claiming DLA for dietary issues?

[bethylou]

I've posted in SEN too, but just wondering if any of you have experience of claiming DLA for dietary issues. I've posted before about ds1's dietary stuff. Today we finally heard that his endoscopy and colonoscopy were both clear so he does not gave Coeliac disease or anything else specific. He just can't tolerate dairy or gluten. It had made him anaemic, lethargic, given him tummy pains etc..

The additional things we do are around visits to our regional children's hospital, making and buying foods that he can eat etc.. Personally, I'm used to recommending DLA to families of children with disabilities but the health visitor wants me to claim it. I'm just not sure we'd qualify and it's a massive form to fill in if we're likely to get turned down.

the technical criteria is 'needs more care/supervision than a another child the same age' (or somethng)

I don't claim DLA. but I do know that planning, shopping, cooking and sorting out dd1's dietary issues (gut issues due ot ASD. can't have dairy, gluten, anythig artificial - colours, flavourings, presevatives etc) takes as much time and energy as sorting out her statement has, or her behavioural issues etc.

the impact on the family is huge - even when we can work up to a day out/holiday (and to be fair, we do ok with these sort of things) the extra impact on planning - where to eat, if we can, taking stuff with us, what could that be etc is huge. really not to be underestimated.

and then, even when you are on an even keel, and up to speed with spending a couple of hours each day doing basic bakery/cooking and shopping, some bugger of a shop discontinues the one thign you need, and it take several hours of research to find somewhere else you can buy it, or a substitute product. it still rules my life, more than her ASD does, now that her school etc is sorted.

all that said, I don't know whether you'd get DLA if you claimed. as it entirely depends on the person reading the form, and whether they think that your reasons for why your child's needs take up so much time/effort are actually valid. and if they don't have an ounce of compassion or imagination, then you are stuffed, tbh.

Thanks all. I teach children with complex needs and have provided respite in our own home so I do know how low down the list we'd be for claiming DLA. However, having been told to do so by the hv that she will support us, and having access to a friend who supports families in filling the forms in well, I'be decided I'm going to have a go. I will let you know the outcome in case it helps some of you to make the same decision. I should add that ds does also still have issues with reflux as part of all this so we have pencilled in a lot about food and eating. Even when I make him lovely things he can eat, he either refuses due to pain or sometimes throws up after! Still barely worth mentioning in comparison to what many of you are dealing with I know.

I get HRC DLA for my 6yo DS who has severe eczema, multiple food and contact allergies (he has had several anaphylactic episodes) and mild asthama. The claim was rejected twice, but accepted when I appealled (without going to Tribunal).

High rate care well warrnted in our case. He takes a lot of looking after and as a result I can't work.

Hope this helps.

Good Luck!

Fgs go and get what your entitled to. What has having enough money or working as a cm got to do with it. You do know millionaires are claiming.

LRC here for DD allergies but I think only because she needs to irrigate her bowel to have a movement - due to severe constipation caused by food allergies.

The DLA guidelines says by age 12 allergies should be managed by the child and DLA isn't generally awarded.

14 anaphylactic food allergies (including dairy which is in bloody everything), severe eczema / skin infections, asthma, reflux, frequent night wakes

Contact and airborne reactive to several foods so initially couldn't have in childcare (Thankfully did manage to find a provider after getting turned down by several)

DLA declined

When we asked the NHS allergist for a letter of support she seemed shocked and said she couldn't write one for allergies

I do believe there should be some sort of government stipend like they have for people with Coeliac's, as we pay so much more for oat milk, vegan butter, 'free from' snacks, etc.