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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

DLA

84 replies

strawberrryfiieldsforever · 13/04/2021 19:03

Not an AIBU - just looking for quick answers! Wink

I submitted a claim for DLA for my child in a February but I have not had a letter confirming the outcome yet.

I've just found a payment for £358.20 from DLA in my account made today.

The weekly rates for children are:

Lowest £23.70
Middle £60.00
Higher £89.60

£89.60 x 4 weeks = £358.40

So that means if he has been awarded the higher rate it's 20p short. Not that I'm at all bothered by 20p, I'm just trying to work out whether he has got the higher rate, or the lowest/middle rate with a back payment? And the amount is a coincidence?!

Anyone shed any light?

Thanks!

OP posts:
Original poster
strawberrryfiieldsforever · 13/04/2021 19:27

Thank you so much everyone you've given me a few thoughts about what it could be.

I will definitely look into carers allowance, and wait for the letter to confirm what's what!

OP posts:
Hazelnutlatteplease · 13/04/2021 19:31

What I mean is something like diabetes might get a care award without a Mobility award. But if its something like autism its unusual for a middle rate care to not
necessitate a lower rate Mobility

Mumofsend · 13/04/2021 19:33

@Hazelnutlatteplease you still can't get low mobility at 3 regardless of needs.

Also, its not a given to get mobility with middle care regardless of needs and I wouldn't class it as unusual to only get middle.

Original poster
strawberrryfiieldsforever · 13/04/2021 19:37

It is autism. She has quite a high level of care above a typical child that age.

Does need extra caution near roads and that kind of thing but no physical mobility problems.

I too was under the impression the low mobility component would only be considered for over 5.

OP posts:
x2boys · 13/04/2021 19:41

Yes ,you can only get the low rate mobility from five ,you can get high rate mobility from three ,but it would have to be under the virtually unable to walk criteria or severe mental impairment,which would be hard at three to get .

JADS · 13/04/2021 19:44

Does she sleep well at night? The only people I know who get higher care rate are children who wake frequently. I get middle rate care plus low mobility rate for ds 10. No mobility issues, but isn't brilliant around roads and needs constant attention. We get £333.20 every 4 weeks.

Original poster
strawberrryfiieldsforever · 13/04/2021 19:50

I did mention in the form that she needs several nappy changes during the night otherwise soaks through to the mattress, and half way through the night requires a parent to get in bed with her or her move to our bed.

OP posts:
oblada · 13/04/2021 19:58

it would be back paid from the date they received your claim so sounds like middle rate. Also the rates changed slightly in April.
DLA isn't easily awarded - my claim was initially rejected when my child has the equivalent of a tracheostomy though slightly less invasive... when challenged I got the middle rate which is fine by me. I'd expect if you got the higher rate you would know already to expect it to be honest.
Oh and my letter came a week or so after the payment, though I did get a phone call prior to that to discuss the case and he agreed middle rate then. So I knew what to expect.

Happycat1212 · 13/04/2021 19:58

Mrc covers night time needs as well HRC is for substantial night time needs.

oblada · 13/04/2021 20:02

Middle rate is significant additional care day OR night. Higher rate is significant additional care day AND night.
We got the middle rate due to needs during the day. During the night she is not wildly different to a normal baby.

conkersarebonkers · 13/04/2021 20:06

It sounds like the backdated amount for MRC.

If your child does need substantial care day and night, and you have been awarded MRC, then it's worth doing a mandatory reconsideration to have it bumped up to HRC. My child was awarded MRC initially, but ended up on HRC and LRM after the mandatory reconsideration.

Just make sure you are very clear about the help that is needed and how it differs from a typical child of that age. The Cerebra guide is very helpful. cerebra.org.uk/download/disability-living-allowance-dla-guide/

Babyroobs · 13/04/2021 20:10

@ihavethehighground

Don't forget to apply for carers allowance !
Not everyone will qualify for carers allowance. there are criteria and earnings threshold.
Original poster
strawberrryfiieldsforever · 13/04/2021 20:17

Thanks again everyone!

I'm not really debating whether it should be higher or middle. I did expect middle, that's why it took me by surprise to find almost the correct amount for higher minus 20p!

I can't go back to work at the moment as her meltdowns and anxiety about every day things are just too much for me to expect anymore of her. So the extra money will really help as we only have one income plus child benefit.

She just about tolerates 3 hours school nursery a day and is actually doing very well all things considered. However, refusal for toileting assistance/nappy changes, poor eating and general tolerance for being there means it just isn't possible at the moment to expect her to cope with a childminder or wraparound care on top. That was my main reason for making a claim just to make finances a little easier while I'm providing care for her.

OP posts:
x2boys · 13/04/2021 20:29

Do you get tax credits? Because if you do these will be positively affected ,and even if you don't you might find you now qualify because of the DLA ,sorry not sure about universal credit .

Original poster
strawberrryfiieldsforever · 13/04/2021 20:30

No, no tax credits

OP posts:
oblada · 13/04/2021 20:33

If you're not working make sure you claim Carer's allowance. You will qualify with her getting middle rate. No earning limits in terms of your partner.

Dominickthedonkey · 13/04/2021 20:40

My DC was awarded high rate care and middle rate mobility 2 months after he turned 3. His condition was diagnosed at birth but he wasn’t eligible for DLA until he turned 3 as it was deemed his needs were not any different to any other child before the age of 3.
If you get child tax credits you are entitled to an extra £50 a week, pretty much the same with Universal Credit. As pp said apply for carers, strange you haven’t had a letter inviting you to apply, I did when I applied for DC’ DLA but I’m going back over 10 years, both were backdated to the date he turned 3.
Do not feel you ever have to justify to anybody why you haven’t gone back to work. It’s not their business and make sure you look after your own mental health, I wish somebody had said both of those things to me 15 years ago.

LakieLady · 13/04/2021 20:42

@x2boys

Do you get tax credits? Because if you do these will be positively affected ,and even if you don't you might find you now qualify because of the DLA ,sorry not sure about universal credit .
There's a disabled child element and a carer element under UC.

Given what you said about needing care in the night, OP, I'd say higher rate care would be the correct award.

All will be clear when you get the award letter, and I suspect it's some sort of oddity when they pro-rata'd the payment. Plus the rate has only just gone up to £89.60, it was £89.15 before 12 April, so most of that will be at the old rate.

x2boys · 13/04/2021 20:43

@Dominickthedonkey

My DC was awarded high rate care and middle rate mobility 2 months after he turned 3. His condition was diagnosed at birth but he wasn’t eligible for DLA until he turned 3 as it was deemed his needs were not any different to any other child before the age of 3. If you get child tax credits you are entitled to an extra £50 a week, pretty much the same with Universal Credit. As pp said apply for carers, strange you haven’t had a letter inviting you to apply, I did when I applied for DC’ DLA but I’m going back over 10 years, both were backdated to the date he turned 3. Do not feel you ever have to justify to anybody why you haven’t gone back to work. It’s not their business and make sure you look after your own mental health, I wish somebody had said both of those things to me 15 years ago.
There are only two rates of mobility ,low and high so your son must have received high rate mobility from three.
LakieLady · 13/04/2021 20:44

Meant to add that if you were only a couple of hundred above the threshold for UC, it's worth checking your eligibility, as the additions will raise the threshold.

Original poster
strawberrryfiieldsforever · 13/04/2021 20:47

Thanks so much for kind replies, so helpful and reassuring to hear from people who know their stuff!

OP posts:
GinAndTonicOnIt · 13/04/2021 20:48

Don't forget if there are 5 weeks in the month you would get 5 x the amount. My DC is on middle rate and it sounds like a similar number. However, you will also be due back payment x

x2boys · 13/04/2021 20:49

Regarding the high rate care it can be subjective and I am of the opinion it depends on whose desk your claim lands on ,my son got middle rate at three despite waking up most nights for several hours but it was awarded untill he was 16 so didn't challenge it ,I eventually did a change of circumstances at nine due to increased needs and after taking it all the way to tribunal he now gets high rate care and high rate mobility.

GinAndTonicOnIt · 13/04/2021 20:49

The nappies would instantly put you into middle rate. The night time stuff to me sounds like you could be eligible for the higher rate, but borderline. You should get a letter very soon to let you know

Mumofsend · 13/04/2021 20:50

@GinAndTonicOnIt the nappies really wouldn't, loads and loads of typical children are still in nappies at 3.

The night needs don't sound overly substantial for the age either.