Disability Allowance for excema

[keresley]

Just wanted to tell all mums whose babies have excema about DLA. I applied for it for my son who has bad excema. I had to fill in a long form and my GP had to also write a report. I thought that I may get the lowest level if we were lucky. To my utter surprise, I recieved a letter to say that I had been given DLA and I have been awarded the highest amount (£60 per week) and they backdated this to the day I sent the application form in. I really would urge other mums in the same situation to apply for this. We now can buy all my ds specialist creams, clothes and equipment ( air conditioners, humidifiers, water softners etc) without worrying about the financial implications.

Shell - I would go back to your GP and ask to see the report s/he wrote about your child - you have the right to do this and the GP can't refuse though it may take some time. It is possible that your GP didn't fully understand the amount of time it takes out of your day to carry out the extra care requirements.

I would also visit the CAB when you can to try and find out if there is someone there who could help you with your form filling. I've no experience in applying for help with children but I have worked with many older people applying for support - the benefits agency always seem to underestimate the amount of care you give and it has to be spelled out for them. Even then they often don't make what I would perceive to be the 'right' decision. However the CAB have plenty of experience in getting the most out of these agencies so they're worth trying.

I am in the process of applying for DLA for my youngest son, but to be honest, feel a bit of a fraud. DS has eczema, multiple food allergies and a heart condition. Heart wise, he is as stable as he can get, but that doesn't stop me from monitoring him all day, checking his colour, resps, capillarty refil time ect. There is also the fact that he can't really be left to play on his own at any time incase he falls and cuts his mouth, tongue or gums (endocarditis risk.....the 2 times I have left him unsupervisd in the last few weeks, he bumped and cut or bit his mouth both times

Ds's food allergies are a pain in the bum. Dairy & eggs give him immediate hives, wheat & soya are delayed gastric reactions, bloating, cramping, mucousy diarrhoea, horrendous nappy rash and eczema flare ups. He now takes a med called nalcrom before each meal to help dampen down his reactions.

His eczema, well, he has a few weeks here or there where he seems to be completely free, but his skin isn't keen on the heat and doesn't get on with the central heating and with ds feeling the cold due to his heart/bad circulation, it isn't off for more than a few months. Thankfully, his skin is easily controlled most of the time and doesn't have to be wet wrapped more than a few times a year.

What we have the most problems with is eating. DS has real issues with food, doesn't like the texture of many things, doesn't like having his hands dirty and getting him to eat can be a real stuggle.

After speaking with a lady at the heart federation, who used to work for DLA, she said the best way to fill the form in was to imagine the worst day or night that you have had with your child and fill it in with that in mind. it is hard to think in such nagative terms.

In my case, I am going to get a HV to fill in the back of the form, or maybe the dietician. The HV is not ds's HV, but one for Sure Start and we have alot of contact with her.

I don't really know what to expect from claiming, although the contact at the heart federation is 99% sure we will get an award. I suppose I do alot more than I think I do, it just all comes so natural now it doesn't seem like I do anymore than others.

heartmum2-jamie

I fully understand the problem with trying to feed a child who has allergies. My daughter makes me eat the food first before she will.

As for DLA, I say go for it if you feel you provide much more care to your child than that of similar age. If you have more than one child mention in your claim that you understand the amount of care a child needs at this age as you have previous experience with your other child.

The advice about putting the worse down is right, there is no room for postive comments however little the may be. You may feel depressed when filling the form in as it seems your child only has negative points, thats normal, it took me over a week to fill the form in as I felt so sorry for my daughter.

At first I felt guilty about claiming, but when I am up 3-4 times a night for at least an hour a time trying to stop my daughter from scratching her skin so much it bleeds, or after playing for 10 minutes in the garden and becoming wheezy and breathless I think that the claim is for my daughter and I will do anything to make her life happier. Th money from the DLA goes towards allergy bedding, new clothes that are ruined from blood stains and grease marks from creams or buying free from foods, that cost alot more than normal food but get wasted as she is only a toddler and doesn't eat large amounts.

Make sure you have all the evidence you can get from gp, consultants,speacialist nurse, HV etc.

Good luck!!!!

disability allowance for excema? WOW! would help so much. lone young parent and struggling, any money towards terrible excema would be amazing! tried everything (at their high prices) where can i get the forms?

08457123456 ask for child forms.

Mum20, good luck if you decide to apply. I can honestly say, that aside from all of ds's medical stuff, it is one of the most stressful things I have ever done. Like Shell78's post further down, we got turned down inititally. My ds has a heart condition, eczema & multiple food allergies. We went straight for an oral hearing, which was incredibly nerve wracking and despite me telling them about the amount of care I give to ds (significantly more than an hour....cooking and encouraging him to eat takes at least an hour a day), including getting up at night, they still decided that ds was only entitled to low rate care.....and only really because of his food allergies . As it was a tribunal decision, we can not appeal again unless on grounds of an unlawful trial. I am not complaing too much as £16.50 a week is better than a kick in the teeth, but the difference between low rate and mid/high rate care & carers allowance (if entitled) is HUGE.

I am not telling you this to put you off, but to make you aware that you may be in this for the LONG haul. Be prepared for a fight and if it doesn't come to that...it's a bonus