DLA - they want original birth certificate

[Balloonflyer]

We applied for DLA for our adopted son six months ago. No decision yet. Today we have had a letter asking us to send in his original birth certificate.

I am not sure why they're asking us to do this. Does anyone know? If it's part of the normal application process they would have asked for it to be sent with the original application I would have thought. Do they already know he's adopted?

To keep him safe our son had a complete name change at adoption. I really don't want to send a birth certificate with his original name on it to the DWP as then it will be on his DWP record forever and I don't completely trust them to be able to keep this information safe.

Does anyone have any thoughts/advice about this?

Could you send them the note for parents doc https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fmedia%2F5cd56058e5274a3fda50df22%2FNote_for_parents_Mar_2019__4_.pdf&psig=AOvVaw3CGW7Y_LzcXXkx57xTWfHy&ust=1715244564945000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CAcQrpoMahcKEwi4rLqJ1v2FAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQBA

or find another governmental website or document which states that the adoption certificate replaces the birth certicate for all legal puposes and send that to them together with the adoption certificate? They should have to accept that.

I would phone them first and ask why they want it. I never sent my son’s when I applied for his.

If you dont get a satisfactory answer ask to speak to a manager to discuss your concerns

They don't mean original birth cert like that. They mean original as in not a photocopy- you send in the adoption cert.

So you're reading it as ORIGINAL (as in first family) birth cert. They mean it as in "we need to see the document that functions as a birth cert for ID purposes, and we don't want a photocopy".

To most families who gave birth to their kids, those are one and the same. But for adoptees, it's the adoption cert. They just want to see the kid's name, dob and your name on one official piece of paper.

Thank you both! Yes that makes sense about not sending.a photocopy . And thanks so much for the link to the note for parents . I will include it with the certificate.

Ted , I am not sure about phoning as I like to have written evidence, but I might give it a go! Did they ask you to send your son's birth certificate?
However, the letter is sent by someone who is a "tracing officer" so that makes me feel a bit suspicious.

I have never sent a birth certificate for any of my adopted children. Surely an adoption certificate is more up to date than a birth certificate. I am certain I have had only 2 birth certificates for all of mine. Good luck 🤞

Thanks mumof2many! Very reassuring