Spending DSs DLA

[Dlabaddie]

So Not a TAAT but something that often comes up in threads and has currently.

The discussion on what you're allowed to spend DLA on.

We've always put a proportion in one pot for him and anything specific he needs, and the rest in the household pot which covers household bills Inc those which are affected by his disability. We've done this on the basis of me having to quit work to care for him and carers being such a generous amount. DP works but wage isn't great.

But should I be recording where every penny goes and justifying it so extra clothes say due to vomiting with receipts but also proof I buy most of his clothes from our money? £5 towards electricity as bedding washed extra die to vomiting? Lots of people on the thread saying it can basically be checked at any point how it's spent but how do I make sure I keep proper info?

I had to be at home at 3:20 every day to receive DS from his taxi, as a condition of having it.

The loss of working flexibility is something that you possibly don’t even realise till later, when in the thick of it all.

What costs so much for a child with a high IQ? Do they need extra washing? Extra heat? Special diet?

There is no 'average' non disabled child costs nor 'average' disabled child costs.

Scope beg to differ.

You can’t compare disability and high IQ.

Similarly, some non disabled children have more needs than others. Children with high IQ can cost much more than a child who isn't because of their need to be more intellectually challenged.

Absolute bollocks.

I was in Mensa while still at school, I could occupy myself with puzzles or pen and paper.

Yes it would have been nice to have lots more things and I was lucky I had an electronics kit that kept me occupied for hours, that was a Christmas present.

Why would a child with a high IQ require more money? It doesn’t cost money to learn or challenge a brain? Most people have access to the internet and free education.

Hi op, the term is very broad for children. Disability ‘living’ allowance. The payment is then by definition to cover the extra cost involved in the extra allowances needed to live well with a disability. It levels up the playing field where our kids need nappies, mobility aids, living aids due to their disability. Long term we will need to pay for door widening and an accessible loo and shower adaptations. Short term the biggest cost is me only being able to work flexibly and part time as care needs are much higher and more intense not to mention the appointments and paperwork.

Yes perhaps. Also we ant fly atm due to the oxygen. If we tried is would cost lots to pay for the o2 abroad. So we don't. But I then still have to entertain him. I coyod drain his account to pay for it and then I'd have used his benefits as would befit their purpose. He does need a new mattress actually, thank you for the he reminder 😂

Yes perhaps. Also we ant fly atm due to the oxygen. If we tried is would cost lots to pay for the o2 abroad. So we don't. But I then still have to entertain him. I coyod drain his account to pay for it and then I'd have used his benefits as would befit their purpose. He does need a new mattress actually, thank you for the he reminder 😂

No one is saying intelligent kids can just be sat I na corner and ignored but that they don't have costs that are essential to them being able to partake in a typical life as part of society.
You could argue there's a coat to having a computer anf Internet access to access the plethora if free resources, but you can also go to the library. That's not comparable to paying for private physio vs getting it free off the NHS but months and months later which has a detrimental impact on the child's life.

*should not

@Crazyhousewife how rude and embarrassing.

You wont be asked to justify or sccount until he is an adult .aged18 best to set up separate account

So just add to household no worries as he is a child

What's IQ got to do with anything?

It's nothing to do with learning or challenging a brain.

Many of us with average - high IQs still have extra costs. I for example, can't drive to my disabilities and the train, etc. cost more money. Especially as I don't always have the option of travelling home later at night so have to pay to stay over.

Lots of people with disabilities have high IQs what an odd thing to bring in

It can go on anything you decide. Alot of people just put it in the household pot towards the cost of living.

Tigerrag If you read the thread you will see Lovemusic was replying to another poster who compared having a child with a disability to having a child with a high IQ.

If you can’t drive for medical reasons have you checked if you are eligible for a bus pass? And depending on the medical condition/whether you get PIP a disabled railcard.

This is incorrect. Whoever told you is wrong and is mixed up with direct payments more than likely.

It all goes in one pot. People dont have seperate bank accounts for DLA so how could you possibly prove that the weekly bill from Sainsbury's 3 years ago was spent on alcohol rather than kids with dietary restrictions etc..

You're worrying over nothing.

@sweeneytoddsrazor

Are you seriously saying that kids with high IQs can't have additional needs?

How could you think that? They aren't mutually exclusive.

DLA for the persons needs you can use it to supplement your income/wage with it if you've reduced it to care for the person on DLA which most people do .
Paying your bills with the DLA isn't stealing from a disable person as some poster suggest .

No, if you read the thread you will see that sweeneytoddsrazor did not say that. She is challenging the poster who compared having a disabled child to having a child with a high IQ.

A child with a high IQ may have additional needs but the extra costs are associated with the disability, not the high IQ. A high IQ is in no way comparable to a disability.

DLA is paid to the parents who then make best use of the money for the child’s benefit. Many, many, many families use this to (partially!) offset the cost of giving up work in order to care for their child. It is absolutely in the child’s best interest.

You can spend it on anything that benefits the child (holidays, rent, utilities, car, food, therapy, days out, etc). You do not have to keep receipts.

Be careful about saving it in your child’s name as it may impact on their ability to receive benefit help when they are an adult (any more than 6K and benefits are reduced, more than 16k means you can not claim income based benefits).

DS’s goes into the household account, we transfer an amount into his for his monthly discretionary spending and the rest is in the household pot.

@Willyoujustbequiet

No I am not saying that. Not at all.

I didn't know they check what you spend it on, but know I'll be fine if they do. DC gets £370 per month. As a monthly minimum, I spend £240 on fortnightly speech therapy and £150 on weekly trampolining which includes £50 ULEZ costs to get there. Anything additional I pay for DC disability is above that. I'm also about to employ a live-in nanny as DC will have no wraparound care at the primary school they will join in September.

DLA is really not a fortune.