The dreaded DLA forms again! Is there such a thing as too long and thick???? (fnarr!)

[coppertop]

It's DLA form time for ds2 and I'm finding that it takes a lot of words to explain just how different he is to an NT 2yr-old. I've typed the extra sheets so that I use less space but I still seem to have lots of extra attachments to put in with Section 2. I also have quite a few medical reports and IDP targets to photocopy and attach. I'm worried that it's going to be so long that no-one at the DLA office will bother to read it and will just turn us down anyway.

So, at the risk of smutty responses, is there such a thing as being too long and thick or is it a case of the more the better?

[Chocol8]

Hi Coppertop - love the title!!!! I remember when I first wrote a thread on here about DLA - someone in the know said that the staff who "read" the forms only spend 7 minutes per form...with that in mind, I would perhaps do the most important bits with red ink (not that it isn't ALL important) or highlight it in some way to draw their eye to it? I dunno, just an idea, but very scarey to think after all that hard work, they spend soooo little time looking at it!

Personally, I'd ALWAYS go for thick and long.... x

[Davros]

A friend, who was a bit of a groupie in her day, once told me that Elvis Costello was Long and Thin I had asked what he was like and this was the response!
Sorry, bit of topic there...
Send it all in, then when/if you appeal its all there and someone has to spend some time on it.

[Fran1]

no the longer the thicker the better!

[coppertop]

I should've known there would be smut involved. I shall never think of Elvis Costello in quite the same way again either.

It was easier with ds1's application as he was older and therefore there was a clearer gap between him and other children of his age. With ds2 it's not enough to just put that he has huge tantrums as anyone reading it will say that nearly all 2yr-olds have tantrums. I need the extra words to show just how his tantrums/meltdowns are different. Maybe they'll just see the size of it (ooer) and think "I can't be @rsed to read all this. I'll just give them higher rate DLA."

[Chocol8]

...and then you woke up eh Coppertop?!!!

No, i'm sure this cunning plan will work...really!

[coppertop]

Darn! It was worth a try.....

[KarenThirl]

I've just sent in my first claim for J and got lots of good advice from a mum whose children claim for ME. She suggested bullet-pointing each section with Difficulties and Extra Care Needed, plus highlighting key words in the more descriptive paragraph(s) below. I have to admit the finished document did look easy to read, and the detailed information was there if they felt the need to investigate further.

Also, I didn't write anything on the form itself other than times/frequencies. The actual details were on a separate Word document with the same headings on each section as were on the form and cross referenced. I gave a covering letter as well explaining how and why I'd presented it that way.

Now I just have to wait and see if it did any good...

[coppertop]

The highlighting option sounds good too. I've started writing on the form itself but the boxes are so tiny that I've hardly been able to fit anything in.

[KarenThirl]

CT, you could download another copy and start again. My feeling is that if it's untidy it makes it harder to read and they'll lose interest quicker, and that goes for 'continuing on another sheet'. If there are loads of itty-bitty attachments it becomes messy and nobody's going to get through that in seven minutes or whatever. If it's on one document, however long, it will make it easier for the assessors to work through.