt of LRM.

The blue badge is automatically given for:

"Can stand and then move unaided
more than 20 metres but no more than 50
metres."

or worse, but not for being in receipt of Enhanced Mobility, so they are deliberately persisting with excluding behavioural/LD/mental conditions from the Blue Badge Scheme.

[ouryve]

I did look into a blue badge and can't see how you could get one if you don't qualify for HRM of DLA. The PIP actually sounds like an improvement, in that respect (heck, something about it has to be an improvement for someone despite all the rest!) but that doesn't help parents of under 16s.

I guess parents and carers of people prone to melt down or put themselves in danger if they have to walk any distance just have to stay at home and not trouble the general public with their existence.

[lougle]

DD1 qualified because I said that her behaviour was a result of her brain malformation, so it was a physical condition which caused her inability to walk safely.

Very hit and miss though.

[Trigglesx]

what 50% tax reduction are you talking about for LRM? Havent heard of that

[Trigglesx]

ouryve that's about it isn't it. DS1 can be such a terrifying handful in a carpark - I generally put him in his wheelchair for his own safety. Still got LRM.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

DD gets HRM..I think because she had a very very strong supporting statemen from very senior paed. Am aware we are lucky and also feel many others should get it but don't :(

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

We were told today DD needs support from Visual Impairment team (total shock to system) so maybe that contributes to her issues though

[Trigglesx]

Most likely, Fanjo. I don't know if I'd use the word lucky though. Sorry your having further worries - sounds like this came out of nowhere.

[Trigglesx]

*you're... oooh I hate when I typo something stupid like that

[Trigglesx]

ouryve DS1 gets HRC and LRM, but technically (based on that above) easily qualifies for HRM. It's not the money as far as I'm concerned, but god the blue badge would be helpful. I sometimes dread taking him places due to the transport issues, especially to and from the car.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

It really did. We knew Dd had severe long sight in one eye but thought she was OK with her glasses on.

Am half hoping it maybe explains some issues and can be helped and therefore aid her learning.

But definitely a shock.

Maybe 'lucky' is not right word, just that I know others should get HRM and it's like a lottery.

[lougle]

The 50% car tax thingy is for people in receipt of 'standard mobility' (the LRM equivalent of DLA) element of Personal Independence Payments (the replacement for DLA).

[Trigglesx]

oh, I see lougle thanks. I know literally nothing about the PIP stuff. I've just done DS1's renewal so it should be a couple years now before I need to deal with it again.

[ouryve]

Mine both get MRC and LRM. I'm lucky that they both sleep 8-9 hours, most nights, even though they get up stupidly early in winter, but it's just so bizarre that the way they sleep at night is linked with their mobility needs in this way.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

That is strange.

DD is usually up 4 hours a night

[goldenretriever]

Thank you for responses. Ouryve does same thing. Think will wait til he is 5 in mine months time. Tis nice to feel less alone in the battle x

[Trigglesx]

DS1 is up frequently during the night and must be supervised until he is asleep again. Even with meds, he still wakes up. And is still incontinent during night so needs changing as well. I'd be in checking his breathing if he slept 8-9 hours straight.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Is a good point though, DD's lack of sleep doesn't affect her mobility, maybe mine.

[lougle]

Being up at stupid o'clock can fulfill HRC criteria, even if the child sleeps through in one block until then.

Night time is defined as when the household shuts down until the household awakes. Nominally, this is 11pm until 7am, but it will vary for each household. If the claimant is awake in that time period and needs care and attention or supervision for a prolonged period, it doesn't matter if the carer can actually return to sleep afterwards, or if the claimant returns to sleep afterwards.

The example given in the decision makers' guide for adults is that of a farmer who has always arisen at 4am to milk the cows. He is now reliant on carers and requires supervision whilst awake. Although 4 am is his normal waking time, it is reasonable that the carers wouldn't expect to arise before 7 am, so he is deemed to be up for 3 hours in one block at night, which awards him HRC.


DD1 is erratic in her sleep. She has periods of sleeping through until the early hours and then waking, or being disturbed for much of the night. Regardless, she is up by 5 am each morning. if she wasn't, we wouldn't get up until 7 am, so she's up for 2 hours (at least) each night and gets HRC.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

DD is helpful in this respect and gets up most mornings at 130am