DLA APPEAL- autism- Via papers Birmingham HELP

[Chocolate2015]

My Child has Autism, Speech delay (Speech Disorder), sensory issues, fine motor skills delay, Global Development Delay and everything else that comes with Autism including severe behavioral problems, My little one is seen by SALT, OT, Pead, Specialist Health Visitor, Physiologist and Early Years support.
He is 4 going to School in September.

I provided loads of evidence from Peadatrition, supporting statement from specialist Health Visitor, letters from OT and Speech and language etc.

DLA's response finally at Reconsideration my Child is entitled only to lower DLA rate, So plucked up the courage to appeal as feel my Child is entitled to middle rate due to the amount of support he requires.

DLA had the cheek to send in the DLA papers to appeals saying my Child only has Autism and delayed speech and language, Err no my Child has the list of above of issues and people supporting him, They also implied I am lying about my Child is in pants, Really? I think If he was in nappies I would have stated he was in nappies, and perhaps if they had read HV supporting statement it clearly states he has accidents as he is not in nappies no more.

I have spent last night and some of this morning putting a pack to send to the Tribunal services of all the mistakes in the appeals forms as it had various inaccuracies throughout the form.

I just wondered did anyone have any success with appeals through papers and how long they had to wait, Any advice would be gratefully received.

[AndNowItsSeven]

Did you use the cereba guide?
Actual dx and number of professionals working with your ds is irrelevant. Did you full in the form to show how much help your ds needs above that if an average four year old? That is what you need to show at tribunal. I suggest you keep a daily diary of his care needs.

[Chocolate2015]

Hi, Yes used the Cereba guide and provided 12 pages of extra care needs my child requires plus extra information from other professionals.

[AndNowItsSeven]

That's really strange than. Only thing I can think is that they wrote to your ds nursery who said he had no issues there. That can happen often with nurseries/schools.
I would ask the for the decision makers notes. also request copies of the evidence they used. Ie a letter they may have requested from nursery a GP report etc.
Hope your appeal goes well.

[Chocolate2015]

Thank you for your advice, I have broken everything down into sections with page dividers with different information from each professional and put reference pages to statements from professionals that back my claims i have wrote from the Cerbea sit which I am sending in today to make it easy for them to read in response to DLA's quotes.

[bitbap18]

That's really odd! I didn't send any medical proof at all, my daughters issues are not as severe as your sons sound, and we got do a middle care and low mobility until she is 16 (was 6 when awarded).

Have a look at fightback4justice website. They have had great success appealing DLA and PIP decisions. They have lots of advice on their website and are able to talk to you on the phone, and depending on where you live, they can advocate on your behalf at tribunal etc.

Don't be afraid to take it to tribunal, it's clear someone's messed up, and someone separate has to review it all before it reaches actual tribunal. Good luck!

[Chocolate2015]

Thank you so much for your advice, I will have a look on the Website you have suggested, I have just sent mine off to the Tribunal office in Birmingham, I decided last min to take pic's and add them as evidence of his visual time tables around the house, pecs book, TEACCH book, Safe place/quiet area, A Picture of his bed frame has been repeatedly broken from my little constantly jumping on it (even though we have purchased a trampoline) to try and stop him from breaking all our furniture.
Highlighted areas and added page references to my quotes about his behaviour and extra support he requires due to his disability from other professionals, I'm really hoping I have now done enough to convince the Tribunal Service of the extra needs my Child has.

[bitbap18]

Keep us posted!