Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

Original poster

Disability Living Allowance.

149 replies

belledechocchipcookie · 13/05/2011 12:11

My 12 year old can not walk more then a few yards before either falling over or needing to stop because he's in pain. He finds walking up stairs painful, he finds PE a nightmare because it's so painful and he can't fasten/undo buttons because his fingers become painful so he has to have help so that he can go to the toilet. According to the DWP he's not entitled to DLA because he can actually walk. AIBU to be pissed off with them for this? How disabled does a child have to be to get this??

OP posts:

MintyMoo · 13/05/2011 12:14

I know someone who was denied DLA mobility component. Apparently there was 'no evidence' she had mobility needs.

She is a wheelchair user.

In theory they're supposed to factor in how long someone can walk before needing to rest, how much pain etc but I think in reality this often doesn't happen.

Are you going to appeal?

Punkatheart · 13/05/2011 12:16

I am mad on your behalf. I would appeal. Can you get a sympathetic doctor on board? I do know that sometimes people go to the press to shame the DWP - but clearly this is a very radical step. But writing to an MP is not. Bloody hell, how much more callous does this society have to become?

QuackQuackBoing · 13/05/2011 12:17

That's ridiculous. When a relation of mine was ill they got turned down for it so I wrote a letter, a woman then called me (as my relation named me as being able to speak for them) and went through all the info and was asking how far they could walk etc.

It sounds like your poor child should be entitled to something! Can I ask what condition he has? It must be so hard for him.

Punkatheart · 13/05/2011 12:17

...also, if you ever need help with the appeal letter - I would be only to happy to look it over. I don't have many talents but writing letters that get results is one of them....

DeWe · 13/05/2011 12:17

I think if he has to have help with the toilet he should be entitled because he needs help with "personal care", which is what dd2 gets hers for. The walking should be irrelevent to him getting it, although it might effect his level, because it's not mobility allowance surely?

silverfrog · 13/05/2011 12:18

didi you use the cerebra guides?

the criteria for walking are on a sliding scale, and it does depend on how toy answered the question on the nightmare bloody form (sorry if teaching granny to suck eggs here)

there are some real experts on filling in DLA forms over on the SN boards - you could try asking for help there.

sometimes just asking for your claim to be reconsidered can get it adjusted.

Original poster

belledechocchipcookie · 13/05/2011 12:18

It's pathetic. He can literally only walk a few yards before he falls over or needs to stop to rest. He's fallen into the road numerous times so I have to hold his hand to stabilise him. How many 12 year olds have to hold their mother's hand?

The whole bloody process puts people off applying. I've no idea where to start appeal wise.

OP posts:

sunshineandbooks · 13/05/2011 12:19

So sorry to hear about your poor DS. What condition does he have?

It's worth appealing the decision. One of my relatives just got taken off IB because she was apparently perfectly ok, but I appealed it and not only got the IB reinstated but also got her awarded middle-rate DLA (she's severely autistic and can't live independently without significant assistance from one of my other aunts). This is not unusual - it seems to be fairly common practice to reject all but the most severe applications but to approve quite a lot of them on appeal.

I've helped a few people successfully appeal against rejections for DLA, so if you want to PM me with some more details, I'll happily help you try to overturn this decision. It also helps enormously to have a supporting letter from your Dr or another health professional, and even from the school in your case.

Thinking of you.

silverfrog · 13/05/2011 12:20

oh, DeWe makes a good point - is this mobility or care element?

he should certainy be getting care element on what you have posted -the rule of thumb is supposed ot be "do they need more help and care than their peers", which is the case here.

LadyThumb · 13/05/2011 12:21

Do NOT 'appeal' - it takes months. Ask for a 'reconsideration of the decision' - much quicker.

valiumredhead · 13/05/2011 12:21

Apparently it's NOT to do with how far you can walk etc but how much PERSONAL care you need from someone else. Or that is what I was told when I was turned down.

There is a knack to filling in the forms and I suspect you have to get the wording just right.

Original poster

belledechocchipcookie · 13/05/2011 12:21

He's hypermobile and his joints are too lose. I watch him when he's walking and after a few minutes his feet start to flop. I've not heard of the cerebra guidelines. I said on the form that he couldn't undo buttons so needed help undressing/dressing. Apparantly this doesn't take an hour a day so he's not entitled

OP posts:

silverfrog · 13/05/2011 12:22

valium: depends on whether it is mobility or care DLA being applied for.

silverfrog · 13/05/2011 12:24

belle - I have ot go (school run) so have to be brief/

google the cerebra DLA guides - they take you through it step by step, inc ideas on wording etc.

it is all about how you word it.

do please ask on the SN board - there are lot sof people over there who have fille din these forms multiple times, and are experts on the wording of it all.

eg you need ot set out how long it take syou to help your ds with dressing/undressing

Original poster

belledechocchipcookie · 13/05/2011 12:24

He needs the mobility. He gets so tired and is in so much pain that he can't walk home, I need to pay for taxi's for him as I can't drive. I also have to take him to school because he falls into the road. He doesn't play outside.

OP posts:

valiumredhead · 13/05/2011 12:25

I thought you can only get mobility if you are in receipt of disability?

Original poster

belledechocchipcookie · 13/05/2011 12:26

That's what I thought. I filled it in and detailed everything, how he needs help getting dressed/undressed, struggles with handwriting etc.

OP posts:

QuackQuackBoing · 13/05/2011 12:27

Well it could take an hour a day when you consider dressing, undressing, several toilet stops, changing at swimming etc, having a bath (I'm assuming he needs a bit of help getting in and out). It all sounds more then an hours care to me.

PrincessScrumpy · 13/05/2011 12:28

There is a special way of filling in the forms - a friend of mine gets a very high amount as her son is deaf in one ear which means that at 2.5 he isn't speaking yet. IMO she is entitled to it but she was shocked to get the highest amount. Her mum works in this area though so basically wrote it for her.

Another friend of mine had dd aged 9 with ME, she could only manage 2 hours of school 3 times a week and had serious anxiety issues (which are often linked in children). She had to give up work completely to care for her dd but wasn't entitled to anything as dd could walk with regular rests every few metres. She had a wheelchair to use (given by hospital consultant).

I would get advice and appeal it. Good luck x

slightlymad72 · 13/05/2011 12:32

There is a knack to filling in the forms, there is no such thing as a good day, they are either bad or better days, you must repeat, repeat repeat, you must analyse in minute detail what your son does that is different to 'able' bodied, if you wasn't assisting him how long would it take to tie laces, button clothes etc. Imagine him living his life without you there, from the moment he wakes up to when he goes to sleep, also if he needs care during the night imagine if you wasn't there. Note down everything he does that takes longer, everything he can't do, whether he could cause himself injury, do things have to be in a certain place to make sure he can negotiate things.

The list can go on.

Original poster

belledechocchipcookie · 13/05/2011 12:33

Thank you for all of your replies. It seems very unfair. Yes, he can walk and I'm so grateful for that but if he's in pain and falling over then he needs more support then a 'normal' 12 year old. It's very embarassing for him to have to hold mum's hand, it's dangerous if he doesn't.

OP posts:

Original poster

belledechocchipcookie · 13/05/2011 12:34

Is it worthwhile filling another form in or calling them?

OP posts:

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 13/05/2011 12:36

we were told by consultant that most people are getting turned down initially for DLA at the moment but if you appeal you will usually get it, if you have a case....annoying though.

Original poster

belledechocchipcookie · 13/05/2011 12:37

It seems rediculous to put families through the stress of appealing.

OP posts:

valiumredhead · 13/05/2011 12:38

See, this REALLY annoys me. It's quite common for people to say that it took 2 or 3 attempts at applying before it being granted. If you are entitled to it you should get it! There shouldn't be some 'magic' way of filling out the forms. GRRRRRRRRR!

Good luck OP hope you do get it, your poor lad obviously needs extra support.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

Swipe left for the next trending thread