DLA

[DontYouLeaveMe]

I’m really not sure if I’m being unreasonable here so coming straight to the viper pit 😁
I've recently applied for DLA for my son. I say recently, 12 weeks ago. It’s taken 12 weeks and I finally got a response today saying my family don’t meet the criteria, and I’m so disappointed. DS has ADHD, global developmental delay, dyspraxia, and a sensory processing disorder. We are waiting for genetic testing for a muscle disorder and for a referral for an autism assessment.

DS is lovely, but he needs help with most aspects of daily life. He can’t dress himself, needs help with food as he can’t cut up meals and struggles with scooping. He can’t read or write, struggles to sit still in school and has daily extra help with the SENCO and headmaster. He does OT twice a week and has regular doctor, paediatrician etc meetings. I’ve had to go part time because I couldn’t keep taking time off work to deal with everything. I know that they don’t consider my financial situation when making a decision, but I really could have done with the extra support to pay for petrol, equipment etc. But they’ve turned me down. Is it worth appealing? Will they change their minds considering nothing about my situation has changed?
YABU- you don’t automatically get money, suck it up
YANBU- keep pushing, fight for the money

Keep pushing 💚

Keep pushing. Please get assistance in reading through your claim and write how he is on his very worst day.

Fight for it. They refuse DLA/ PIP claims all the time because less people have the energy to appeal. Sorry you were refused, the system stinks

Put in a mandatory reconsideration I am surprised that they refused.
they refused a family member who has epilepsy and is incontinent and sick after/during a seizure (his seizures are not controlled with medication) because when he’s not had a seizure he is able to do change/wash independently. However they failed to realise he can be in a postictal state for anything up to 12 hours and basically expected him to be left in his on faeces and vomit!
the mandatory reconsideration was accepted and he got awarded full rate!
good luck 🍀

Sounds very similar to my son, I first applied when he was 3 and got rejected due to his problems being age related and nothing else. Do you have a benefits advisory, maybe even ask citizens advice; they have people who can fill out these form/ you appeal on your behalf and use better grammar for want of a better word. Definitely appeal and definitely ask for someone to write it on your behalf.
I am going to re-apply this year (next month) once he’s turned five and been advised by a friend who gets DLA for her son to do it this way x

Keep pushing, and see if you can get someone from Scope to come and help with the form. They think of things you might not even realise you do, and have lots of experience in phrasing things in a way that easily helps the assessor tick "yes" boxes.

Less emphasis on school stuff and more on personal care will help you - DLA is focused on functioning in life, not in education. Same with physio etc...just saying he has physio isn't as effective as "he is unable to x, y, z and therefore weekly physio sessions are required; despite these, he still cannot a, b, c."

Who completed the form and what written evidence do you have? Definitely request a reconsideration.

Does he have an EHCP? Did you get written evidence from school and hospital about his needs? Definitely push and when writing his daily needs write it as a bad day, don't sugar coat it, it's hard but be pragmatic and maybe write bullet points about what he can't do and what he needs help with. List things that might seem obvious to you but if it's something he can't do/ needs help with that most other children his age can do then it needs to be explained.

@Antihistamine62 thats awful! How disgusting that they’ve treated him like that!

@colouringfoxes thats insane! Why does everything have to be a fight?

I'd call up and ask for an MR and keep fighting.

The education help is just as important as the home life. DWP often use that as an excuse to refuse if there’s not enough in about the school day.

He should definitely get DLA. You need to ask an organisation like Mencap or Sendiass to help you.
I am assuming you put all evidence from drs and other HCPs in with your application?
Also you also be eligible for Carers Allowance - but that may be after you qualify for DLA

I'm waiting for a decision but I'm planning to go to MR.

If you didn’t look at it when completing the form look at the Cerebra guide.

I know children with far less complex needs who get it. Did you provide a lot of information and evidence? Sounds like an error from them. I would appeal 100%

How old is he? It really does sound like he's entitled to it. But it's all about how you fill in the form I'm afraid. Take a look at the cerebra guide and ask for reconsideration.

They make it very difficult.

Ok thanks, I’ve heard of sendiass so I’ll try them or scope tomorrow. I wrote it myself, I didn’t realise I was supposed to get help. I didn’t include anything from the doctor or paediatrician, I assumed the list of diagnoses and treatments would speak for themselves. I included my sons SEN report would be enough. I think I’ve been a bit silly here 😞

I haven't been awarded mine yet but I had reports from about 5 professionals working with my son printed out. I think you have to send everything. What a pain for you now ☹️

Yes to the cereba guide and including evidence - so any ehcp or constant letters or prescriptions.

Yes do a Mr.. Ask for reasons why turned down.. challenge them. The cerebra guude is really helpful for wording.

You’ve not been silly at all but definitely don’t assume the assessor will work it out from a list of diagnoses. From years of experience of both DLA and PIP, definitely ask for mandatory reconsideration first and then appeal.

As everyone else has said you really have to spell it out for them. So an example would be something like ‘he is unable to feed himself or cut up food due to the fact he has no control of movement in his hands as a result of (name of condition). This means he always, at every meal time, requires another person to enable him to eat. This assistance takes x mins each time’

In my experience repetition is your friend. Just because you’ve said something at Q7 say, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t repeat it at Q11. Work on the assumption you’re explaining to an idiot (no offence intended to the assessors I just mean make it as clear and simple as possible). Make it really clear how the various conditions impact on your son and how they mean he needs considerably more help than an ‘average’ child his age, even if this means it feels like you’re constantly stating the obvious.

It can be hard to focus on the worst days but that is what you need to do as others have said. Good luck.

Hi DLA is about the extra care your child needs above and beyond the average child their age so whilst diagnoses can help you need to prove what extra care your child needs
Evidence from professionals help a lot this includes reports,EHCP,s Evidence professionals are involved such as paediatrician, portage senco etc etc

Ok thanks everyone. I’ll get my arse in gear tomorrow and write every single Thing down

Not sending evidence is a mistake. DLA is based on needs rather than diagnosis so it’s important to explain and evidence needs as children with the same diagnoses may have differing levels of needs.

If DS doesn’t have an EHCP you should apply for one of those too.

Look on Facebook for "fightback", they help fill in forms and with MR with many success stories